What I Learned About Politics from Councilman Mark Treyger
When Mark Treyger was elected to the NYC Council, I was very happy. Treyger was a NYC teacher and although I didn’t know personally, I knew of him.
Councilman Treyger began his term and I smiled at every story which included his name and picture. I even told him he was meant to do this work.
Last Fall, my admiration for Treyger was quickly lost when Treyger took a hands off approach as “the City” threatened a few property owners with eminent domain. I messaged Treyger about it and at first he was pleasant. When I pursued the topic, Treyger was short with me. SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT HERE. I couldn’t figure out how a home owner like Mark Treyger could allow someone who had an investment in his district to be treated that way. You see the commercial property owner’s family had that property for a long time. They invested in Coney Island when no one else wanted it. If you lived in Brooklyn all your life, you know NO ONE had any interest in Coney Island for many years, but now since there isn’t any land left in Brooklyn, the developers are trying to scrape up any property.
Disclosure: My family’s business in Downtown Brooklyn was threatened with Emineet Domain FOR YEARS and while most politicians stepped back and let the City and Developers intimidate my family, Leticia James stood with my family in Downtown Brooklyn throughout the whole ordeal. Leticia James believed she was just doing her job, but the reality was she was the only one fighting on our side and recharging our group with hope. Incidentally, after years of fighting, my family and another on our block won in court – most people who have eminent domain slapped on them don’t.
NYC has quietly made a play for property through the illegal use of eminent domain. City workers will claim that property owners will be offered “fair” market value for their property, but I can tell you that the developers speak to you with a smirk and offer less than half the market value of the property. Rezoning of property also allows developers to build higher and bigger building.
I couldn’t figure out who was pushing Treyger on the other side of this equation?
Lesson 1: Mark Treyger Taught Me: When Something Isn’t Right – Follow the Money
I didn’t find the SuperPac info at first because it’s listed in a different area and the money is hidden under a clever name as well. Super PACs are controlling Treyger – Jobs for New York, Inc (cute name right?) – this is just the Real Estate Board Super Pac. They paid for all these mailings for him – so that people would think Treyger was the right one for the job.
Then I saw this report. And there’s Mark Treyger highlighted in the report.
I am not an expert on politics, but if Superpacs are buying the position for someone, they want something in return. It doesn’t take much to realize that Treyger owes them – Quid Pro Quo. Update: A Treyger supporter said that Treyger didn’t know anything about the Superpac supporting him. How did they get all the of his pictures for the mailings then? Politicians must think people are stupid if they actually believe that almost 400K was spent and the person didn’t know it.
In 2013, Treyger’s opponent, Lisyanskiy predicted what would happen and he was correct:
Lesson 2: Through Mark Treyger, I learned sometimes politicians start out with good intentions and then they are bought by Superpacs and just become machines of the system. Politics is dirty and maybe some of these politicians don’t realize what they sold by allowing a SuperPac in. Democrat or Republican don’t matter when you are representing a SuperPac.
Treyger’s team published this when he ran for office:
Ha Ha! Could anyone possibly believe they would receive all that money and do nothing in return?
This week, I saw Councilman Treyger telling the public to help protect the NYC Boardwalk. That’s a done deal – he knows it and we know it. Why is he playing the game? Coney Island is one of the few things Brooklyn still has going for it. But let’s go with the inverse and say that I am wrong and it isn’t a done deal. Isn’t it Treyger’s job to protect it? No Mark Treyger, I am not going to take off work and go to the hearing on May 4th. I love Brooklyn as much as the next person, but it feels like someone is playing politics here. Treyger even fed a reporter a press release and she tweeted about (If that isn’t playing politics, I don’t know what is).
Lesson 3: When you aren’t doing much for your area, send in press releases to newspapers to make it look like you are working hard.
Yesterday Mark Treyger published this tweet. The people behind Treyger are the biggest losers because they believe that Treyger is protecting their interests. These people lost their Saturday afternoon thinking they were doing something to help the area. They don’t know this is all a DONE DEAL – Treyger’s SuperPac may have won this or maybe someone will throw some crumbs to the people in Coney Island, afterall soon their area will be covered with shadows of apartment buildings and high rises.
Lesson 4: Flood social media with pictures of you “doing something.” Like this
Democracy can’t exist when the politicians owe the SuperPacs for supporting them. Why won’t any of these council people make a vote to get the money out of NYC. Even though accepting money from a Super PAC might be legal, it doesn’t mean it’s right. The only thing I could see Mark Treyger doing to make up for this wrong is to work with NYC City Council on putting through a bill to make it illegal to use SuperPac Money.
Lesson 5: Treyger thinks no one is watching him.
In 2015, Tryeger and Vacca introduced a $500 tax rebate for home owners. In 2016, he did the same exact thing. Both times it was mildly mentioned in the news because Treyger sent in this press release. BUT BOTH KNEW IT WOULD FAIL A SECOND TIME AS WELL.
Lesson 6: The final lesson I learned from Mark Treyger is that the only “ONES: who will be winning in Coney Island while Treyger is in position is those who PAID TO PLAY. The people and their needs/wants will never come first. Superpacs and lobbyists are destroying the Brooklyn we know and love.
Lesson 7: When you are scared of the community you represent, buy a house in a gated community. Councilman Ari Kagan announced on Kings County Politics blog that Treyger bought a home in Seagate. Acris shows a home there was purchased. If security is a problem in Coney Island (and the stories in the paper show it is), the Councilman Treyger should have put his money to some patrol cars! But he doesn’t live there so no one cares.
Today I saw an article that Treyger wanted to represent Bay Ridge – OH NOOOOOOOOO! Bay Ridge doesn’t need a politician who is siding with the Super Pacs and throwing some crumbs to the residents with a free bike helmet giveaways or free ice skating events.
Gimme a Break Mark Treyger! It’s time for Treyger to go evaluate why he became a politician. If you couldn’t win an election without a SuperPac, then you shouldn’t have run for office. My family now owns property in Treyger’s district and I will be commenting on his politics from now until he leaves office.
Hugs,
marlene
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