Let’s face it, Tuesday is going to be a bloodbath for Democrats around the country — so praise Steve Cohn and pass the cheesecake!
Yes, the legendary Downtown Democratic Party insider held his annual pre-Election Day breakfast on Friday at Junior’s — an event that is as much a part of political life in Brooklyn as Chuck Schumer’s Sunday press conferences or Marty Markowitz’s “Brooklyn” pins — but this year’s meet and greet felt more like a wake than a bar mitzvah.
The party is going to sustain such colossal, no historic, losses that most Democrats were looking forward more to the gift baskets on the way out than Tuesday’s election.
“It’s going to be a long night,” said Councilman David Greenfield (D–Boro Park).
Cohn, of course, put on the only face he has: the brave one, predicting victories for all the local donkeys: Andrew Cuomo, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Attorney General-hopeful Eric Schneiderman, and Rep. Mike McMahon (D–Bay Ridge), the only city Democrat in a re-election fight that could be considered close.
The party is Cohn’s annual giveback to his political base, one built on years of good will. How much good will? Consider this: This year, Cohn even invited Lincoln Restler — the party insurgent who defeated Cohn’s son, Warren, by 120 votes in the bitter race to succeed him as district leader.
“I’m always happy to have a great number of people at the annual breakfast,” said Cohn. “I even invited Lincoln.”
DiNapoli, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, District Attorney Charles Hynes, Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D–Greenpoint), and Councilmembers Lew Fidler (D–Canarsie), and Steve Levin (D–Williamsburg) were also on hand to honor Cohn’s 26 years of service to the county’s Democratic Party.
“Steve is an important force in Brooklyn politics as evidence by the powerful players who attend the breakfast,” said Levin. “I enjoyed having some cheesecakes and speaking with some of the most interesting politicians in Brooklyn.”
Cohn vowed to have the breakfast again next year. Even though he no longer holds an official elected position, he’s still Brooklyn’s biggest ganzer macher.