Third Time the Charm for Public Advocate Hopeful?

“When the city tries to beat you, and you tell them it’s illegal, don’t let them cheat you, vote for Norman Siegel!” the Granny Peace Brigade sang Monday night at a fundraiser for Norman Siegel’s campaign for Public Advocate.

The Brigade, a coalition of elderly women who were arrested in Washington, D.C. for disorderly conduct while attempting to enlist in the military at a local recruiting station, were among the many who turned out to support Siegel. The 2009 race marks the third time Siegel has run for New York City public advocate. He lost to Betsy Gotbaum in 2001 and 2005.

But the former New York Civil Liberties Union director insists this race will be different, with several supporters citing his “persistence” and what they characterize as a wider base of support than in his two unsuccessful campaigns.

Some attendees were optimistic due to Gotbaum’s absence from the race because of term limits.

“He was just up against Betsy Gotbaum, whose husband had enormous influence within the labor movement, which more or less consolidated support,” David Goldman, CC ’60 and a psychiatric professor, said.

“Basically, she [Gotbaum] has given a reason to abolish the office,” said Brandon Ward, president of the New York City chapter of Blacks in Government.“She doesn’t even register on the Richter scale. So much is going on that she’s silent about. ... She has been missing in action.”

Siegel said he would run the office very differently from Gotbaum, emphasizing what his supporters call a more active and litigious stance. He has represented the families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, and litigated against the New York Police Department and cell phone bans in public schools.

“You’ll see more of a presence on issues,” Community Board 9 member Norma Ramos said. “I think you’ll see someone that will take principled stands in an unapologetic way.”

Siegel currently represents the West Harlem Business Group, which consists of two business owners in Manhattanville who have refused to sell their properties—located within the footprint of Columbia expansion—to the University. He has argued in court against the Empire State Development Corporation, the agency which is currently conducting the blight study to determine if the state could invoke eminent domain.

A major factor that limited Siegel in 2001 and 2005 was his comparatively limited funds. His numbers continue to lag behind other public advocate candidates this time around, though Siegel has so far been the only one to officially declare his candidacy. He has raised $80,456 and spent $33,901 as of Jan. 15, of which Manhattanville business owner Nick Sprayregen and one of his relatives have donated $7,000. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has raised $1,049,947, City Councilman Eric Gioia has raised $1,623,445 and spent $211,742, and City Councilman John Liu has raised $2,201,287 and spent $390,865, according to public finance disclosures.

“We will be economically, financially competitive with our opponents,” Siegel said. “We might not be able to match dollar for dollar because we won’t get the big contributors, especially the real estate contributors. When you represent the West Harlem community against Columbia, sometimes the developers and real estate [individuals] don’t want to give to me, but they’ll give to some of my opponents.”

But Siegel has come to terms with the challenges he faces.

“My record will speak for itself,” he said.

daniel.amzallag@columbiaspectator.com