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Boro Park Vacuum?
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Hikind's troubles could spell diminished influence
for Brooklyn's Orthodox community.
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WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE
T
he indictment of embattled
Brooklyn Assemblyman
Dov Hikind will create a
power vacuum in the Or-
thodox Jewish community that
political observers believe may be
impossible to fill.
Nearly a dozen political ob-
servers and consultants agreed
unanimously in interviews that
there is no one in the wings who
could wield the extraordinary po-
litical clout Hikind has amassed
since he was first elected in 1983.
"You're not going to see some-
body who can dance at both
Republican and Democratic wed-
dings," said Democratic political
consultant Hank Sheinkopf, re-
ferring to Hikind's well-publicized
bucking of his party to endorse
such Republicans as George Pata-
ki for governor and Rudolph Giu-
liani for mayor.
Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, execu-
tive director of the Council of Jew-
ish Organizations of Flatbush,
said, "No particular name surfaces
in my mind of someone who has
the stature [of Hikind]. His is go-
ing to be a hard position to fill. He
has been an ardent spokesman for
the constituency he represents
and the community at large, and
I don't know of anyone on the hori-
zon with that kind of charisma
and power."
Hikind's political clout started
to wane two years ago after an in-
vestigation in the New York Jew-
ish Week questioned his ties with
the Council of Jewish Organiza-
tions of Borough Park and anoth-
er Jewish charity to which Hikind
helped funnel more than $7,800
in state money over four years.
Well-publicized federal raids on
the COJO offices followed, caus-
ing many people to begin dis-
tancing themselves from Hikind.
Two top COJO officials, Paul
Chernick and Rabbi Elimelech
Naiman, later were indicted on
charges of conspiracy and embez-
zlement.
"Everyone assumed he [Hikind]
would be indicted once the others
were," said one political observer.
"He was not a player in recent
months. He was ostracized by Giu-
liani and has had limited access
to Pataki in the last few months.
"He's been seen in the commu-
nity, but he has not been the ad-
dress people went to when they
had a problem with government
because they assumed he did not
have the power to deliver."
Hikind allegedly accepted more
than $30,000 worth of trips and
other gifts from COJO. In an in-
terview two years ago, he denied
any improprieties.
Hikind issued a statement say-
ing, "As always, my main concern
is serving my constituents and I
will continue to do so."
At least one pundit believes a
longtime rival of Hikind's — City
Councilman Noach Dear—is best
positioned to fill Hikind's position.
"Noach will try to get as much
as he can and he has a good
chance," said the source.
Another said Dear "has to be
perceived as a conciliator and as
one who can build consensus." If
successful, Dear would be in a po-
sition of power to select Hikind's
successor in the Assembly should
the seven-term Democrat be in-
dicted and convicted on federal
corruption charges.
"If Dear is careful, he might be
able to satisfy the different fac-
tions and become the kingmaker
in Borough Park," said one ob-
server. "But he has to tread very
carefully."
Dear, who has close ties to Giu-
liani and President Bill Clinton,
also would gain increased stature
in his anticipated bid for the con-
An indictment
shakes up Brooklyn
politics.
gressional seat of Rep. Charles
Schumer, D-Brooklyn, should
Schumer run for governor.
"If [Dear] wins, it would in-
crease his influence around the
whole country," said Jerry
Skurnik, a political consultant.
"It's not morally sound from a
secular or nonsecular standpoint
to dance on this guy's grave," said
Sheinkopf, who has worked for
both Dear and Hikind. "So long as
he is in place, nobody is going to
emerge. Halachically, it would be
wrong until his [Hikind's] situa-
tion is clarified."
But that has not stopped the
various religious factions that
comprise Borough Park from
preparing to jockey for position
should Hikind's seat become va-
cant. The lack of a dominant group
in the area is seen as the reason
for the downfall of the COJO of
Borough Park.
"All of the groups were looking
to make deals in the community
and COJO, as it tried to make
deals with them all, lost sight of
its mission," said one observer.
❑
New York Jewish Week