West Side Breakfast Feels Like 2009 Preview

By GRACE RAUH, Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 31, 2008

Politicians from across the city, many of whom are running for office in 2009, flocked to the New York Historical Society for a few moments at the microphone during the Council of Orthodox Jewish Organizations of the West Side's legislative breakfast yesterday.

At least three likely mayoral candidates spoke at the gathering: Rep. Anthony Weiner, supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis, and Comptroller William Thompson Jr.

The president of the Bronx, Adolfo Carrion, who is running for comptroller, also attended, as did several other declared and likely candidates for comptroller, including City Council members John Liu, David Yassky, Melinda Katz, and Simcha Felder.

The president of Manhattan, Scott Stringer, was given the city leadership award. An assistant police chief, Raymond Diaz, was given a public safety award, and the chairman emeritus of Community Board 7, Sheldon Fine, was given the West Side Community Leadership Award.

The council speaker, Christine Quinn, did not attend the breakfast. Ms. Quinn, who is considered a likely candidate for mayor, had a scheduling conflict, her spokesman said.

She was not listed as one of the distinguished guests on the council's program. A consultant for the breakfast told the Jewish Week that Ms. Quinn had been invited to an honoree but he hadn't heard back from her by the time the flier was printed. A spokesman for Ms. Quinn, James McShane, told the newspaper that she didn't have an invitation to the breakfast.