The Aftershock Of A Fallen Angel Brooklyn's political establishment is reeling this week following the federal indictment of Councilmember Angel Rodriguez and an associate on charges of extortion. Rodriguez and longtime pal Jonathan Morales are accused of scheming to extort $50,000 in cash and a $1.5 million discount on several Cobble Hill properties from developer Greg O'Connell in exchange for Rodriguez's support for O'Connell's Fairway supermarket project in Red Hook.

After O'Connell turned over the properties to Rodriguez and Morales for far below their market value, along with $18,000 of the $50,000, Rodriguez, who had opposed the Red Hook project, flip-flopped and vocally supported it, according to the U.S. attorney. After months of delay, the project then sailed through the Council's land use committee and through the full Council, both by unanimous votes.

What Rodriguez and Morales did not know-and here they appear not only ethically deficient but also just plain stupid-was that O'Connell was wearing a wire throughout their meetings. There is nary a soul in Brooklyn who is unaware of O'Connell's past history as an NYPD detective who worked undercover in the white-collar crime department. Rodriguez was arrested in the early morning hours at his Sunset Park home, and news of his indictment spread like wildfire through Brooklyn's political culture.

Lew Fidler, chairman of the Brooklyn Council delegation, said that if the charges prove true, Rodriguez deserves the harshest possible punishment. "He's entitled to his presumption of innocence," said Filder. "Beyond that, any councilmember who would do something like this deserves to be drawn and quartered."

Clearly, Rodriguez is not just at the eye of the storm-he is the eye of the storm. But his indictment has repercussions far beyond himself. First, the entire Brooklyn Council delegation has been tarred, which is terribly unfortunate since this new class of members has some very talented up-and-comers who deserve a chance to distinguish themselves on their merits.

"Your first reaction is to be dumbstruck and your second is to be incensed," said one prominent councilmember. "It's bad enough to be a Brooklyn politician, but to be a Brooklyn politician and a councilman these days is just… outrageous. I'd be embarrassed if it was appropriate to be embarrassed." Brooklyn councilmembers who supported Rodriguez for speaker were too angry to speak publicly about their feelings, although one described it as "total betrayal." "To put us all at risk fighting for him makes the blood boil," said the source.

Next, the incident has raised doubt in some peoples' minds about the honesty and transparency of the Council as a whole, although those fears appear to be running ahead of any objective indicator.

Additionally, the Rodriguez indictment has brought another wave of scandal to scandal-soaked Brooklyn, where it always seems to be high tide. With the bribery charges against Judge Victor Barron, the unfolding judicial patronage scheme and a slew of other complaints about the judiciary (some legit and some overblown), and with questions about county leader and Assemblymember Clarence Norman Jr.'s handling of county finances, Brooklyn is living up to its reputation as the city's most politically scandalous borough. "Thank goodness that [Bronx Assemblymember] Gloria Davis got nailed or we'd have a monopoly," quipped one insider.

And the indictment may have repercussion beyond politicians. Communities may also suffer as well. Since Rodriguez was able to hold up the development project single-handedly, and since it literally flew through the Council after he flip-flopped to support it, the incident showed how much sway a home-district member can have over a project, and how much that power may corrupt.

Combined with the remarkable display of solidarity the Council showed in siding with Yvette Clarke to block a project in her district that she opposed, deference to the home-district member's prerogative is clearly an aspect of this Council's personality, as it has been for the other Councils before it. But if the Rodriguez indictment raises enough doubts about whether the power of home-district members is too great, and the unwritten policy is scuttled, then communities will lose out, said one source. "[Deference to the home-district member] is one of the most important weapons communities have to ensure that they don't get rolled by city government," said the source.

Fidler said that the indictment puts the onus on Brooklyn councilmembers to show the public this incident is the exception. "There's bad in every group," he said. "I can only speak for myself, and from my assessment of the balance of the Brooklyn delegation, we are honest, hardworking and trustworthy. I guess we have an extra obligation now to prove it."

Let The Gaming Begin Insiders like to stay at least one step ahead, and true to form, many are anticipating that Rodriguez's days as councilmember are numbered. Since he was term-limited, his days were numbered anyway. But federal indictments have a way of speeding things along ahead of schedule.

Rodriguez's attorney has proclaimed his innocence, and even though Rodriguez has resigned his committee posts, he remains a sitting and salaried member. Nonetheless, politicos are already circulating names of potential successors.

The names most prominently mentioned are Deputy Comptroller Eduardo Castell, District Leader Elizabeth Daly, Susan Loeb, president of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Eddie Rodriguez, president of School Board 15 and Assemblymember Felix Ortiz. Loeb finished a close second to Rodriguez in the 1997 primary, while Castell finished third.

Ortiz said he was "sad" that people would be talking of potential candidates so early. "What we have to do is wait and see what the outcome will be and then take it from there," he said. "We need to make sure we know how to walk before we can talk."

Daly said that since Rodriguez is still in office, it would be inappropriate to comment directly. She also said that concerns such as reapportionment and the timing of a potential resignation would greatly affect any decision. "I'm not saying no, because people have approached me," she said. "People have asked me if I'm interested. But before doing anything, I want to make sure it makes sense for me to do."

Loeb also expressed interest, but was similarly hesitant. "The seat is not yet vacant, and if it becomes vacant, it's certainly something I would look at and consider. I think I have a base there. It's certainly possible that I would be willing to run for the seat," she said. Neither Castell nor Eddie Rodriguez returned calls seeking comment.

Shifting Boundaries Insiders predict that State Senator Carl Kruger will have a much more favorable proposed district when the next set of reapportionment lines become public.

Kruger, who saw his district slated to change from overwhelmingly white to majority black in one fell swoop, launched a furious lobbying campaign at public hearings and through political channels to regain much of the district's original composition. He endorsed Republican Governor George Pataki, but said that he expected no quid pro quo.

When the state senate GOP majority releases its next proposal, Kruger's efforts should bear fruit, said sources. "Marty Golden's [proposed] district won't look all that different, but Carl's probably will," said one source. "I think Carl's district is going to look very good," said another. "It's going to show just how strong Carl can be."

Pride Parade Gathering Steam The Brooklyn Pride Parade will soon be inviting the borough's elected officials to march in its annual gay and lesbian pride parade, held at night in the month of June. "We're going to be getting in touch with all of the politicians to see if they will march," said Steve Gradman, chair of Brooklyn Pride.

In the past, some elected officials have shunned the event, such as Assemblymember Jim Brennan. One circumstance in the group's favor is that this is an election year. "When they're running for office, they usually march," said Gradman.

Gradman said that Senator Hillary Clinton has been invited, but that she may only address the crowd and leave before the 9 p.m. parade. Borough President Marty Markowitz is the honorary grand marshal and will lead the parade. The grand marshals will be representatives from the Stonewall Veterans and a collective group of gay firefighters and police officers.

Borough Politics Archive

2002
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2001
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1999
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