Post-war, Jay Jacobs vows united Democratic Party in Long Beach
Jay Jacobs is seen on Feb. 9, 2016. Credit: Chuck Fadely
A bit of alienation lingers among some active Democrats in Long Beach, where Nassau party chairman Jay Jacobs last year declared war and carried out regime change against Michael Zapson, then the local chairman.
When Jacobs addressed the Long Beach Democratic Club on Sunday, at a dinner headlined by national party chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, he alluded to the recent war with a sly quip.
“I want to take note, I think we’re just outside the city limits, right?” Jacobs said from inside the Bridgeview Yacht Club, which is in Island Park. “OK, it’s still safe for me.”
Jacobs cited a need for a “unified and vibrant” local organization, adding: “We need to be patient . . . we will get that done.”
Before more than 250 guests, Robert Solomon, now chairman of the Long Beach Democratic Committee, portrayed the recent fight as an effort by Jacobs and a small group of residents to “reform local government.”
Solomon said 62 party committee members were replaced and “a powerful political leader,” Zapson, was removed. Solomon added, “Many of those committee people . . . are good and loyal Democrats and we hope to unite them for the good of the party and the good of the community.”
Called for comment, Zapson replied: “It’s ironic that neither of them [Jacobs or Solomon] live in Long Beach and they were talking to a handful of Democrats from Long Beach about Long Beach.
“This is why Jay Jacobs doesn’t win elections.”
Now the relevant question is whether the Long Beach battles affect the April 19 special election race pitting Assemb. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) against Republican lawyer Christopher McGrath.
The separate Independent Democratic Club of Long Beach supports Kaminsky for Senate, “as we would any Democrat running in Long Beach,” said Jeff Toback, the former county legislator from Oceanside who acts as its spokesman.
But you have to wonder if some Democrats may work harder for Kaminsky than others. Jacobs said he doesn’t see a negative effect from a small core from the “old” party power group.
For his part, Toback said the club’s mission is to “elect Democrats to keep our city the best place on Long Island to live, work and play. We really are not interested in the divisive politics and distractions that others want to impose on us and the city.”
Some “Democrats for McGrath” lawn signs have popped up. The McGrath camp isn’t discussing strategies, but one ally acknowledged Democratic division could help. Kaminsky spokesman Evan Thies insisted Long Beach Democrats “are united in their support of Todd, period,” and he has support in other parties, too.
On Sunday, Kaminsky sought to fire up the dinner guests. “People are fed up with the way government has been treating them,” he said. “Everyone takes care of their friends, their families, their law firms, their cronies — and we wonder why taxes went up.”
Dissent became a theme earlier in the evening when demonstrators, including several Bernie Sanders supporters, greeted Wasserman-Schultz. They protested on a cluster of issues, including what they see as a stance favoring predatory lenders. Back in Florida, she faces a primary from a progressive activist, Tim Canova.
Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
