Steve Cohn’s breakfast at Junior’s unites political rivals

November 4, 2013 By Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Even though this year’s election season has pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other – and, during the primaries, Democrats and Republicans against members of their own parties – officials of all political persuasions were socializing in harmony at Brooklyn attorney Steve Cohn’s annual pre-election breakfast at Junior’s on Friday.

The breakfast , sponsored by Friends of Steve Cohn, attracted about 300 people in politics, the law, education, healthcare, the arts, the sciences, clergy and more.

The breakfast is held the Friday before Election Day, said Cohn, who is a former Democratic district leader, a former president of the Brooklyn Bar Association and currently one of the vice chairs of the New York state Democratic Party. Its purpose, he said, is “networking, bringing the people of the City of New York together.” He has been hosting these breakfasts for over 20 years.

Over the years, says Cohn, many notables have showed up at the breakfast, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, heads of hospitals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the consuls-general of several foreign nations.

This year, among the guests were Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Former Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, Manhattan Borough President (and candidate for comptroller) Scott Stringer, Councilwoman (and candidate for public advocate) Letitia James, and many Assemblymembers and Councilmembers, said Cohn.

There was also a special kosher section for Orthodox Jewish leaders and guests. “One of the things I’m proud of,” said Cohn, “is the incredible diversity of people you see there.”

Guests received some pumpkin cheesecake from Junior’s as a gift. As far as Junior’s itself is concerned, Cohn commented, “The fact that the president [Obama] was here a year before is a testament to Junior’s and their wonderful staff.”