A few weeks back, in this space, we wrote that, no matter what your opinion of the embattled Gov. David Paterson, you had to admire the “grit” he’s demonstrated in refusing to be pushed out by state Democrats or even the Big Guy in the White House.
Last Friday, thanks to Steve Cohn’s big Pumpkin Bash at Junior’s, I had a chance to relay that very same message in person. In fact, hundreds of others had the same opportunity because Gov. Paterson actually took personal questions and comments from just about anyone who was willing to queue up for a few minutes.
The governor’s patience was impressive. It was the mark of a man who’s not about to be summarily consigned to political history. It was also a significant gesture of respect to Steve Cohn, a leading volunteer (Pro Bono) lawyer who also happens to be one of the most successful and resilient Democrats in this borough.
Gov. Paterson didn’t come to Junior’s to get a mention in PBB or any other media space. His participation was essentially a star turn at a unique and fascinating fete featuring hundreds of other key players in the world of politics, government, education and health.
Among the other newly elected were Marty Markowitz, approaching his third term; Howie Golden — who also served as Kings Democratic leader; Kings District Attorney Joe Hynes, looking very fit following his summer surgery; leading Congressmembers, including Jerrold Nadler and Michael McMahon; and scores of people who serve in the state Senate, Assembly and City Council.
There was no official program at the packed early morning party, just a steady flow of mixing and mingling, flavored with a delicious breakfast — all seamlessly coordinated by Steve and his ebullient partner, Richard Goldberg, with Steve’s son, Warren pitching in, flashing that warm Cohn smile. As usual, the Cohn & Goldberg staff made sure a box of Junior’s Pumpkin Cheesecake was given to each and every guest.
“How does he [Steve] do this?” a very impressed young woman — a not-for-profit specialist and sometime City Hall advisor from Manhattan — asked of some other guests between plates of breakfast goodies. “Why are so many important people gathered here?” she added.
“Because,” said another guest, not an “important” one, “Steve’s got a gift for doing the right thing in politics and in law. And, he’s been doing it right for a very long time.”
The common tie at this popular event annually is indeed the high regard so many leaders have for Host Cohn, a reality emphasized by all of the above luminaries and all others we talked with including Ken Adams, who heads the New York State Chamber of Commerce, Rick Russo, vice president of the Brooklyn Chamber, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Democratic District Leader Dilia Schack, Jonathan Yedin (McMahon chief of staff), Cynthia King Vance (a high–level consultant from across the river) Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny and so many others.
Uncle Albert Is the Judge;
Gary Tomei Is the Father!
Brilliant remarks here usually go unnoticed. But blunders? They live forever! Take last week, for instance, when an awkwardly phrased sentence gave a misleading impression as to the family identities of Justice Albert Tomei and his brother, Gary Tomei.
We were reporting on a recent presentation of the Kings County Inn of Court, which featured clips from various popular movies, and how they often misrepresent the roles of attorneys, the rules of evidence, and much, much more!
Specifically, what stirred a cyberstorm among our readers was a comment on the portion of the Inn program — chaired superbly by Criminal Court Admin. Justice Barry Kamins and Justice Ellen Spodek — which concerned the comic flick My Cousin Vinny.
Actress Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for her performance in that film as the bright Brooklynese girlfriend of Actor Joe Pesci.
We hasten to insert here the following historic tale: On the night Verena Otey and I entered the Cobble Hill theater back then to see My Cousin Vinny we ran into Marisa’s dad, Gary, and her mother, Patricia, who were joyously stepping out onto Court Street.
The movie had just been released and, though we knew Ms. Tomei had a role, hadn’t read an advance review, so we said to Gary Tomei, “Congratulations! We heard your daughter’s in the movie — what role does she play?”
Both of Marisa’s parents got a chuckle out of that uninformed question and he said, “You’ll see! You can’t miss her!”
A delightful hour later, we were stomping and cheering along with scores of other downtown and Cobble Hill moviegoers when it became apparent that Marisa Tomei was indeed the dazzling centerpiece of My Cousin Vinny!
But we digress. Clearly, because we met Gary Tomei in 1969 when he headed “Lawyers for Lindsay” in Brooklyn and got to know leading reformer Albert Tomei at about the same time, we have long been aware of the parentage of Marisa Tomei.
We’re indebted to Inn members Justice Arthur Schack, Marc Dittenhoefer, Susan Master, Carl Landicino, among others for their prompt corrective response to our ambiguous phrasing regarding the Tomei family. Next week, we’ll return to further review of the Inn’s report on how movies play fast and loose with the rules of evidence.
“We Don’t Have Bush
To Kick Around Anymore!”
Sentient adults will recall that every time a new president is elected, the high promise he holds out during the campaign falls on the rocks of reality during his first year in office.
This happened to Jimmy Carter, who never recovered; Ronald Reagan, who did; George H.W. Bush, who didn’t; Bill Clinton, who did; and George Bush, who later muddled through.
The most memorable case in point was the total disregard much of the populace displayed for the younger Bush after he lost the popular vote, only to be selected by a questionable Supreme Court decision and the failure of Democrats to demand a total recount of all Florida votes, not just those cast in the county where “chads” drove television viewers crazy.
Then came the terror attacks of 9/11 and at least one ill-begotten war that Karl Rove used to mesmerize enough voters to help Bush win a second terrm.
Fast-forward to President Barack Obama’s alleged failure to launch Democratic gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia. Was it his fault? Weren’t the lackluster candidates at least partially to blame?
Certainly! But as one veteran Court Street political wag told us Wednesday, “What the Democrats forget is that they have been running against George Bush and Dick Cheney the past eight years! No one did more to organize the Democrats than these two guys!”
“Where Democrats, including President Obama, screwed up,” he added, “was when they never factored in the lack of motivation that would surely cut down their voting appeal with Bush and Cheney out of the picture.”
“Proof of this,” he concluded, “is the upstate congressional race where a Republican candidate was forced out by pressure from Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh, and the Democrat beat the Conservative. Palin and Limbaugh tried to invoke the Bush-Cheney legacy,” he argued, “and this seat went Democratic for the first time ever!”
“That’s hardly proof,” we replied. “More like sheer speculation.”
“Whatever,” he rejoined, ‘the problem remains that we Democrats just don’t have George Bush to kick around anymore!”
Cell Phone Aggression
Seen on Court Street
With articles abounding in the media about the indiscriminate and often offensive use of cell phones, it appears that some are doing more than just taking offense when a babbling phone talker blocks their way on the sidewalk.
We can reliably report that a few of the obstructed, while attempting to negotiate Court Street, have actually made physical contact — accidentally, they claim — with a few of the obsessive communicators who are regularly admonished to “Get a phone booth!”
While we can sympathize with those who are taking action and indulging in “self-help” when a cell-talker blocks their way, it’s clearly against the law to intentionally make physical contact with the offenders.
PRO BONO BARRISTER is a weekly column dedicated to telling about the good that lawyers do. Send your comments or suggestions to this writer care of this newspaper or to COTEYESQ@aol.com.
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© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2009
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