With the Ultra-Orthodox Community Behind Him, Simcha Felder, Survives Progressive Onslaught

Photo: State Sen. Simcha Felder

 

By Dvorah Nelson and Benjamin Rubin

 

Last week, for the first time since 2012, State Senator Simcha Felder faced a challenger during a primary.  Despite national progressive wins, and so many Democratic senators in New York City being bested by challengers, Felder won a considerable majority of the votes in the Sept. 13 balloting. His opponent was a political newcomer, Blake Morris.

Many Democratic voters are not happy with Felder, who has consistently caucused with Republicans, and even held an annual budget hostage as he cut deals to help himself and his neighborhood base. He has been the deciding vote on several issues since the spring. While this year’s election put intense progressive pressure on Democratic elected officials, Felder did not receive the painful backlashing that, for example, members of the Democratic Independent Conference did. IDC senators throughout the city were tossed out of office by upstart opponents.

“All I can say is I don’t feel represented,” said Gerald Eric Cook, a volunteer for the challenger, Morris. Many echoed Cook’s concern that Felder has not given equal attention to the diverse members of his district. Cook spoke about his personal experience trying to work with Felder. He said that he had made over a dozen attempts to reach Felder, or any members of his staff by phone or email. He said that he felt confident in supporting Morris because he had promised “to represent everyone in the community, not just the elites.”

Most of Felder’s support came from the ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes the vast majority of his district. In the neighborhoods of Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst, signs in Yiddish were plastered all over the neighborhood, calling for the support of Felder. One letter was signed by a number of the community’s rabbinical leaders, who hold vast sway over their followers, in broad aspects of their lives, social, religious and political. The letter declared, “We all have an obligation according to the Torah to support him (Felder) in every possible manner.”

The feelings in the community, on both sides of the spectrum, were especially urgent this election season. The city had promised to investigate religious schools, Yeshivas, for not meeting education requirements. That led Felder to hold the state budget hostage in exchange for concessions and other carve-outs, exempting Yeshivas from providing equivalent education to that of public schools. This won him many friends – and enemies.

Another issue that galvanized many Morris supporters was Felder’s swing vote to prevent a speed camera program in school areas to be reinstated when it lapsed earlier this year. When asked about it by WNYC, he responded with a seeming non-sequitur. Saying he would prefer to speak about chocolate cakes and rugelach. This reaction fired up voters to take a stand against Felder. Morris, taking comic advantage, put images of cakes on campaign flyers.

Debora Cane, a Morris supporter, said she spoke to Felder during a constituent meeting years ago and she concluded that he was only interested in talking about his personal interests and culture, even handing her a Matzah.

Felder’s cooperation with the Republicans on multiple occasions throughout his senate career also touched voters, one way or the other. In 2016, Felder even ran on both ballots, Republican and Democratic. Felder’s flipping from side to side pushed away some voters who had previously supported him.

“I did vote for Felder in 2012,” said Marshall Goldberg. Then, Goldberg added, he and others “learned what he was,” which was anything that could get him a vote. Goldberg said he decided back then not to vote for Felder. “I never voted for him again.”

For Jay Weiss, Felder performed well. Regarding Felder’s holding up of the state budget, Weiss pumped his fist in the air and said, “It was gutsy move.” Similarly, many Hasidic voters praised Felder’s fight against the state changes in the Orthodox school system, and Felder’s overall support of Jewish communities.