NOVEMBER 15–21,15–21, 202013,013, COURIER LIFEIFE A1 12 years as as years 12 Courier Life celebrates Life Courier Marty Markowitz’s Marty Markowitz’s Borough President Borough BROOKLYN of FAREWELL TO THE KING A2 COURIER LIFE, NOVEMBER 15–21, 2013 Thank youforyoursupport andfriendship. you’ve leftalegacytolastlifetime. In 12yearsasBoroughPresident Thank you,MartyMarkowitz. - Bruce&MaryAnne FAREWELL TO BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ A3 N OVEMBER 15–21, 2013, C OURIER L IFE Photo by Gregory Mango P. Photo by Steve Solomonson Photo by Gregory Mango P. MARTYPhoto by Kathryn Kirk Photo by Paul Martinka ‘MR. BROOKLYN’ WRAPS UP 12 EVENTFUL YEARS IN BOROUGH HALL ow sweet it was. We enjoyed our unpredictable relation- troversial expansion plans, such as the bush Tenants Council in 1971 at the age of Marty Markowitz and Brook- ship with the irrepressible Beep so much Domino Sugar factory redevelopment, the 26. Today, it is the state’s largest tenant’s Hlyn fi t hand-in-glove, like bagels that we dedicated this special edition to 10-tower waterfront Greenpoint Landing advocacy group. He then launched a 23- and cream cheese, Scooby and Shaggy, him in gratitude for enlivening our pages project, and the massive, publicly-subsi- year career in the state senate, and cre- and the Barclays Center and the Nets. with his unforgettable campaigns (remem- dized Atlantic Yards venture. ated his trademark series of oceanfront But term limits — requisites of our de- ber “Lighten Up Brooklyn?”), his memo- Marty’s ardor for Kings County was concerts in Coney Island. mocracy — have ushered in the end of an rable quotes (“There is no doubt that Co- apparent from the get-go, and he earned He wasn’t without fault though. Mar- era for the larger-than-life borough presi- ney is getting tony”), and his off-the-cuff every letter of his nickname, “Mr. Brook- ty’s failed bid for borough president in dent, who vacates his post next month af- comments (“The next thing he knew, he lyn,” posting borough-friendly signs at 1985 ended with a guilty plea to a mis- ter 12 years of service as chief booster of was clobbered,” in defense of a hate-crime our borders during his fi rst term that demeanor for not disclosing a campaign Brooklyn’s economic, social, and cultural victim). admonished those heading out of town, contribution, resulting in a fi ne and com- interests at Borough Hall. These pages document Marty’s yin “Leaving Brooklyn: Fugheddaboudit.” munity service. Yet his work on behalf of He leaves behind some impressive and yang because as borough president, He was a 100-proof Brooklynite, long the borough he touted at every opportu- footprints, including bringing home a he was a contrarian. He touted a healthy before assuming offi ce at Borough Hall. nity will matter far more in the long run. basketball team after a nine-year battle to lifestyle, but opposed bike lanes. He pro- Born in Crown Heights, raised in a Marty did a swell job as our ambas- build a stadium, and four miles worth of fessed an affi nity for a homey Brooklyn of Sheepshead Bay housing project, and sador. His love for Brooklyn was evident proclamations that cheered Brooklynites tight-knit neighborhoods, but worked to a graduate of Wingate High School and along every step of his professional jour- — and Brooklyn lovers — of every stripe. make it a high-rise capital, backing con- Brooklyn College, Marty formed the Flat- ney, no matter how contentious the path. A4 FAREWELL TO BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ 15–21, 2013 15–21, OVEMBER , N IFE L OURIER C THE TIMELINE LOOKING BACK ON MARTY’S VERY BROOKLYN CAREER 1945 own group called 1978, beginning more than Feb. 14: Mr. Brooklyn born in the Middle Men , two decades as a state Sena- Crown Heights to open to those tor for central Brooklyn. Dorothy and Rob- shorter than ert Markowitz, a 5-foot-10. The 1979 waiter at Sid’s, next year school Creates his signature Sea- a kosher delica- administrators side Summer Concert Se- THE FORCE IS STRONG IN THIS ONE: At his victory party at Juniors in 2001, tessen. learned their les- ries, a popular free weekly Markowitz brandished a toy Star Wars light saber and cried, “May the force be son and merged concert series. with you!” File photo by Tom Callan 1954 the two commu- Father dies and nity service clubs into a single 1983 Golden, but machine politics President of Brooklyn, fulfi lling Marty moves with group, called Fellowship, with no Creates the Martin Luther King, trumped destiny until term lim- a destiny set forth when he pulled his mother into public housing in height requirements. Jr. Concert Series, the nation’s its opened the race 16 years later. an enchanted stickball bat from a Sheepshead Bay. largest free public con- Flatbush stoop as a young boy. 1971 cert series targeted to 1999 1960 Founds the Flatbush Tenants African-American and At 54, Marty fi nally 2002 Strikes a blow against height Council, which grew into Brook- Caribbean audiences. fi nds his “Mrs. Brook- July 16: Our newly minted Beep discrimination at Wingate High lyn Housing and Family Services, lyn,” wedding the makes a bet with his Staten Is- School after he was barred from now the largest tenants advocacy 1985 lovely Jamie Snow. land counterpart James Molin- joining a public service club organization in the state. Launches his fi rst bid aro on the outcome of the 12 regu- called the Long Fellows, which for Borough President, 2001 lar season meetings between the only accepted boys 5-foot-10 or 1978 seeking to unseat long- Nov. 6: Mr. Brooklyn hated Staten Island Yankees and taller. Marty (5-foot-3) started his Elected to the state Senate in time Beep Howard is elected Borough his beloved Brooklyn Cyclones . MARTY MARKOWITZ THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY "%$"%#" #%#" "%$"%#" ' ( ! & ( FAREWELL TO BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ A5 N OVEMBER The victorious borough presi- rene Highness Hereditary 15–21, 2013, C dent will get to display the newly Prince Albert — to the created “Borough Cup” in his New York premiere of Les Borough Hall, and the loser will Ballets de Monte Carlo’s pay for dinner at a restaurant of “Cinderella” at the Brook- the rival’s choice on the oppos- lyn Academy of Music. OURIER ing side of the bridge. The wager L is sealed with a handshake on a May 24: Marty hosts the IFE boat anchored in the Narrows be- Brooklyn Bridge to the tween boroughs, due to Marty’s World Celebration , honor- refusal to step foot on the Rock. ing the 120th birthday of our most famous icon. Aug. 3: ABBA performs at Mar- ty’s fi rst Seaside Summer Con- Aug.Aug 14: Stands on the cert Series as Borough President. BrooklynBroo Bridge with a 2003 megaphonemeg during the Aug. 26: Marty hosts an “Egg GreatGrea Northeast Blackout Cream Extravaganza” at Bor- CREAM OF THE CROP: (Left) Marty of 2003, cheering to thunder- ough Hall Plaza. shows off his egg cream-making tech- ous applause “Welcome home nique 2002. (Above) Welcoming com- to Brooklyn!” to the throngs of Sept. 9: After the Cyclones muters on the Brooklyn Bridge after Brooklynites trudging home from lose eight of the 12 games in the the 2003 blackout. File photos Manhattan. “Borough Cup” series, Marty graciously concedes his bet with 2004 Molinaro , saying “a bet is a bet, lyn,” a non-stop celebration of Jan. 23: Atlantic Yards devel- and I’m ready to join him at a jazz across the borough through- oper Bruce Ratner agrees to restaurant of his choice, in Staten out the month of April at clubs, purchase the New Jersey Nets Island, which I will begrudgingly restaurants, churches and music for $300 million , vowing to bring pay for because I know the food is schools. them to Brooklyn. much better in Brooklyn.” May 11: The President of the Feb.: Marty opens the Brooklyn 2003 Borough of Kings welcomes the tourism center in Borough Hall. April: Marty teams up with the royal family of Monaco — Prin- Central Brooklyn Jazz Consor- 2002 cess Caroline, Prince Ernst July 16: Marty calls for the city’s tium to create “24–7 Jazz Brook- August of Hanover, and His Se- Continued on page 6 New York Methodist Hospital thanks Marty Markowitz for his support of Brooklyn’s hospitals and healthcare and dedicated service to our borough. A6 FAREWELL TO BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ New York City. 15–21, 2013 15–21, TIMELINE... October: Marty calls for the restoration of the historic Loew’s OVEMBER Continued from page 5 Kings Theater movie palace. , N IFE fi rst Ikea store to open in Red L Hook. Nov. 1: Marty fl ies to Jolly Olde England to promote the Brook- OURIER C Oct. 8: Marty bravely faces a lyn brand at the World Travel hostile crowd at the Park Slope Market trade show. Marty later Food Co-op to defend his support complained , “All they knew about of the unpopular Atlantic Yards Brooklyn was that it is some- project. “I’m a big boy,” he said where in New York, it has the later. “Whenever I do anything I Brooklyn Bridge and that that really believe in, it’s for the good Beckham guy has a daughter of Brooklyn.” named ‘Brooklyn.’ ” 2005 2005 Nov. 18: Marty takes aim at Jan. 20: The Brooklyn Mar- poachers targeting Brooklyn’s riott breaks ground on a project UNITED FRONTS: (Above) Marty met with Kofi Annan with a plan to woo the United beloved wild monk parrots.