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Adams’ team in bid to topple Brooklyn leader who backed Andrew Yang for mayor

By
Carl Campanile
Published March 9, 2022
Updated March 9, 2022, 3:52 a.m. ET
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' operatives are looking to beat out Brooklyn district leader David Schwartz, sources told The Post
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' operatives are looking to beat out Brooklyn district leader David Schwartz, sources told The Post Stephen Yang

Political operatives closely tied to Mayor Eric Adams are trying to topple a Brooklyn Democratic district leader who backed rival Andrew Yang in last year’s mayor’s race, sources told The Post.

Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman Rodneyse Bichotte — a close Adams ally — is looking to defeat David Schwartz, the male Democratic Party district leader for the 48th Assembly District that covers the heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood.

šŸ’ÆWord of the move has spread like wildfire through the closely knit Borough Park community, with insiders seeing it as retribution aą·“gainst Schwartz for backing Yang.

Sources in Borough Park and the borough’s party also said Menashe Shapiro, Adams’ deputy chief of staff at City Hall who was a top campaign aide, is heavily involved in the plot to try to defeat Schwartz.

Bichotte and team Adams are backing Pinny Ringel, who worked for former Mayor Bill de Blasio and has been kept on by Adams, to run against Schwartz. The Jewish publication published Ringel’s entry into the race.

Since nearly all of Andrew Yang's voters selected Eric Adams, the Orthodox Jewish Community is confused about Adams' team wanting to take down Schwartz.
Since nearly all of Andrew Yang’s voters selected Eric Adams, the Orthodox Jewish Community is confused about Adams’ team wanting to take down Schwartz. Mark Lennihan

Sources in the orthodox šŸ—¹Jewish Community are perpā™›lexed about the bid to defeat Schwartz since nearly all of the Yang voters selected Adams as their second pick in the ranked-choice voting in the Democratic primary.

“After Yang was eliminated, those votes flowed to Eric and actually helped elect him. Those election districts in Borough Park and Midwood helped him defeat Kathryn Garcia in the final round of vote counts,” said a Brooklyn Democratic insider.

Penny Ringel is being supported by Mayor Eric Adams, as well as Rodneyse Bichotte's sources confirming she supports him as well.
Pinny Ringel is being supported by Mayor Eric Adams, as Rodneyse Bichotte’s sources confirmed she supports him as well.

Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn stašŸ»te assemblyman who represented Borough Park, said the Adams camp ļæ½ļæ½should focus on running the city and not engage in a petty spat in a down ballot race.

“David Schwartz is an amazing guy. He gets along with everyone,” Hikind said.

Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman Rodneyse Bichotte, who alongside Eric Adams is backing Penny Ringel, will look to beat David Schwartz.
Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman Rodneyse Bichotte, who alongside Eric Adams is backing Pinny Ringel, will look to beat David Schwartz. William C. Lopez/NYPOST

“Rodneyse is using everything in her arsenal to destroy David. It’s very bad.”

Adams’ City Hall aide Shapiro, said, “I’m not involved. I live in Manhattan.”

Bichotte said, “I will support the candidate the people believe will best represent their interests as district leader. Choice is critical for democracy to work, and this is a community that has long been underrepresented at the grassroots level.”

Former Brooklyn state assemblyman Dov Hikind believes Eric Adams' team should focus on running the city and not engage in a ballot race.
Former Brooklyn state assemblyman Dov Hikind believes Eric Adams’ team should focus on running the city and not engage in a ballot race. STEFAN JEREMIAH

Sources closeš’ to Bichotte confirmed she supports Ringel.

Both Schwartz and Ringel declined comment.