Harris & Regina-Potter Duke It Out For Assembly Seat In Dyker Heights

While most Americans were glued to their TV screens for the first Democratic primary debate last night, we were following a far more riveting rivalry: one between Democrat Pamela Harris and Republican Lucretia Regina-Potter.

The two 46th Assembly District hopefuls duked it out at St. Phillip’s Parish Hall (1072 80th Street) in Dyker Heights Tuesday night, and it didn’t take long for the gloves to come off.

During the hour-long debate, Regina-Potter repeatedly attempted to undermine Harris’ non-profit Coney Island Generation Gap for receiving government funds, comparing it to an unnamed youth organization the Republican candidate said she volunteers for, which she claims thrives only on “private donations and word-of-mouth.”

Since a coin flip had ruled that Regina-Potter would be the last to make closing remarks, she used the opportunity to take a final swing at Harris’ organization.

“I don’t have to hide behind a not-for-profit that perhaps charges rent and pays a salary to myself — like some people,” she said.

“I don’t collect a salary,” interjected Harris, but audience members were already standing up to leave. She left immediately after the debate later telling reporters that she was too upset to respond.

The Observer’s Will Bredderman reports that Regina-Potter brought documents to the forum showing the thousands of dollars the group had received from the city, with the help of Coney Island Councilman Mark Treyger.

“And you know what, sorry, it’s a disgrace,” she told Bredderman after the debate. “If somebody’s running a non-profit out of their home, they shouldn’t be collecting rent, nor should they be collecting a salary. This is not what we need: the same core of corruption over and over and over!”

Harris denied the charges, telling the Observer, “You have to be in compliance in order to stay a not-for-profit. They don’t just give money willy-nilly-ly to anybody and sit down and eat bon-bons and just give you the money. You have to be in compliance. I am in compliance and always have been and always will be.”

The 46th District chair was left vacant by former Assemblyman Alex Brook-Krasny, who stepped down from office on July 7 to work in the private sector, prompting a November 3 special election. If Regina-Potter wins, she will be the first Republican to be elected to a Brooklyn-only Assembly seat since the 1980s. If Harris wins, she will be the first black candidate to win a white-majority district in New York City’s history.

The rest of the debate, hosted by the Dyker Heights Civic Association, covered crime, schools, and illegal home conversions. Here are the highlights:

Experience

Harris cited her experience as a grassroots organizer, her 25 years as a corrections officer, and working with young adults through her non-profit as evidence that she has the chops to fix the problems in the district.

“It was a time of my life that I really got to the nitty gritty of what this community needs. I am the grassroots candidate that this district needs,” said Harris.

Regina-Potter, who has unsuccessfully run for the seat before, touted her own non-profit work with teens and her experience as a longtime Dyker Heights community member who is familiar with the problems in the neighborhood.

“The people want change, and they want someone that respects them. Someone who has been down and dirty in the neighborhood sees firsthand, and experiences firsthand, what is going on in the neighborhood,” she said.

A Divided District

Several audience members asked the candidates how they will serve the needs of both the Coney Island and Dyker Heights/Bay Ridge communities, which share a district, but are divided along demographic and socioeconomic lines.

Harris pointed to common challenges facing both communities, including illegal home conversions, which excessively tax sanitation services and schools in both neighborhoods, as well as underfunded parks across southern Brooklyn.

“I’m pointing out the commonalities that we do have that marry our communities,” said Harris. “We have to find better ways.”

Regina Potter, similarly, insisted that the two neighborhood were not divided at all “except geographically.”

“Going into Coney Island — the real Coney Island, not the rides — there are issues with housing, there are real issues with crime. Going into Brighton, there are transportation issues that encompass the whole district,” she said.

At-Risk Teenagers

Both candidates agreed that criminality age for non-violent offenders should be raised from 16 to 18.

Illegal Home Conversions

Both candidates said they would work with city agencies already in place to crack down on housing violations.

Charter School Expansion

Regina-Potter said that she would lobby both for charter school expansion and for tax deductions for parents who send their children to private school.

“The simple fact is that if the public school system were doing their jobs, there would be no need for charter schools, so I do think it needs to be expanded. Parents should be given the choice where to send their children and not be limited by the zip code in which they live in,” she said.

Harris is supportive of some charter schools which do good work, but lamented that public schools are underfunded.

“One thing we have to do is stop pitting kids against kids. It’s not our kids’ fault that they are not getting funding they need,” she said

She added that she is against co-locating charter schools.

“We have to allow our kids to take ownership over our schools. This will allow them to succeed. Coney island Prep Charter School had its own space and it worked. I am so proud of that particular charter school,” she said.

Small Businesses

Regina Potter: “$15 minimum wage imposed on small business owners is a travesty. Small business owners need to get government off their backs and pay a fair amount of taxes.”

Harris: “Tax breaks for small businesses are extremely important. But also teach businesses how to not get fined for small issues by forming a merchants’ association. It’s not bureaucracy. It’s called working together.”

Update (October 15): An earlier version of this article included a quote by Regina-Potter to the Observer describing a “whore of corruption.” She told us she said “core of corruption.” We have updated the article accordingly.