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Marty Markowitz Throws $122,000 Inaugural Bash
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 1, 2010
Modified Mar 1, 2010
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By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 1, 2010
Modified Mar 1, 2010
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In the poor economy many politicians have scaled back their inaugural celebrations, but not Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz, who drummed up $122,000 to turn his State of the Borough Address into a carnival featuring song and dance acts, beer, food and a "multimedia production." "Marty's famous for finding every opportunity to host big events on behalf of Brooklyn and not incidentally on behalf of Marty," said David Birdsell, a dean at Baruch College. "The question is whether it's politically useful."
Markowitz has proven himself a whiz at fund-raising, taking Brooklyn developers and business owners for maximum contributions, both for his campaign and for his inaugural party. Consultant George Arzt says asking campaign donors to chip in for the festivities is a common approach: "You may have shaken all the trees [to get elected], but these people want to stay with you now that you're victorious," he said. Markowitz far outspent at least three other borough presidents who, according to the Daily News, "spent a few thousand on cookie and coffee affairs."
Tagged
beer
brooklyn
brooklyn borough president
food
fundrasing
marty markowitz
party
state of the borough address
Sabrina Jaszi
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