David Storobin has has some pretty close connections (dare we say "links") to locally based extremists, both within the 27th State Senate District and among the faction of extreme rightwingers now in control of the Brooklyn Republican Party.
In June and July 2010, there were a series of very ugly confrontations involving a proposed "mosque" (Islamic Cultural Center) at a Sheepshead Bay site (2812 Voorhies Avenue). In attendance at some of those confrontations was a notable figure who opposed that proposed cultural center, Dr. John K. Press from Manhattan. At the time Dr. Press was the figurehead president of the Brooklyn Tea Party (some in the movement say Press was put in there by the current Republican candidate for State Senate, David Storobin, and at least one of Storobin’s current key supporters in his run for Kruger's vacated senate seat).
While the dispute over "The Sheepshead Bay Mosque" was hot, Dr. John K. Press was interviewed on the July 24, 2010 episode of the Brooklyn GOP Blog Radio Show (the Dr. Press interview started at about the 30 min. point of that program). The Republican blog show was entitled "Movers and Shakers..." by its host Gene Berardelli, who conducted the questioning and made significant commentary along with his sort of co-host Russell Gallo. Gallo and Berardelli are now two of David Storobin’s most vocal local supporters, they are part of the Kings County Republican Leadership and are key operatives of Brooklyn Republican Chairman Craig Eaton, who pushed through David Storobin's nomination to run for the Kruger seat vacancy.
Throughout the program Berardelli and Gallo expressed a strong support for the positions as they were described and explained by Press, which the Doktor called "Culturism" but which most contemporary observers would refer to as racism, bigotry or anti-Islamic bias. On that program Dr. Press announced a meeting of the Brooklyn Tea Party the very next day, at 2:00PM July 25, 2010 at Kosher Hut, 709 Kings Highway. It is believed that David Storobin and several of his current supporters attended that and several similar meetings conducted by Dr. Press at that location. Near the end of the interview, Gene Berardelli specifically said, "Dr. Press, we’re really glad you are leading this movement (its not clear whether Berardelli meant the anti-mosque movement, or the Tea Party movement, or both)....This (Dr. Press) is the kind of mover and shaker that we need here in Brooklyn..."
What is clear from this is that David Storobin has current and other recent alliances and interactions with racist, or as they prefer "culturist," extremists, who have been active in the Brooklyn Republican Party and even inside the 27th State Senate District.
Some of Mr. Storobin’s personal statements about "the Sheepshead Bay mosque" are contained at: David Storobin Vice Chair of the Brooklyn … www.youtube.com/watch?v=sreT-jBVKl4
David Storobin has has some pretty close connections (dare we say "links") to locally based extremists, both within the 27th State Senate District and among the faction of extreme rightwingers now in control of the Brooklyn Republican Party.
In June and July 2010, there were a series of very ugly confrontations involving a proposed "mosque" (Islamic Cultural Center) at a Sheepshead Bay site (2812 Voorhies Avenue). In attendance at some of those confrontations was a notable figure who opposed that proposed cultural center, Dr. John K. Press from Manhattan. At the time Dr. Press was the figurehead president of the Brooklyn Tea Party (some in the movement say Press was put in there by the current Republican candidate for State Senate, David Storobin, and at least one of Storobin’s current key supporters in his run for Kruger's vacated senate seat).
While the dispute over "The Sheepshead Bay Mosque" was hot, Dr. John K. Press was interviewed on the July 24, 2010 episode of the Brooklyn GOP Blog Radio Show (the Dr. Press interview started at about the 30 min. point of that program). The Republican blog show was entitled "Movers and Shakers..." by its host Gene Berardelli, who conducted the questioning and made significant commentary along with his sort of co-host Russell Gallo. Gallo and Berardelli are now two of David Storobin’s most vocal local supporters, they are part of the Kings County Republican Leadership and are key operatives of Brooklyn Republican Chairman Craig Eaton, who pushed through David Storobin's nomination to run for the Kruger seat vacancy.
Throughout the program Berardelli and Gallo expressed a strong support for the positions as they were described and explained by Press, which the Doktor called "Culturism" but which most contemporary observers would refer to as racism, bigotry or anti-Islamic bias. On that program Dr. Press announced a meeting of the Brooklyn Tea Party the very next day, at 2:00PM July 25, 2010 at Kosher Hut, 709 Kings Highway. It is believed that David Storobin and several of his current supporters attended that and several similar meetings conducted by Dr. Press at that location. Near the end of the interview, Gene Berardelli specifically said, "Dr. Press, we’re really glad you are leading this movement (its not clear whether Berardelli meant the anti-mosque movement, or the Tea Party movement, or both)....This (Dr. Press) is the kind of mover and shaker that we need here in Brooklyn..."
What is clear from this is that David Storobin has current and other recent alliances and interactions with racist, or as they prefer "culturist," extremists, who have been active in the Brooklyn Republican Party and even inside the 27th State Senate District.
Some of Mr. Storobin’s personal statements about "the Sheepshead Bay mosque" are contained at: David Storobin Vice Chair of the Brooklyn … www.youtube.com/watch?v=sreT-jBVKl4