The Queens Tribune Does The Gottlieb Controversy

The Queens Tribune today reports on the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Gottlieb’s entry into the Congressional District 6 race, and the paper plays it pretty straight – though it does decline to mention that the paper’s associate publisher, Michael Nussbaum, was a big part of the story this week.

More context on Nussbaum’s role in the whole affair here.

Gottlieb, 70, is an employee of the Board of Elections and has worked for a slew of Queens Democrats, including Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck), State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), Alan Hevesi and Brian McLaughlin. As an employee of the BOE, Gottlieb must take a leave of absence from his BOE duties to run for office or, if he does not wish to take a leave of absence, sign a sworn statement that says he promises not to raise, collect or receive more than $2,500 after he has filed his petitions.

Lancman lashed out at Gottlieb, Queens Democrats and the Meng campaign on Tuesday.

“It’s a complete sham candidacy, the county organization went shopping around for candidate with a Jewish last name, the first candidate turned them down, and they dug up this guy Jeff Gottlieb,” Lancman said. “It’s a completely cynical ploy to try to confuse and deceive Jewish voters.”

If the ploy Lancman alleges is true, it may work, said Andrew Beveridge, a redistricting consultant and Queens College sociology professor.

“If it’s a close election, that may be enough,” Beveridge said. “Gottlieb is such a definitively Jewish name. He could pull Jewish voters away.”

Queens Democratic Party Boss U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) denied the allegations.

“Lancman is misinformed,” Crowley said during an event Tuesday.