NYC: Alan Dershowitz – Harvard Law School professor, civil rights attorney and well known advocate for Israel  today endorsed Mark Green to again serve as New York City’s Public Advocate.

Mark Green who served as NYC’s first Public Advocate is now once again running for his former office and is courting the Jewish vote which he hopes will take him over the top on Primary Day, Tuesday, September 15.

“I remember Mark Green from when he was a first year law student. He came to me and said he wanted to devote his life to social justice and to repairing the world,” said Dershowitz. “His remarkable career has been devoted to the public interest and he has become a role model for generations of law students. New York City is fortunate to have had Mark Green as its Public Advocate and will be even more fortunate if he is elected once again to that important post. He is truly a mensch and a great public servant.”

“Alan has been a  teacher, mentor and friend. He was among those who taught me the important principle that I carry with me in all my public life, “those least favored in life should be most favored in law,” said Green. “When you set out to repair the world and make real changes — or what’s called tikkun olam in Hebrew —  it is important to have colleagues to help you stay on track. I look forward to working with fellow advocates like Alan to continue to deliver real results, provide social justice, and together, fix our world.”

Green is well known as a crusader for consumer rights having been NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner where he launched a city-wide “Kosher Coalition” of 22 organizations and 34 wholesalers and retailers which, for the first time, formally pledge to restrain Kosher-for-Passover prices. Green is an outspoken supporter of Israel. He once sued the US Department of Commerce successfully to release the names of American companies that complied with the Arab boycott of Israel – after Mark released those names; many of the firms abandoned the Boycott.

During Green’s tenure as NYC’s Public Advocate, he developed an image of a fierce advocate for middle class New Yorkers who needed a watchdog in the bureaucracy to make sure that city services were effectively delivered. In large part, Green defined the office of Public Advocate as a champion of ordinary New Yorkers, gaining a reputation as a fighter against big special interests hurting average consumers and citizens.

In large part, Green’s accomplishments can be enjoyed by the residents of NYC even in Mike Bloomberg’s administration. He proposed in 2001 a dedicated 311 phone number that taxpayers can call to obtain essential information and report problems. The next year Mayor Bloomberg successfully implemented it.

Now Green is looking to re-gain his old job. The Jewish Community, where Green is popular, is a regular stop for him on the campaign trail. In fact, noted Jewish civil liberties lawyer, Alan Professor Alan M. Dershowitz, a Brooklyn native who has been called “Israel’s single most visible defender” has warmly endorsed Mark saying:

Very noticeable is the effort that Green has been making to galvanize the Jewish community is a broad coalition of supporters, ranging from Crown Height’s Shea Hecht to Manhattan’s Marc Schneier; both serve as rabbis albeit serving a very diverse Jewish community.

With less than a week to go, Mark Green is polling well ahead of all his opponents. If he receives 40 percent of the vote, he will win without a runoff-which explains the effort made by the Green campaign to focus on Jewish voter turnout to propel him to victory as NYC’s next public Advocate.

According to Ezra Friedlander, a long time friend and adviser to Mark Green, the Dershowitz endorsement is a reflection of the board support that Mark enjoys in the Jewish community in recognition of Green’s 30 year record of advocating of behalf of the Jewish community and its concerns.

(Eli Gefen – YWN)