Picking Winners and Losers Part 2: Aronim and Zalis

This is continued from part 1, dissecting a Real Winners and Losers list.

Aronim 
According to that list: "Aronim - The minority chasidic sect in Williamsburg pulled off big victories yesterday. They took a risk in an early endorsement for Bill de Blasio for Mayor effectively shutting out their rival Zalis form the de Blasio world."

"Early endorsement," seriously? How early? "They took a risk," how risky was it? Their endorsement was made September 4, with less than a week to the primary election, (unusually late for these endorsements to be made, especially given the fact that it is traditionally publicized in the community's weekly, but the late endorsement meant that it missed the last edition before the elections), and only after de Blasio was trouncing all his opponents in all the polls for more than a week. If anything, they were risk-aversive to an extreme, and it proofs that the only principal that matters to them is how strong one is in the polls. That strategy may help them win lists, but no political good-will.

He goes on that the Aroni endorsement is "effectively shutting out their rival Zalis form the de Blasio world." What is this suppose to be: a prophecy? Actually, just last week the same blog posted a statement of Mr. deBlasio reacting to the Zali endorsement for the general elections. “I am honored to have the support of the Satmar community, as well as so many others,” said de Blasio. “I plan to work together with them as Mayor..."

But one shouldn't be surprised of this. If the author's facts about the near past are so skewed, what is to expect of his predictions.

Wow: three lies in one sentence. This guy is a genius. Of course you have to label that "real."

And what is the supposed Aroni victory: "shutting out their rival Zalis form the de Blasio world."  This goes to proof what they stand for: Nothing on what they gained. Just shutting out others. Fortunately, there is no basis to the claim that their goal materialized. If anything, the record proves the opposite.

And what about Bobov?

The writer continues to explain the Aroni win: "Along with the powerful bloc vote of the Bobov community in Boro Park they played a big role in racking up huge number for Councilman David Greenfield’s victory over his lying competitor. Keep an eye on this new Satmar/Bobov alliance. Observers noticed that they seem to be moving in tandem these days."

Here, they share their win with Bobov. I think it's the first time that YW so prominently displays Bobov as a voting power, and they really had a huge turnout this time around, versus the no-show Aronis. They certainly deserve a heading as winners, yet YW credits the whole win of this purported alliance to the Aronis. Goes to show that he's pushing the Aroni agenda, and knowing that it will be too much of a joke to declare them as the voting power in BP, he tries to peg them and hitch-hike on Bobov's strong political organizing, by creating a non-existent alliance.

Zalis 

On the other hand, the Zalis prove again - during both, the primaries and general elections - that their endorsements deliver.

At the primaries, Bill Thompson had his best numerical showing in their Assembly district 50, thanks to winning the Hasidic election district 2-1.

A day after the primaries, that same writer said this about one his declared "real" winners:
"Sure their Mayoral candidate, Bill Thompson is on the ropes, but he won their neighborhood overwhelmingly." (Okay, this group was supporting one of the few candidates actually ending up winning after receiving huge amounts of PAC dollar directed by David Greenfield). This statement, for $ome rea$on, doesn't apply to the Zalis.

On Tuedsay, of all the Orthodox neighborhoods, Mr. de Blasio had the best showing by far in Williamsburg's Hasidic areas, as clearly shown on the election results map. For $ome rea$on, the supposed "Aroni-Bobuv alliance" didn't affect those in top of the ballot in BP. It goes to show again that Rabbi Niederman is the address to gain the largest solid bloc of voters, versus in other areas where voters are splintered an don't follow their community leaders as much.

Williamsburg election results - solid blue

Notwithstanding the actual results, that blog had this to say this about the Zalis.

"Zalis - It’s not easy to drop from power so quickly but the Zalis appear to have done just that. Since Vito Lopez’s fall from grace, the Zalis no longer have anyone to advise them or protect them. Maybe that’s why they stuck with Bill Thompson when everyone else went with de Blasio, maybe that’s why they granted Joe Hynes a last minute meeting and threw out pashkevils on Aroni supporters of Hynes who went on to a historic defeat. Maybe that’s why they were the only mosod who refused to endorse Greenfield for re-election. Maybe that’s why they need to start looking internally for new political leadership before they become completely irrelevant."

Does anyone see here why the Zalis lost Tuesday night?
Did something happen to Mr. Lopez on Tuesday? Did they stick with Mr. Thompson for the general election?

He throws out an accusation about Paskevilin by the Zalis against a Thompson supporter.

Fact of the matter is that the guy leading Mr. Hynes' campaign within the Jewish community is of the Aroni camp and is very close to David Greenfield; he attacked Garry Schlesinger on Twitter with the same accusations made on these pashkevilin. So, if I would had to guess who threw them out, I would pick on him. Still, the writer decided to blame the Zalis. Can someone explain this, beside some agenda?

Furthermore, the racist Yiddish ads against Mr. Thompson, were placed by an official aide to Councilman David Greenfield. Still, Greenfield happened to end up in the winner's column, although attacking a Mr. Thompson supporter seems to be a clear-cut losing proposition. This is suspended for further clarification.

On Election night, Mr. Thompson graciously embraced Rabbi Niederman. So, I guess the writer knows better what Mr. Thompson really thinks than him-self.
The only thing in this in-cohesive paragraph related to Tuesday night, is the "Maybe that’s why they were the only mosod who refused to endorse Greenfield for re-election." I don't know what's behind this, if this is true, and if the Zalis in BP usually do formal endorsements. But to declare someone a loser for a non-endorsement? This shows that the blogger serves to someone's totalitarian agenda, and this is why the Zalis were thrown into this loser column. Given the persistent reports that Greenfield worked against the Zalis in Williamsburg, I would have viewed an endorsement as a real loss. Sticking up for your-self, if they had, is just decent human nature. 

Bottom line: The Real "Real Winners & Losers"

Zalis / Niederman - Winners
They prove again that they are the largest solid bloc vote, being the only ones in the Orthodox community delivering a resounding victory for Bil deBalsio.

On Primary night they where one of the few Thompson strongholds, again proving their reliability and cohesive voting pattern - a scarce commodity in the current age, and politicians know that it pays to gain it. Given Mr. Thompson's weakness elsewhere, their powerful bloc was noticed by pundits and politicos citywide as one of the few Thompson islands, and they were declared winner by the NY Times (oh, it didn't say "real...).

Steve Levin won resoundingly in the primary, and the Aronis where scared out from endorsing his opponent, knowing that it will end with a Zali blowout. This is after leading an anti-Levin crusade during four years, and after he was threatened by the "race of his life," by the real-list author's predecessor.

Aronis - Losers

They kept back their endorsement in the primary until the 11th hour (in the process, they promised it to Christine Quinn, only to betray her), when the winner was clear already, proving that they are unreliable and the only way to win their vote is to win without them. Bil deBlasio would have avoided a runoff without their votes.

The election maps showed that they were outgunned once again 2-1, and it was widely noticed.

In the general elections, their boasting that they can deliver in Borough Park fell flat, with Bill deBlsio trailing Lhota, versus in Williasmburg, where the Zalis support resulted in his strongest showing of any Orthodox neighborhood.

During the primary they attacked relentlessly Mr. Levin, but didn't have the guts to walk the walk and oppose him, reinforcing that when you win the Aronis won't oppose you, and when you lose, they won't support you.

This post - as any other post on this blog - is meant to be real.

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