Jonathan Greenspun

Jonathan Greenspun, a Republican consultant who was in attendance for the AIPAC appearances of John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama this week, had a tepid reaction to Obama's speech this morning in D.C.

Among the highlights of the speech was Obama's assertion that the Iraq war had made Israel less safe and his call for Jerusalem to remain the undivided capital of Israel.  read more »

From time to time, politicians attending parades come in for derision. It's less often that you see scorn directed publicly at the dutiful staffers who accompany them.  read more »

Mayor Bloomberg just announced Patrick J. Brennan as the long-awaited replacement to Jonathan Greenspun as head of the Community Asssistance Unit, an office that has taken on renewed importance and prominence since all the demonstrations and hard feelings started in the city's Orthodox community a couple of months ago. After rumors that Terry Tolbert or Fred Kreizman might get the nod, the choice of Brennan seems, in retrospect, like an obvious one.

After all, Brennan has worked as golden boy Kevin Sheakey's Shief of Staff and played a significant role in Bloomberg's reelction campaign as head ofcommunity outreach.

The mayor also picked Christopher Coffey as Deputy Commissioner for Operations, and Fred Kreizman, who in the early stages seemed to be up for the top job, as Assistant Commissioner of Citywide Outreach.

As Ben noted in his column this week, there had been a movement within City Hall to give the position to an African-American. (Thus the early rumors about Tolbert.)

The lesson is probably this: Never underestimate Kevin Sheekey.

—Jason Horowitz

Michael Fragin just sent out an e-mail informing colleagues that Wednesday will be his last day working in the Governor's office, as he is taking a job as the Vice President of Strategic Planning at the Battery Park Authority. Mr. Fragin confirmed the move and emphasized that he is "still part of the Pataki orbit." He also said that the move has nothing to do with the demonstrations in Borough Park or Jonathan Greenspun's moving on as liaison to the Jewish community for the Bloomberg administration. -- Jason Horowitz

Ben Smith reports that Jonathan Greenspun is moving on to Mercury Public Affairs, leaving his unofficial post as the Bloomberg administration's liaison to the Jewish community.

His departure, of course, comes only a few weeks after the protests in Borough Park. In the aftermath of the demonstrations, many people in the community said they felt they had less access to the Mayor than they did under Giulliani and his chief of staff and Jewish liaison Bruce Teitelbaum.

On the other hand, Bloomberg hasn't had to make the concessions that Giuliani and Teitelbaum granted in exchange for political support from the Hasidic community.

If Bloomberg indeed goes with Tolbert, that could be taken as another blow against quid pro quo politics.

- Jason Horowitz

On April 6, with Passover only a few days away, young men with yarmulkes on their heads and cardboar  read more »