Heastie's Hasty Ascent

Fifteen years ago, Carl Heastie was a budget analyst in the New York city comptroller's office. Today, his colleagues are expected to elect him to the most powerful post the Assembly. But Heastie’s rapid ascent comes amid questions about his use of campaign and public funds.

Even for those who have followed his career, Heastie barely drew notice. “He was such a quiet legislator," said Bob Kappstatter, former New York Daily News Bronx Bureau Chief. "My first memory of him was when the county leader at the time was being criticized for keeping all the goodies for the Puerto Ricans in the party.” Heastie, who is black, was elected in an internal party coup.  “He’s a consensus kind of a leader,” Kapstatter said.  “He’s not a divider.”

That’s a description of Heastie that remains consistent, as is his reputation as a man who carries out political business behind closed doors. He is rarely quoted in the press. Heastie did not respond to repeated requests for an interview from WNYC.

New York City Council member Vanessa Gibson knows Heastie well. She was a staffer for the Bronx Democratic party when Heastie emerged as chairman in 2008 — following the coup. After Heastie took over, she said, the party changed. “From that point, we got to see a lot of candidates, women, women of color, stepping up to judgships.”

But for all the praise supporters have for Heastie, he has also drawn scrutiny for his spending habits, including campaign expenses that have not been itemized and more than $23,000 in reimbursement requests related to Assembly travel, among other things.

Those two practices have been criticized by government watchdogs. And advocates like Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, have complained that Heastie’s ascent to Speaker has been well - too hasty.

“We think that there should be at least one public forum in which the contenders for the office of speaker answer some questions and basically lay out their case for why they would be the right person," Lerner said, adding she wanted to see more of a plan on “what they would do to ensure that corruption is routed out and discouraged."

Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle announced last week a vote would be taken on Feb. 10. On Monday, he said the consensus was clear. There was no need to wait to vote.

Queens Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, the only female candidate, tried to hold her colleagues to that date. But by days end — without enough support behind her — she bowed out. 

In Heastie’s district, on East Gun Hill Road, the door to caterer Jane Smith’s business — just two doors away from Heastie’s office — was propped open last Friday. She dropped battered chicken legs into a pot of hot oil.  Before Heastie was a politician, he was her customer.

She said Heastie will represent all people.

“Most of the time when you have people in position, if for instance they are Jews, they are inclined to help just Jews and if they are Spanish, they are inclined to help just Spanish ... But I did not find that with him."

 Now, voters in New York will see what Heastie is inclined to do for them.