Brooklyn politics pauses for Junior’s cheesecake breakfast

November 4, 2022 Rob Abruzzese

Mayor Eric Adams with Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Assemblymember and Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

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DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Every year the biggest names in local politics descend on Junior’s Restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn on the Friday before Election Day. It’s a brief respite from running campaigns as even the governor and the mayor are regulars at the annual event.

Hosted by political leader Steve Cohn, formerly a District Leader in the Democratic 50th Assembly District, and a past president at the Brooklyn Bar Association, the breakfast has been going on for over 30 years now.

“We’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” Cohn said. “It’s a tremendous event, we welcome everyone and it gives us all a break from the campaigns where you can just come and be cordial to one another and share a meal and some cheesecake. It has really become a wonderful tradition in Brooklyn.”

Steve Cohn hosted Gov. Kathy Hochul, the mayor, and many other local politicians during his annual Cheesecake Breakfast held at Junior’s Restaurant.
Eagle photos by Robert Abruzzese

Even though it was slowed down for two years due to COVID, the Cheesecake breakfast was as big on Friday as it has been in over a decade. Not only were the mayor and the governor both there, but Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul get along, unlike their predecessors, so there was no confusion as to which one would attend since they were both there on Friday.

“I just want to thank Steve because he’s been inviting me to this event for so long that I remember the first time I was here someone said, ‘who is Kathy Hochul?’” Governor Hochul joked. “But you knew who I was and today I’m proud to be here as the Governor.”

In addition to the mayor and the governor, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, Democratic Party Boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Attorney General Letitia James, Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York Justice Carolyn Walker-Diallo, and dozens of other politicians and judges were in attendance.

From left: Hon. Joanne Quinones, Hon. Craig Walker, Hon. Cheryl Gonzales, Attorney General Letitia James, and Hon. Sharen Hudson. Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese

Brooklyn’s judiciary was especially well represented. Judges who are running for election, or just wrapped up an election are allowed to attend political events such as this one, and they showed up in large numbers to show their support on Friday.

“Brooklyn’s judiciary is one of, if not the best in the country,” Cohn said. “We’re very proud of our judges and we were thrilled to see so many of them show up today.”

Cohn explained that he is serious about the event being a respite from the campaign and allows all local politicians to attend, even those going against each other. On Friday, a former member of Brooklyn’s Democratic party and current member of its Republican party was in attendance. When one attendee joked that he shouldn’t be allowed in, Cohn was quick to shut the joke down and explained that all are welcome to share in the cheesecake.