Steve Cohn’s annual breakfast keeps Brooklyn’s political tradition alive

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November 4, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Pictured from left to right: Alan Rosen, owner of Junior’s Restaurant; District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Steve Cohn, the former district leader and host of the annual Cheesecake Breakfast; and Scott Stringer, former NYC comptroller, gather at Junior’s in Downtown Brooklyn for the annual event, a pre-election tradition that brings together Brooklyn’s political and legal community. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

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Brooklyn’s political figures gathered once again on Friday, Nov. 1, for the annual Cheesecake Breakfast hosted by former district leader Steve Cohn at Junior’s Restaurant. This event, held each year on the Friday before Election Day, has become a hallmark of collegiality in the borough’s political scene.

This year’s breakfast saw a smaller crowd of prominent attendees, with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams both absent. However, Attorney General Letitia James and Kings County Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte were among the politicians who gave brief addresses to the gathered crowd, reinforcing the event’s historical role as a forum for unity rather than active campaigning.

James delivered a spirited message, urging attendees to consider the broader implications of the upcoming presidential election.

From left: Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, statewide coordinating judge for matrimonial matters; Steve Cohn; and Hon. Nancy Sunshine, county clerk, commissioner of jurors clerk of the Supreme Court. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Hon. Adam Perlmutter (left) and Michael Farkas. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Andrew Rendeiro and Hon. Deepa Ambekar. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

From left: Anthony Vaughn, Jr., president of the Brooklyn Bar Association; Patrick Dinko; Steve Cohn; Salvatore Scibetta; and Rabbi Eliyahu Raskin. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Musa Moore (left) and Scott Stringer, former NYC Comptroller. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Attorney General Letitia James delivers a passionate address on the importance of the upcoming election. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Kings County Democratic Party chair, addresses the crowd with Steve Cohn standing behind her. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

The Cheesecake Breakfast, now in its third decade, maintains a distinctly low-key atmosphere where political adversaries and allies alike gather for a slice of cheesecake and informal conversation. Cohn, who served as district leader for the 50th Assembly District for 27 years and who once held the title of Brooklyn Bar Association president, created the event as a tradition that values camaraderie over rivalry.

Known for his deep roots in Brooklyn’s political and legal landscape, Cohn’s career spans decades as an advocate for community issues, from environmental justice to neighborhood safety. The breakfast, a tribute to his legacy, continues to be one of Brooklyn’s most enduring political traditions, reminding its attendees of the borough’s shared values and the relationships that shape its politics.