Presidential-hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton has set the stage for her campaign headquarters in the same borough as hip-hop greats, Christopher “Notorious B.I.G” Wallace and Sean “Jay Z” Carter, once called home. The campaign, whose address is in Brooklyn’s premier One Pierrepont Plaza, is aimed at attracting young and hip American voters. While Clinton herself works out of a midtown office, the campaign’s Chairman and Vice Chairman both run day-to-day operations from the 11th floor of the “offices-for-rent” building.
In an effort to attract millennials and the like, her husband, former United States President Bill Clinton, is throwing Hillary a fund-raiser party at one of Brooklyn’s hippest venues, Brooklyn Bowl. Slated for Feb. 17, tickets for the two-hour event are running from $250 to $1,700. Whether or not the lady of the hour will be present for the festivities is unknown, however, the event will include a photo reception with Mr. Clinton himself.
Mrs. Clinton isn’t the only one who’s looking toward Brooklyn for a campaign boost. Bushwick’s very own House of Yes venue hosted a “Big Ass Party for Bernie” event in an effort to raise funds for Democratic Clinton rival, Bernie Sanders. The event’s promoters, whose tickets were for a more modest $20 in advance -- $30 at the door, promised 100 percent of its proceeds were to be passed on to the “Bernie’s campaign for President.” The affair featured hip-hop break-dancers, burlesque performers, sword-swallowers and aerialists, among others.
Sanders is no stranger to Brooklyn. Before his days of a becoming a Vermont politician, he was born and raised in Brooklyn. In fact, Sanders attended CUNY’s Brooklyn College from 1959-1960 before transferring to the University of Chicago where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in 1964. Sanders has previously challenged Clinton to a debate in Brooklyn. While she has yet to accept or respond to Sanders’ challenge, both she and Bill have previously suggested that this election year’s Democratic National Convention be held in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn was hardly ever a place anyone would have thought to be a presidential hopeful’s campaign headquarters. Once known for its gritty streets, Brooklyn has seen a massive transformation. The borough was once solely known for its culture of violence and abundance of drugs.
These days, however, the County of Kings has turned its image around and is now one of the most desirable locales this side of the United States. In the past decades, roughneck neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Bushwick, and even Bedford Stuyvesant have undergone major changes in their respective communities. Other neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Crown Heights and Flatbush are currently seeing a rash of high-rise developments going on within their neighborhood blocks.
Adding to Brooklyn’s lore was the additions of the NBA-franchise the Brooklyn Nets along with its arena, the Barclay’s center, in downtown Brooklyn. Interestingly, this has catapulted Brooklyn to the status of a brand, resulting in the DNC looking to hold its convention in Pittsburgh.
