Marty Markowitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marty Markowitz
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Markowitz in 2007
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| 17th Borough President of Brooklyn | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Howard Golden |
| Succeeded by | Eric Adams |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 1979 – December 31, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Jeremiah B. Bloom |
| Succeeded by | Carl Andrews |
| Constituency | 19th district (1979–1982) 21st district (1983–1992) 20th district (1993–2001) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1945 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jamie Snow |
| Education | Brooklyn College (BA) |
Martin Markowitz, born on Valentine's Day in 1945, is an American politician. He was the borough president of Brooklyn, New York City, for many years. Before that, he served as a New York State Senator for over two decades. He was first elected as Brooklyn's borough president in 2001, and his final term ended in December 2013.
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Early Life and Education
Martin Markowitz was born on February 14, 1945, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. His father, Robert, worked as a waiter at a deli. When Marty was nine, his father passed away. His mother, Dorothy, then moved the family to affordable apartments in Sheepshead Bay.
Marty graduated from Wingate High School in Brooklyn in 1962. He took classes at night at Brooklyn College for nine years. In 1970, he earned his bachelor's degree in political science.
Political Journey
Markowitz started his public service career in 1971, at age 26. He created the Flatbush Tenants Council in Flatbush, Brooklyn. This group helped people who rented homes. It grew into Brooklyn Housing & Family Services, which is now a very large organization helping tenants in New York State.
Serving in the State Senate
He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1979 to 2001. During his time as a senator, he was known for starting free oceanfront concerts and other festivals.
Running for Borough President
Markowitz first ran for borough president in 1985. He did not win against the person already in office, Howard Golden.
He was elected as borough president in 2001 as the candidate for the Democratic Party. He was re-elected on November 8, 2005, with a large majority of the votes.
As Brooklyn Borough President
Borough presidents in New York City do not have a lot of direct power. However, Markowitz used his position to strongly support Brooklyn. He worked hard to bring more tourists and events to the borough.
During the major power outage in 2003, he stood on the Brooklyn Bridge. He cheered on Brooklyn residents walking home from Manhattan, welcoming them back to Brooklyn. He did something similar during the 2005 New York City transit strike. He invited Brooklynites into Borough Hall for warm drinks. He also often spoke at public schools for events like performances and graduations.
Markowitz continued to support affordable housing. He helped create thousands of affordable homes in Brooklyn. He also worked to save Starrett City, a very large affordable housing complex. His goal was to keep it affordable forever.
He worked to grow Brooklyn's economy. This included improving areas like Coney Island and downtown Brooklyn. He also helped clean up Newtown Creek and encouraged new businesses. He supported Brooklyn's medical institutions and worked to keep senior centers open. He also helped create two new schools in Brooklyn.
Markowitz founded and hosts the Seaside Summer Concert Series, which started in 1979. It is New York City's largest free weekly concert series. He also started the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series in 1983. This is the nation's largest free public concert series for African American and Caribbean audiences. He supported Brooklyn's cultural community and worked to restore the Loew's Kings Theatre. He hosted yearly events at Borough Hall to celebrate Brooklyn's many different cultures. Markowitz also worked to create Brooklyn's first-ever LGBT Center.
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As borough president, he started many programs to improve life in Brooklyn. These included Shop Brooklyn, Camp Brooklyn, and the jobs-for-youth Summer HEAT program. He also created Dine in Brooklyn restaurant week and the Brooklyn Book Festival.
The Barclays Center Project
Markowitz was a strong supporter of the Atlantic Yards complex, now called Pacific Park. This project includes the Barclays Center arena. The arena is home to the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. Markowitz had wanted to bring an NBA team to Brooklyn since he first ran for borough president. He helped convince Bruce Ratner to buy the Nets in 2004. Ratner said Markowitz would call him often to talk about the idea.
The Barclays Center opened on September 28, 2012. The opening concert featured Brooklyn-born rapper Jay-Z.
Bike Lane Discussion
In 2009, the NYC Department of Transportation planned to add a two-way protected bicycle lane on Prospect Park West. Markowitz wrote a letter opposing this plan. The bike lane was meant to make the street safer for people walking. A study showed that many cars were driving too fast there. The bike lane was completed in June 2010, even though Markowitz continued to disagree with it. Markowitz lives in Windsor Terrace, which is on Prospect Park West.
Considering a Mayoral Run
Markowitz thought about running for mayor of New York in the 2009 and 2013 elections. However, he decided not to run either time.
Personal Life
Markowitz and his wife, Jamie Snow, were married in 1999. They live in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.
