attorney carlo scissura the right guy to guide our · pdf fileguide our growing chamber of...

Attorney Carlo Scissura the Right Guy to Guide Our Growing Chamber of Commerce

Monday, June 30, 2014 • Brooklyn Daily Eagle • 5

Over the last several years, theBrooklyn Chamber of Commerce(BCC) had been feeling the ill effects ofthe economic downturn that wasspurred by rampant misbehavior onWall Street and endemic fraud through-out the worldwide banking community.

Despite a slow recovery, BCCmembers knew that they needed aleader with business, political andcivic experience — someone whoknew the challenges of meeting aweekly payroll, the intricacies ofpower policies at the borough, cityand state levels and who was alsoaware of the critical role that localbusinesses play in the preservationand progress of the borough’s myriadand disparate communities.

The ideal selection, many agreed,would be someone young enough todeal effectively with the daunting chal-lenges of the digital age, but with thematurity to realize the importance ofestablished institutions that are oftenunder the control of women and menwhose daily lives are not dominated bythe latest postings on Facebook, or byburgeoning Twitter twaddle.

There was one candidate who stoodout among the others and had theresume to demonstrate that he pos-sessed the background and style to meetall of the above requirements. And hejust happened to be a practicing attor-ney by the name of Carlo J. Scissura.

We all know that the BCC hasbeen booming over the past twoyears, but not that many people areaware of President Scissura’s uniquebackground.

A Pace Law School graduate, hegrew up in the classic Bensonhurstneighborhood in which communitybonds are valued and small businessesgreet their customers on a first-namebasis. He spent all of his spare time get-ting involved in social and civic associ-ations and was a champion of the mom-and-pop shops that provide thelifeblood of any thriving neighborhood.

With a neighborhood law officeon 13h Avenue, he gained a legal per-spective on local problems and capa-bilities and this convergence of skillsand interests in a bright young attor-ney attracted political officials toseek his support and counsel.

He gained more prominence byserving on the District 20Community Education Council forfive years, rising to CEC president —a position from which he inveighedas an outspoken force for increasedparental involvement.

A Cool Head DuringA Red-Hot Mall Crisis

Shortly thereafter, he was on thestaff of then Sen. Vincent Gentile and,later, was a top aide to AssemblymanPeter Abbate. Scissura was the verywell-received representative of thesetwo legislators at community meet-ings. Some of these gatherings oftenrequired him to deal with very “hot”topics, the most notable of which wasan ill-conceived proposal to erect amile-long shopping mall using the“air rights” above the Long IslandRail Road’s 65th Street track bed.

Thousands of nearby residents —including those in Dyker Heights andpart of Bay Ridge — were owners ofone- and two-family homes who hadlived for decades in a stable, middle-class environment. Construction onsuch a huge scale, with heavy trucks,pile drivers and large cranes disruptingthe streets and the air, they feared,would ruin their neighborhood. When— and if — completed, thousands ofcars and trucks would trundle overlocal streets, as the mall would draw

increasing auto and truck traffic 24hours a day, almost seven days a week.

In a victory for small businessesand “neighborhood values,” mallplanners surrendered and gave upafter an irate citizenry rose up todefend its way of life and ensure thatthe small businesses in Borough Park,Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst wouldn’tbe wiped out, their commercial vitali-ty sucked dry by a mammoth shop-ping mall astride their very doorstep.

Community organizer Scissuraemerged as a skilled communicator witha true understanding of the singularvalue of local businesses in sustaining aneighborhood and maintaining tradi-tions for which places like Bensonhurstare so well known. (He later served asemcee at 18th Avenue’s tradition-ladenBrooklyn Columbus Day Parade.)

Markowitz Tapped ScissuraAs Counsel, Then Staff Chief

Borough President MartyMarkowitz wisely engaged attorneyScissura to serve as his general coun-sel in 2008, a position in which heexcelled. From a very visibleBorough Hall, serving as centerstage, he was able to demonstrate hisexecutive as well as legal skills.Later that same year, when he waspromoted “in the field,” so to speak,and became the BP’s chief of staff, hequickly helped to restructure theMarkowitz operation, bringing itfully into the digital age and develop-ing more intimate ties with each andevery Brooklyn neighborhood.

As Markowitz approached the endof his final term, it was clear to himand other leaders that his top aidewould make an excellent Chamber ofCommerce president, so he seamless-ly moved into that vital position inSeptember 2012.

Under President Scissura, chambermembership has climbed impressive-ly. Recently, he was able to report thatthe BCC has a “record” 1,700 mem-bers, having added 200 new membersin a brief, five-month drive.

Observers agree that there issomething of the Marty Markowitzstyle in Scissura because, like hisformer boss, Carlo is constantlyengaging businesses and other insti-tutions in his subtle campaign to sell

Brooklyn as the best place to start abusiness, or grow a university.

He played a key role when thenMayor Mike Bloomberg announcedthe arrival of the “Made in NY MediaCenter” in DUMBO and has donemore than his share of work in help-ing this ultra-modern facility begin tofeel at home here.

“There is no better place thanDUMBO to bring professionals fromthe film, advertising, new media andgaming industries together in onecentral location,” he said later. “Thisnew center is also wonderful forBrooklyn businesses as a wholebecause it ensures that the boroughcontinues to attract the best and thebrightest from around the world.”

In the few years before he becameBCC president, there were many whoencouraged him to “run for” boroughpresident. Yet it became clear that thebest place he could truly help andguide his quickly-developing bor-ough was through the chamber. Hisfirst two years have proven that fact.

The still-youngish BCC head main-tains a close working relationship withBorough President Eric Adams and isstill able to roam the borough, issuinghis own positive call to arms with aslight, reassuring echo of the man whoput “Fugheddaboudit!” into the nation-al lexicon.

BBA CLE Director SeesSummer as Time for

“Last-Minute Credits”Members of the Brooklyn Bar

Association won’t be surprised that itspopular Continuing Legal Aid directoris pushing them to consider winningcredits by signing up for some of her“CD/DVD Order Options.”

“Have a birthday this summer andneed some last-minute credits?,” shewrote to members recently. “Miss aCLE with one of your favorite speak-ers? The BBA is offering an incredi-ble discount this summer before live

CLEs start up again in the fall!”Meredith Symonds has structured

this timely offering so needy attorneyscan “Mix and Match Up to 12Credits” and enjoy certain cost sav-ings. She’s got a lot more to say aboutthis and can be reached at 718-624-0675 or msymonds@brooklynbar.org.

The BBA, for those who didn’tknow, is now under the certain-to-be-inspirational leadership of PresidentRebecca Woodland, whose expertiseand delivery style have made her amuch-sought-after cable televisioncommentator on criminal matters.

Other “new” officers includePresident-elect Arthur Aidala, FirstVice President Hon. Frank Seddio,Second Vice President Aimee Richter,Secretary Dave Chidekel and TreasurerHon. Frank V. Carone. All of the abovewill benefit from the ongoing guidanceof Executive Director Avery Okin.

Did Mayor de Blasio Really“Settle” $40 Million Case?Did Mayor Bill de Blasio set a bad

precedent recently when — by omis-sion — he let go forth a number ofnews stories generally headlined “DeBlasio Grants $40 Million SettlementTo Central Park Five?”

Will victims of heinous miscar-riages of justice now look to CityHall, instead of the courts, to securefinancial redress? We put these ques-tions to an experienced trial lawyer.His reply was, “Of course not!”

“This case went through the usualprocedures, discovery, depositions,motions and so forth,” he said.

I replied, “My dear colleague, ofcourse you are right — in the legalsense — but, in the court of public per-ception, it’s likely that Mayor de Blasioopened a can of worms when he implic-itly claimed credit for the settlement.”

He countered, “Lawyers know thedifference; we know that the mayorcan’t step in and ‘settle’ a case, evenone like this where the lives of thevictimized plaintiffs were dramati-cally damaged.”

We finally agreed to disagree;lawyers may be fully aware that — con-trary to headlines and electronic mediabulletins — the mayor has no power todemand that the corporation counselpay out on such a case. But a lot of reg-ular citizens out there may still look toCity Hall to help settle their claims.

We’re not going to let this discussionend here and feel that additional legalexpertise is in order. So, we’re callingon a number of trial bar leaders for theirinsights. These include, but are not lim-ited to, Steve Harkavy, Jim Ross, MarkLongo, Roger Siegel, Craig Eaton,Mike Russo and John Lonuzzi. We anx-iously await their words of wisdom.

Who in the Heck Is Ronan Farrow?

Where did MSNBC get this kidRonan Farrow? Mia’s son? Woody’s?Yes.

Even moderate Democrats say thatMSNBC often goes too far to the polit-ical left with its news presentation andopinion shows. They also believeMSNBC does not deal in the half-truthsand untruths uttered regularly on FOX.

Back to Baby Farrow: Is it politi-cal correctness that has spawned this

very thinly-informed guy — whocan’t get past the first question with-out referring to his script — inter-viewing seriously knowledgeablepeople about the wars in the Ukraine,Afghanistan and Iraq?

Farrow was visibly miffed the dayafter the primaries when veteran U.S.Rep. Charlie Rangel won his race forthe Democratic nomination, whichmeans he easily wins his seat back inNovember. While trying to controlhis own pro-Democrat bias, he was-n’t pleased that “22-term” U.S. Rep.Rangel would continue to dawdle onin northern Manhattan and the Bronx“at the age of 84.”

Farrow was also unimpressedwhen another elderly candidate —Mississippi GOP Sen. Thad Cochran— defeated his Tea Party opponent,Dave Brat, to win the GOP primary,which, in his state, also guaranteeselection to another term — his sev-enth — in the U.S. Senate.

Farrow was concerned — almostupset — that, in Mississippi, the ThadCochran campaign had actually soughtfrantically — and wisely — forDemocrat votes; this was an “open pri-mary” in which registered voters cancross party lines, no matter what theiroriginal party preference. The flailingFarrow actually asked his distin-guished panel of talking heads thisquestion: “Is it fair that (Sen.) Cochranapproached Democratic voters to takepart in this Republican primary?”

Farrow doesn’t understand theelectoral process and he certainlydoesn’t understand what Cochran hasdone for Mississippi, which, morethan almost every other state, needsongoing federal aid!

In his three-plus decades, wrote anAfrican-American Slate columnist,Cochran has brought billions of dol-lars into the state to feed kids andbuild schools and highways, whichthe impoverished, backwater swampcould never do on its own!

PRO BONO BARRISTER is a

weekly column dedicated to tellingabout the good that lawyers do. Sendyour comments or suggestions to thiswriter care of this newspaper or toCOTEYESQ@aol.com.__________________________

Notice: Readers seeking legal rep-resentation on a Pro Bono Publicobasis should not contact this colum-nist. Rather, they should seek out theBrooklyn Bar Association VolunteerLawyers Project at 718-624-3894.

Brooklyn Chamber of Comm-erce President Carlo Scissuramarches alongside RagamuffinPresident Colleen Golden inthe Bay Ridge RagamuffinParade as 2007’s “Man of theYear.” He is also pictured atright. Eagle file photos

BBA President Rebecca Woodland