Dumbo real estate family gave $33k+ to geek’ mayoral candidate campaign

Mayoral hopefuls came out Monday to walk Eastern Parkway through the Crown Heights neighborhood, the final big push to court likely voters before Tuesday’s primary election. Candidates were there to take part in the West Indian Day Parade.

Jack Hidary was there, though the self-styled Geek for Mayor does not face a primary challenger as he is running under his own “Jobs and Education” party. His campaign supporters can be seen in the above photo, as they crossed Nostrand Avenue. Hidary grew up south of Crown Heights, in Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway neighborhood.

According to the Wall Street Journal’s report on his latest financial disclosures, Hidary has ties to 18 companies, serves as the president of five and a managing member of four. He made most of his money last year off of investments. The latest online posting of his contributors can be seen on the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s searchable database.

Among his top contributors are those with ties to Midtown Equities, the real estate firm now working to rehab Dumbo’s Empire Stores and the Cayre family, which founded the company to manage their real estate investments. They gave, collectively, approximately $33, 350 to the campaign since June. Searches for donations from the Cayre family and Midtown Equities to other candidates since January don’t reveal any contributions.

While Hidary made his name on the digital side of technology and that’s where he directs most of his campaign chatter, many of his Brooklyn donors have ties to the apparel industry, such as Cookies Department Store, Adjmi Apparel, Rainbow Shops, Cherry Stix Ltd. and baby accessories and housewares makers, The Betesh Group.

The top video in his JackforNYC YouTube channel leads with the growth of the New York tech scene: