Ben Akselrod via YouTube

Ben Akselrod is a Russian Jew who came to the U.S. twenty years ago. Akselrod is making a primary challenge to Democrat Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz in a southeastern Brooklyn district that has grown rapidly with Russian immigrants. Cymbrowitz has been considered highly vulnerable in the November election and perhaps in the primary.

Akselrod has thrown himself into some previous political hot water by objecting to the building of a mosque in the district that he claims is being done by an “outlawed” group. Akselrod has also expressed intolerance to same-sex relationships. None of that matches Akselrod’s major misstep into race.

In a flyer, Akselrod criticized Cymbrowitz for allowing crime to increase dramatically in Sheephead Bay. In a note within the flyer, Akselrod wrote “Dear Friend:”

I am running for Assembly because I believe the number 1 job of that office is to keep the community safe. The current assemblyman has allowed crime to go up over 50% in our negrohood so far this year. I am fighting for video cameras throughout our community to protect our seniors who are the most vulnerable and cut down on anti-semitic attacks in our community. I will also make sure the mayor gives our community more police to patrol our streets.

Sheepheadbites, which broke the story, raised whether the use of “negrohood” was “a typo, a Freudian slip, a joke, or even outright sabotage of his campaign.”

Whatever it is, it is probably goodbye to Akselrod’s campaign. It is definitely not a wonderful day in the negrohood for Akselrod.