By Bob Capano
In these tough economic times and today’s extreme polarization of our political parties, John Catsimatidis offers hope that all is not lost in his recently published book “How Far Do You Want To Go: Lessons from a Common Sense Billionaire.”
The memoir chronicles his journey from the Greek island of Nisyros to West Harlem at 6 months old to his rise as one of New York City’s most popular, richest, and powerful men.
As many struggle with making ends meet today, Catsimatidis reminds us that work ethic coupled with some business savvy and risk can lead to vast success. He started by bagging groceries to earning a million dollars a year at age 24 when he owned ten supermarkets. With a passion for aviation, he then started chartering flights from the northeast to Atlantic City and eventually acquired United Refining Co. in 1986. Significantly, Catsimatidis had no experience in owning airlines or gasoline refineries, but his comfort in hiring people smarter than him and entrusting them fueled his rocket rise.
Catsimatidis also gambled by investing in real estate properties that seemed worthless at the time and let them lay dormant for decades confident that its time would eventually come. Here in Brooklyn, he invested in property on Myrtle Avenue Downtown many years ago because of its proximity to subway lines. Today, it is a flourishing neighborhood with Catsimatidis’ commercial developments right in the heart of it. A similar dynamic played out at his successful Ocean Drive residences in Coney Island.
In politics, Catsimatidis is not shy about his support of Republicans and Democrats if they have common sense. Catsimatidis writes that despite the litany of candidates for elected offices that have lined up at his door asking for donations and his countless contributions to many, he has not ever asked for a personal favor. How refreshing. From personal experience, I can attest to this.
In 2017, I ran for City Council in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. When I first asked his advice about running in early 2016, Mr. Catsimatidis simply said “follow your heart.” He later became one of my biggest supporters and never asked for anything in return. Catsimatidis only said “if you win, do a good job.”
Catsimatidis himself took a stab running for Mayor in 2013, framing himself as a “visionary” who can work with all. He narrowly lost in the Republican primary but won Staten Island with 54% of the vote and barely lost here in Brooklyn with 46% of the support from GOP voters. One must wonder, with the deeper polarization of our political parties today, if there will be a stronger desire for a middle-of-the-road, independent thinker like Catsimatidis for city or state office.
As the owner of 77 WABC radio, Catsimatidis has also attempted to bring his flare for bringing people together and common sense to the airwaves. Far from only broadcasting Republican luminaries, he has given air time to noteworthy Democrats like Anthony Weiner and Andrew Cuomo. All of this with the goal of reducing our political polarization and finding common sense solutions to our problems of the day.
His book and life offer a template to achieving the American Dream and becoming more united as a city, state and nation.
Bob Capano has been an adjunct professor of political science for over 15 years with the City University of New York & served in senior-level positions for Brooklyn Republican and Democrat elected officials. He also was a GOP candidate for City Council in Brooklyn’s 43rd District in 2017.
