City Council member Albert Vann sent an email to Black elected officials stating that "we are in peril of losing a 'Voting Rights' district ... as a result of the well financed candidacy of Council Member David Yassky, a white individual.

"[8] The area had been represented by politicians of African or Caribbean descent since the election of Shirley Chisholm in 1968.

[9] In August 2006, The New York Times endorsed Yassky, citing his "stellar record on the Council" and criticizing his rivals for not making a substantial case for their election, and the Democratic leadership within Brooklyn for failing to find qualified Black candidates for this seat.

He lost in the run-off with 44.4% of the vote to John Liu, who had more support among union members and minority groups.

[16] During his tenure he promoted the Taxi of Tomorrow program, which required the variety of the automobiles making up the 13,000 NYC yellow cabs to be replaced by the Nissan NV200.

"[18] Yassky quit the TLC in 2013 after incoming mayor Bill de Blasio announced his intention to replace him.

[23] Yassky has been married to Metropolitan Opera CFO Diana Fortuna since 1990,[24] and they live in Brooklyn Heights with their two daughters.