I was living in the city at the time. Pete Hamil was a cohort of Breslin, both horrible bent to the left, and both incredible talented. Street smart guys, knock around NY'ers, both regulars in the local gin mills, with Farrell's in Park Slope being Hamil's favorite (late 60s/70s)
https://www.bkmag.com/2015/06/01/all-in-the-family-farrells-bar-and-grill/
Pete Hammill would be disgusted by today’s lefties. Despite all his drinking he lived to 85. The lefties of 30-40 years ago were entertaining. Today’s lefties are psychos from the jabs they got
I knew Breslin from when he decorated the mahogony at Moochies on Market Slip when I lived on Cherry St. around the corner from the J.A. He once wrote a column about a fireman buddy of mine and how he jumped into action, though off duty, at the scene of a wreck. They went out afterward for a ball and a beer....and, get ready for this....Breslin paid!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hamil was so far left he made Khruschev sound like McCarthy, but man, could that guy write love stories. Not soppy BS, but good, heart tugging love stories. The man had a wonderful way with words.