Markowitz's Wife Mad for Murakami

BROOKLYN—Jamie Snow, wife of Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz, couldn't get enough of the Takashi Murakami–designed fiberglass place mats being handed out as souvenirs at the Brooklyn Museum's gala celebration last Thursday, according to reports by Gothamist, the Daily News, and Radar.

Snow allegedly snatched up eight of the freebies, which partygoers at previous Murakami events have sold for up to $1,000 on eBay in the past, and had them autographed by the Japanese mega-artist. When fellow attendees found theirs missing and asked her to give up one of hers, she reportedly responded with "You guys really should have acted faster. This is Brooklyn!" and "You snooze, you lose, buddy."

Snow told the Daily News the story was "a little true," and Markowitz has pledged to sell the place mats to raise funds for Camp Brooklyn, a program that sends kids from low-income families to camp. "She didn't steal, she didn't thieve, she didn't take from anyone else," Markowitz told the paper.