Freedom Party Submits 43,500 Signatures

On Monday, August 16, the Freedom Party Express delivered 43,500 signatures to the Board of Elections in Albany. Freedom Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor Eva Doyle was there waiting for Gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron. Together, they submitted their petitions at 4:50PM.

Standing proudly behind three tall stacks of petitions, Charles Barron said, “Today, we are here to say that the people of New York State have spoken. They said it loudly through this petitioning process that [gathered] over 43,500 signatures. The only gubernatorial candidate, the only attorney general candidate, the only lieutenant candidate that took our case to the people is the Freedom Party. The all-white state slate of the Democratic Party is unacceptable. We are not choosing between Democrats and Republicans. We are choosing Freedom today!”

Freedom Party Submits 43,500 Signatures
On Monday, August 16, the Freedom Party Express delivered 43,500 signatures to the Board of Elections in Albany. Freedom Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor Eva Doyle was there waiting for Gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron. Together, they submitted their petitions at 4:50PM.Standing proudly behind three tall stacks of petitions, Charles Barron said, “Today, we are here to say that the people of New York State have spoken. They said it loudly through this petitioning process that [gathered] over 43,500 signatures. The only gubernatorial candidate, the only attorney general candidate, the only lieutenant candidate that took our case to the people is the Freedom Party. The all-white state slate of the Democratic Party is unacceptable. We are not choosing between Democrats and Republicans. We are choosing Freedom today!”Barron declared, “This is a movement that is unbought and unbossed, and un-controlled by the white male corporate interests in this state. We are saying to this state, no longer are we going to allow the Democrats to take the Black vote for granted, the Republicans to ignore us, or the white progressives on the Left to use us. We are here to say that the Freedom Party represents dignity. The Freedom Party represents self-respect. The Freedom Party represents self-determination. The Freedom Party is the people’s party.  We are going to control the institutions that control our lives.” Speaking of race, Barron said, “No longer will we let this state be quiet on race. Race matters. Racism permeates every institution in this state. We are going to let it be known, loud and clear, we are sick and tired, like Fannie Lou Hamer said. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired of racism. You can’t get rid of racism pretending it doesn’t exist. There is no post-racial society. Racism impacts every individual as well as every institution. You have to be a race-conscious state, a gender-conscious state, a class-conscious state. We have to get rid of the three evils -racism, classism and sexism – in delivering goods and services to the people of this state.” ”The people that you see behind us, they said we didn’t have any support. They said we weren’t going to make the ballot. They said that we couldn’t get the petitions. They thought we wouldn’t be able to get the signatures. Not only did we get nearly three times the amount, they thought we were not going to be sophisticated enough to get 100 signatures in 15 different congressional districts,” said Barron. “Well, we got at least 20-30 signatures in all 29 districts. And we got over 100 signatures in 23 congressional districts in this state. Tell Cuomo to match that. Tell Lazio to match that. And in 15 congressional districts, we got over 300 signatures.”Barron described how the Freedom Party was born with limited resources. “They said we didn’t have the money to put a campaign together. They said we didn’t have enough money. Let me tell you something. Money doesn’t vote. People vote. We have the greatest resource a campaign could have – people. Not one of these persons behind us – over 200 in the streets – not one of them would accept a penny,” Barron said. “They did it for Harriet Tubman. Fannie Lou Hamer. Malcolm X. Martin Luther King. Dr. Khalid Muhammad. Sonny Carson. Richie Perez.  Don Pedro Abisos Compos. Lolita Labron. John Henrik Clarke. We did it for all our ancestors that came before us. We did it for all that spilled blood so that we could be here today. If there is anybody you don’t like, like the Black Panther Party and all the political prisoners – we did it for them, too.” Speaking about young people, Barron said, “We did it for our young people trying to get jobs. We talk a lot about our young people wearing their pants under their behinds. That is an embarrassing thing, and we do tell them to pull up their pants. But what about all of those young people who have their pants up? What about all of those young people who have degrees and can’t get a job? What about young people who are in church? What about young people who are in organizations trying to make a change, like the Malcolm X Grassroots Organization? We can talk about the negative, and we have to deal with that, too many of our young people are dying and killing each other. But there are a lot of young people doing the right thing. This society is not giving them their due.  Take care of them and the pants will come up because they know that is the route to go.”     Barron said the Freedom Party’s openness can improve NYS. “On this day, on behalf of our slate, this party is a Black and Latino-led party that is open to everyone. When we take care of  Blacks and Latinos, the state will be better off. Giving us living-wage jobs, you can keep your welfare. If you give us youth centers and workforce development programs in our community, you can keep your prisons. Build some more schools,” he said. “The Freedom Party is a party for all the people of this state. It will be absolutely led by Blacks and Latinos. I speak today for our lieutenant governor, Eva Doyle, from Buffalo. Sister Eva Doyle and the Buffalo community brought in over three thousand signatures. I speak today for our attorney general candidate Ramon Jimenez. His organization brought in over two thousand signatures. We are the most diverse party in the state. We are here to stay.”"Let the debates begin! I can’t wait,” Barron declared. “Tell Cuomo I am looking for him. Tell Lazio he better get out of the way. And if they try to say we are some fringe organization, and we can’t be in the debates, we are going to break the door down.”Barron thanked Attorney-at-War Alton Maddox, United African Movement, December 12 Movement, CEMOTAP, Operation Power, and 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care who helped this latest incarnation of the Freedom Party get off the ground. Barron said, “We have to mention the Freedom Party under Alton Maddox years ago, that laid the groundwork for us to be successful today. I want to introduce a young lady who worked very hard with Jitu Weusi and myself. We started the Unity Party in 1998. We got over 20 thousand signatures, got on the ballot and Mary France Daniels was the candidate for governor . She received over 10,000 votes. We are building on the work of Mary France Daniels.” Freedom Party Co-chair Viola Plummer spoke in a loud, crisp voice: “We are absolutely determined to make the Freedom Party a party of the people of this state. It needs to be crystal clear that the Freedom Party will not be bought. Neither will we be intimidated by those of you and them who say we don’t have any money. In capitalism, there are two poles: one is capital, meaning money; and the other is labor, meaning people. They can never match us in the labor.”Freedom Party Co-chair Jitu Weusi said, “I want to tell the 43,000 people who signed these petitions, I want to thank them for signing the petitions of the Freedom Party. I want to tell them that they cannot lose track of us. This is just the beginning. They have to stay with us – whether we go to court, whether we are on the media, whether we are in the debates. They have to stay with us. And they have to insist  that we get a hearing. They have to make their voices heard. That is their job as a result of signing these petitions. If everybody sent a $5 bill to the Freedom Party, 456 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn 11216… If we got 43,000 $5 bills, we will take care of business.”Asked if his Democratic registration would impede his run on the Freedom Party line, Barron said, “We are all registered Democrats right now. We are telling the people of New York, you can keep your Democratic Party registration. We want all those who support us and vote for us, whether you are a Democrat, Independent. In the November election, it doesn’t matter. I am still a registered Democrat. We reserve the right of self-determination. To determine our strategy. The Working Families Party doesn’t have everybody as WFP registrants. They have Democrats supporting them. We are telling our people if you want to do the September primary and November, keep your Democratic Party registration. Support the Freedom Party in November.”Regarding challenges Barron said, “Bring it. We dare them to challenge us. Why would you want to challenge 43,000 signatures? We are going to say to the people of this state, anybody that challenges these petitions obviously wants to keep the state all white.” Freedom Party campaign manager and radio talk show host Bob Law said, “We made magic happen with your commitment. We couldn’t pay for this talent and energy anyway. This is how movements build; fundamental change occurs. Just filing those signatures is a significant victory. It says to the power brokers in this state, that there is already a new political force that they will have to contend with.” Ramon Jimenez, Freedom Party candidate for attorney general said, “I think 43,000 signatures is an incredible historical accomplishment. It is a statement. A lot of people in NYS have said we want the Freedom Party on the [ballot] line. I am very excited and happy with that number.”

Test Link

Current issue in PDF

Community Board 3 Stumbles Into Spring

Spring might have sprung since the last time Community Board 3 met collectively. However, when it comes to the community being actively engaged in issues concerning the health and vitality of the neighborhood, residents seem to be hibernating. School test scores are drastically dropping, Census numbers are trending towards a record low, and many homeowners are once again facing tax and water liens.
After a brief intro and welcome, Chairman Henry Butler took a deep breath.   Something heavy was on his heart.  The district test results were in and Bedford-Stuyvesant scores were at an all-time low.  Adding insult to injury, the twelve-member Community Education Council (the collective that shapes district-wide educational policy) only has 2 Bed-Stuy residents on its board.  “We got to do better, people,” he said. 
In the shadows of a major ad campaigns specifically targeting hard-to-count communities, Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Census numbers once again are trending towards a record low. According to the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant (CIBS), as of Monday, April 5, 2010, less than 20% of applications were returned. Although residents have been warned via print and radio ads, posters and celebrity pitches of the importance of filling out the Census forms, Bed-Stuy residents are still lagging behind.  Without accurate numbers, our community stands to lose billions of federally funded dollars. Yet, the urgency to complete the form and mail it in remains a low priority.  
In an eleventh-hour dash to get residents to fill out their Census form, Melissa Lee, an associate from CIBS, is keeping hope alive and demanding that Bed-Stuy be heard. Her organization is making a commitment “to spreading the Census message by mobilizing residents of Bed-Stuy around the importance of achieving a complete count in 2010,” stated Ms. Lee. Over the next few days, Ms. Lee and her street team will canvas the community with an arsenal of posters and postcards urging residents to “BE Heard and BE Counted.”  Deadline for turning in the Census forms is April 15. 
It’s tax season again. Although this time of the year is often celebrated with an anticipated refund check courtesy of Uncle Sam, for many homeowners who have fallen behind in their taxes, it could easily result in the loss of their homes.  The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant has teamed up with New York City Department of Finance to make sure that Bed-Stuy residents remain in their homes.
During the month of April, the Brownstoners’ foot soldiers will be knocking on doors personally inviting homeowners to the annual “Know The Facts, Don’t Lose Your Home,” tax lien night.  The event takes place at 5:00 PM, Thursday, April 22 at Boys & Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street.  Lien candidates will have an opportunity to receive individual counseling and guidance from HPD, Department of Finance and DEP where they will have an opportunity to set up installment agreements and payment plans.
On a more upbeat note, Deputy Inspector Donald V. Lyons, from the 79th Precinct, dropped by to thank the community for helping take a bite out of crime.  According to Lyons, incoming calls to the precinct’s crime tip line are at an all-time high and have resulted in taking several criminals off the streets including a high-profile rapist who had attacked two women in the area. 
Other agenda items included two co-naming public hearings.  Velma C. Armstrong of the Alliance of Panamanian Organizations in the United States petitioned the CB3 for a letter of support to co-naming Franklin Avenue between Fulton Street and Atlantic Ave. “Avenida Republica de Panama,” to commemorate the 107th Anniversary of the Independence of Panama. 
The other co-naming was for Jefferson Avenue, between Throop and Tompkins to be co-named in honor of Bertram L. Baker.  The presentation was given by Altovise Fleary, Jefferson Avenue TNT Block Association. Bertram L. Baker was Brooklyn’s first black elected official representing Bedford-Stuyvesant in the New York State Assembly where he wrote this nation’s first laws barring race discrimination. The board voted 35 for co-naming Franklin Avenue and 5 against. The Jefferson Avenue co-naming received a glowing 34 for, with no votes cast against it.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant homeowner who lives and works in the beloved community.  His current blog space (mybedstuy.blogspot.com)  seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people. 

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Where to Count Prisoners Leads Concerns at Congressional Hearing on Census

Issue Impact Redistricting and Federal Funds

Where prisoners are counted as living determines both electoral districts as well as how many federal dollars are available for everything from job creation to food stamps and other human needs.  With 75% of prisoners in upstate New York coming from seven zip codes in New York City, it was an area of special concern at the congressional hearing of The Information Policy, Census and National Archives Subcommittee held at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall this past Monday.

Witnesses on Census couting of group quarters and readiness: Census Director Dr. Robert Groves; Robert Goldenkoff, Director of Strategic Issues for the Government Accountability Office; Peter Wagner, Executive Director of the Prison Policy Initiative; Mr. Thomas Ellet, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at New York University. Photo: Mark Stewart

The hearing on Group Quarters such as prisons, schools and nursing homes, chaired by Congressman William Lacy Clay, Jr. and held jointly with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Congressman Ed Towns, took testimony from  Census Director Dr. Robert Groves that since 1790, the United States Census Bureau has counted people using the usual Residency Rule, i.e., where they eat, sleep and live most of the time.
Peter Wagner, Executive Director of the Prison Policy Initiative, had a startling statistic: the 2.3 million people incarcerated is larger than the population of 15 states.  “Some districts are 80-90% prisoners” he told the committee.  The Web site for the Initiative says that “In New York State, for example, one out of every three people who moved to upstate New York in the 1990s actually ‘moved’ into a newly constructed prison. The state bars people in prison from voting, but their presence in the Census boosts the population of the upstate districts whose legislators favor prison expansion. Without this phantom population, seven upstate New York Senate districts would not meet minimum population requirements and would have to be redrawn.”
Currently, with prisoners included as residents of the county where they are incarcerated, rather than where they came from, the federal dollars for social services based on population are sent to counties where the prisons are located, even though the prisoners don’t use any local services and the counties where the prisoners come from, usually high-need areas, lose the dollars earmarked to provide them with services.
They can’t do  an individual count/interview because of the security. The bureau depends on administrative records to count the prisoners.  In later testimony, Mr. Thomas Ellet, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at New York University, said that in terms of the accuracy of administrative records, the quality varies across systems, “particularly in prisons.”
Wagner later reminded the congressmen that legally speaking the prisoners have not left their homes.  Here he was referring to the NY Constitution which says that “no person shall be deemed to have gained or lost a residence by reason of his presence or absence … while confined in any public prison.”   And he said that the legislature can do something this year to include the prisoners in the count of their home addresses.  
The bureau is taking the position that the Census is not proposing to change where people are counted, and are leaving it up to the states to determine how that count will be used in the reapportionment process, where political districts are drawn to contain the same number of people in order to adhere to a federally-mandated “one man, one vote” standard.   Dr. Groves agreed with Chairman Clay that he was glad not to be a part of the redistricting process.  According to Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s office, a Bill in the NYS Senate is due to be proposed momentarily.
Chairman Towns asked Robert Goldenkoff, Director of Strategic Issues for the Government Accountability Office, about the technological readiness of the Census Bureau for the April 1st start date.  Goldenkoff divided the problems into categories.  First: People, the technicians are falling behind schedule and can’t take away the time from doing the work to train new people. Second was Hardware: the Census computers are simply outdated.  Third was Software, where defects are continuing to mount and of course four, the Schedule.  The operation has a fixed date (April 1st.) when the system must be ready.  He acknowledged that the Bureau has gained some time by scaling back from the full-blown version as originally envisioned, but said that even at the reduced level, the bureau remains challenged to hit the April 1st mark.
Looking to improve the job the Census does in traditionally undercounted areas such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, Chairman Towns asked Dr. Groves if the discretionary funds the Bureau has could be used to target areas such as Kings County that have been traditionally undercounted in the past.  “We need to get the information out to the people, using local news and local press.” Dr. Groves responded that they were advertising to the grassroots level, using community newspapers. [ Publisher's Note: we haven't gotten any.] As for the discretionary funds, Dr. Groves said that response rates to the mailing were being analyzed and areas that appeared to be undercounted will be the target for the discretionary funds.

Providence House Proposed 60% Transitional Complex on Kosciuszko Raises Question of “Social” Service Saturation

Are service providers overdosing Bedford-Stuyvesant with affordable housing we can’t afford to have anymore? A nonprofit organization founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph has provided transitional and permanent housing for 30 years, twenty-seven of them in Community Board 3.  Now they want to create affordable/supportive apartments at 273-277 Kosciusko, including 26 apartments for formerly homeless women with a history of incarceration, graduating from Providence House’s other transitional housing programs.  They say 40% of the housing will be available to neighborhood residents who meet low income criteria, but its the 60% we’re concerned about.  We believe everyone should have a place to go.  But how many more transitional places can Bedford Stuyvesant hold. Not to mention, the personal demons that transitional residents face –  echoed all around them in the many transitional, supportive and social services facilities in the area.  By bringing in even more, there is the creation of an enabling community.  And if each housing area has only a 20% recidivism rate, then with the concentration of facilities creates a critical mass of negativity, posing a threat to the family-centered strivings of the hosting community. That the provider wants to bring former Bedford-Stuyvesant residents back to where they’ll find former acquaintances, seems to suggest Providence is tone deaf to the nature of toxic relationships.  We know there’s no use in recommending Providence build academies and learning centers.  But this is exactly what we need –  institutions that encourage healthy life choices and real independent living.  Now that’s something we can afford to have in this community.

Children at Risk

On December 1, Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes announced a 21-year sentence for Frank Ryer, 49, who raped and impregnated his 12-year-old stepdaughter. The rape occurred between May 15 and June 15, 2007, while Ryer was visiting the girl at her grandmother’s Brownsville home, where the victim lived. The victim was afraid to tell anyone about the attack, but several months later, when her grandmother realized the victim was pregnant – and took her to see a doctor – they alerted the police. DNA testing confirmed that Ryer had fathered the victim’s baby.

Ryer’s conviction and sentencing is one of many sex abuse cases handled by the Brooklyn DA’s office – 19 cases so far this year. In the past 6 years, the DA’s Sex Crimes Bureau has obtained 1

st degree rape convictions in 103 cases. The Sex Crimes Bureau handles rape cases in which victims are 11-years and older.

THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHES “PEOPLE FIRST” CITY-WIDE CAMPAIGN in BEDFORD STUYVESANT

Three thousand people came out to hear Governor David Paterson’s message to the community on Tuesday at Brooklyn’s First AME Zion Church, pastored by Rev. Darren H. Mitchell. The governor was warmly greeted by the standing room only crowd in the first of a series of conversations he is holding across the state.
Governor Paterson spoke of NYS’s budget woes, and put them in a national context. “The amount of deficits states have run are twice the stimulus dollars,” said Paterson. “Without it, things could be worse.” Paterson credited President Obama’s stimulus as mitigating the problem.
The Governor gave an overview of the problem. NYS receives 20% of our tax proceeds from Wall Street. Our tax receipts are down – twice the national average. Governor Paterson identified the national crisis first in July 2008. In August 2008, NYS balanced its budget and was able to create a ½ billion dollar emergency fund that has enabled New York to do far better than other states.
Paterson said 34 states have had to take actions that NYS has not: 26 states shut down all Pre-K and kindergarten programs; 21 states have furloughed workers; 9 states have let prisoners out. Hawaii shortened its school week from 6 days to 4. In addition Hawaii, and Michigan (which has a 16% unemployment rate) have no more after-school programs. Arizona sold its assets, including the state capitol, which is leased back to itself. California’s credit rating is triple B – one step above junk bond status. As a result, California has a $1 billion interest on their debt.
In comparison to many other states, Governor Paterson said NYS policy is “shared sacrifice.” He acknowledged NYS has the 2nd highest tax rate in the country. The state’s rebate on property tax relief has been abolished.
The Governor said 55% of NYS’s budget goes to health care and education. In response to what Paterson describes as “misleading” commercials, 71% of all education costs go to administration; 29% is for children. Paterson said 95% of school districts we cut have reserve funds, therefore he recommended “wealth-based” tax cuts. The state didn’t cut poorer school districts.
Regarding the impact of health care cuts, Paterson said “No Medicaid patients will be denied services due to cuts.”
The Governor gave an example of how painful it has been for him to make cuts to services. In 2004, when he was a State Senator, Paterson co-sponsored a $50 million bill for lead paint. In 2008, that legislation passed. Paterson said, as governor, he had to veto it. The Governor described how he had to face the music from his then-Assembly member co-sponsor, David Gantt who all but “cussed” him out. Paterson said since then, he found $25 million to help victims of lead poisoning.
Paterson said he is cutting now to avoid closings later. “California is closing hospitals. Arizona is closing schools. New York will be recovering in the new economy.”
In contrast to 34 states that are behind on payments, Governor Paterson said, “I’ve balanced 2 budgets in the middle of a recession. We have not missed a payment [obligation]. NY has maintained its credit rating.”
After his opening remarks, Governor Paterson took questions from the audience.
Regarding a question about John White, the husband and father who was convicted for protecting his family and home from a drunken mob, the governor said he “has met with John White,” and explained he “cannot intervene in ongoing court proceedings,” (the case in on appeal) and cannot comment further.
On the ever-controversial Atlantic Yards project, Paterson said he met with representatives of the opponents to Atlantic Yards just prior to his conversation with the audience. The Governor promised “an objective and fair hearing” on the issue. “The state has an interest in Atlantic Yards,” the Governor said. “Upon advisement of [Council woman] Tish James, I will review.”
On the topic of employment, Governor Paterson said NYS’s official unemployment rate is 8.9%, “but I believe 15-18% of able-bodied adults don’t have jobs.” Paterson said he has expanded the W/MBE system. “NYS was 45th out of 50 states” in awarding contracts to W/MBE’s. He explained while “8% of W/MBE’s qualified, only 2/3 of 1% (.66%) were getting business.” Paterson said NYS had one of the worst records in the country, “Mississippi was better.” Under his leadership, Governor Paterson said the rate of M/WBE’s that do business with the state increased from .66% to 11.1%. Paterson views W/MBE’s as a way to “create jobs in the community.”
Governor Paterson was asked about Alton Maddox’s law license and records surrounding the Tawana Brawley incident. Paterson said Maddox’s law license has been suspended for 20 years, amounting to “4 times the maximum suspension” under NYS law. Paterson felt it would be “equitable to give Maddox’s license back.” Regarding the records on Tawana Brawley, Paterson said he doesn’t have those files. Paterson recommended taking up the issue with the independently-elected District Attorney or the state’s Attorney General, Mario Cuomo. There were many more questions than time, and the Governor said he would return to continue the conversation. Oh, and yes the governor is running in 2010.

Three Faces of Brooklyn: The Good, The Bad, The UglyWhen facing challenges they say that attitude is everything and we saw an example of that in two meetings in Brownsville that dealt with those points where city and population meet: crime, garbage pickups and housing.

When facing challenges they say that attitude is everything and we saw an example of that in two meetings in Brownsville that dealt with those points where city and population meet: crime, garbage pickups and housing.
We first attended a tenant association meeting at Seth Lowe Housing at Belmont and Christopher.  Chaired by Jenny Ortiz-Bowman, Council of Presidents administrator, it was a small group, including Lisa Kenner, president of the Van Dyke Houses Resident Association.   The New York City Police Department was well-represented by Captain Michael  Kemper and Lieutenant Joseph Donachie of the 75th.  Precinct officers from  the 73rd  as well as transit and housing police.
They had come prepared with the letters that had been sent to their commanders and they spoke to the changes they had made in their policing based on the information received.  The residents spoke about specific problems of safety with people leaving for work at 3AM-4AM when most folks are just turning over.
Mrs. Bowman was good- humored and relentless as she explained that the people in the community wanted to partner with the police to rid the community of crime. As the residents told about several unreported robberies, Captain Kemper was listening and flexible, and spoke of the necessity of reporting all robberies while taking personal responsibility that what they were saying would not be sitting on someone=s desk.  This  intelligence would be directly transmitted to the people shaping the morning shift.
The task force meeting of the Council of Presidents was a standing-room-only affair in the Community Room at Seth Low Houses.  Present were residents and  tenant presidents,as well as building superintendents and managers. Gloria Finkelman, borough director of  NYCHA was there with many of her staff.
Council President Reginald Bowman says he believes that when the community and NYCHA work together, common problems can be solved, in fact it=s somewhat of a mantra with him.  AI don=t see constructive use in being adversarial.  We can agree to disagree as long as we=re working toward the same goal.@
Mr. Bowman maintains that by coming together and solving a problem at one development, it can help solve a problem at another.
One problem that a tenant wanted to see addressed was what was happening at 296 Sutter Avenue.  She reported that ALife is being made a living hell by other residents.@   There was a concern voiced about the need for computer technology centers.  AThere are terminals in the complexes for the managers, we need this technology for the residents,@  said a tenant president.
Several of the superintendents spoke about the work they do around the complexes and the particular challenges of being in charge of a physical plant of very small city.   Tenants commenting said that the superintendents and the building staff were hardworking and dedicated people, with many working beyond what is called for.  One tenant president said AOne of the residents came to me and said the Super was out there working, and it was Veteran=s Day.  I went and looked and sure enough he was working, and I know he didn=t have to do that.@
Bowman says he approaches situations with an attitude of partnership with the agencies, saying it was this approach and active participation from a coalition that has recently won a shuttle bus to make up for the closing of the AL@ train station at .  AWe woke up with no L train.  People had to walk 5-8 blocks@.
AWorking together, we have a brand new shuttle serving the community today.@
Results in Brownsville

Democracy and Diversity Called For in City Council Leadership

“I would bring Democracy to the City Council,” says Councilman Charles Barron, throwing his hat in the ring to replace the current City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and reform the rules of the Council in January 2010.

“No one should have the absolute power so that fifty-one members are unable to vote their consciences, their principles and be the voice speaking for their people’s interests because they fear punishment by this all-powerful Speaker. No one should have that, me or anyone else.”

Barron contends that the result of this concentration of power has been in the impact on middle and working-class people. He cites the statistic that 1.1 million people left New York City and their average salary was fifty-seven-thousand dollars or less and says the city has been made unaffordable for the middle-class and working-class families struggling in our neighborhoods. “So the middleclass and working class are leaving, but at budget time they say we can’t put a tax on the rich because they may leave. So while you won’t raise the taxes on the rich, you will raise the subway fare, you will raise the SUNY and CUNY tuitions, you will charge the homeless rent. The reforming and democratizing of the City Council would lead to giving priority to the working-class people in our neighborhoods over the power elite.”

In a city as diverse as New York, skin color is always a factor in power-sharing. “The Mayor is White, the Speaker is White, the Public Advocate is White, the Comptroller is Asian.” And then there is the Council itself. “Historically, the three most powerful positions are Speaker, Chair of the Finance Committee and the Chair of Land Use. No person of color has ever held one of those positions. And with the Blacks, Latinos and Asians being 27 of the 51 City Council members, it’s time for the sharing of power and diversifying the power ethnically.”

To the reasons of diversifying ethnically the power and bringing integrity to the City Council, Barron adds that there must be “a check and balance to the power of the Mayor and not a Speaker who acts like a Deputy Mayor.”

Barron insists the times call for a powerful City Council and reminds that it’s the Council that passes the budget, the laws and determines land use issues, not the Mayor. “And if they are afraid of the Mayor and the Speaker, that just won’t happen.”

Toward this end, the councilman called a meeting to explore the possibility of a challenge to Speaker Quinn, and said it was “Very spirited, very productive and very promising.” Asked to elaborate, Barron said that about 30 people attended including a representative of Reverend Al Sharpton, Tony Avella, several union leaders, Alton Maddox, notable community leaders, and several Council members as well.”

They announced the formation of the Barron/Avella New York City Council Democratic Reform Movement with Paul Washington acting as coordinator. Barron said the purpose of the movement will be to bring Democracy to the City Council, diversity to the power positions, and take power away from the Speaker and give it to the Council members, such as having an equitable distribution of capital and expense money, allowing Council members to determine the process of legislation as opposed to the Speaker who can determine whether or not it lives or dies in committee and a process to determine who chairs committees.

The councilman will be making a public announcement on the 24th of November at 12 noon on the steps of City Hall. He hopes to bring community support to put pressure on their Council members “to consider this campaign and this movement. At least support the movement,” says Barron. “The City Council should be a Democracy built from the bottom up rather than the top down.”

Community Outraged at Proposed NYPD Use of Youth Center

Community activists came out Wednesday after work to protest proposed use of community center on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York as NYPD training facility.

 “This is ludicrous” was the emphatic comment of community activist Salema Davis, speaking about the New York City Police Department takeover of the Arnold and Marie Schwartz Community Center, a 25-year-old East New York PAL Center and the only youth center in the area.  “But because the building needed work, they had to close the building and put the NYPD in there as a training facility.” 

“The building is huge” she continued.  “There is a library, studio, basketball courts, and the basement areas have old little courtrooms.  What they need to do is bring enrichment programs in there for young people and for the seniors.  Bring a training facility.  Their failure to do that says they’re looking for this community to fail.”

Ms. Davis spoke of the four housing projects in the area, the high crime rate and the numerous gangs in the area.  “The young people don’t have many enrichment programs.  When you have more children than community centers, what do you do?” 

Carolyn Walker Diallo, Executive Director of The George Walker Jr. Community Coalition, Inc. said “I was born and raised in East New York and recalled going there as a teenager. About two years ago we heard rumblings that the PAL was out and the building was unsafe for children and the building was closed. With the population of over 90,000 mostly low-income people in the East New York community we need this Center to provide much-needed services.”   

A coalition of several groups contacted the city to see what could be done with the building to provide  a multi-service center for the community.  “We got the run-around and the next thing we know, the response is that there is so much work to be done that the NYPD will come in and take over the building.  At the same time, they are requesting money from the community board to fix the building.” 

Ms. Walker was perplexed by this, asking “If we have money to fix the building for the NYPD, then why don’t we have money to fix it for our seniors and our young people?” Speaking more on the young people of the area, she says,  “We have a very high crime rate.  The gangs are out of control and when you speak to these children, a lot of them just don’t have anywhere to go.” 

“It’s absurd,” said Councilman Charles Barron, who’s district is nearby.  “How are you going to take away youth services?  The reason you need the police is because we have no youth services.”

Ms. Davis and Ms. Diallo both described Councilman Erik Martin Dilan, as a supporter, but we were unable to reach the councilman before press time.

A coalition that includes the George Walker, Jr. Community Coalition, Inc.; East New York United Concerned Citizens, Inc.; Brooklyn East New York Crisis Team and We The Kids Foundation has come together and held a rally in front of the Schwartz Center.

Ms. Diallo reported that at their Wednesday meeting, Brooklyn Community Board #5 passed a resolution in support of retaining the location as a community center and in opposition to the NYPD bringing in offices and a training center.

Next Page »