Jeffries Defiant & Optimistic In State of District Address

By Kimari Clarke

U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, Ocean Hill, East Flatbush, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Brighton Beach, Coney Island) last night vowed to lower drug costs, crush gentrification and defeat the intolerance that has been plaguing the nation at his annual State of the District address.

The event held in a packed gym at the Downtown Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University, was attended by well-known local and state politicians including: State Attorney General Letitia James, Assemblymember Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights), City Council Members Robert Cornegy (D-Bed-Stuy, Northern Crown Heights) and Alicka Ampry-Samuel (D-Brownsville) and former Assembly and City Council Member Al Vann.

Jeffries thanked everyone for being in attendance including one of his sons (the other away at college), his wife, parents, staff and the spiritual leadership he receives from members of his community. 
“In 2017 against all odds, when the Republicans controlled the House, the Senate and the presidency, we stopped Donald Trump from repealing the Affordable Care Act that protected more than 100 million Americans,” said Jeffries, noting how a year later in the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats were able to pick up more than 40 seats in order to regain control of the House.

“In the beginning of 2019, we forced Donald Trump to reopen the government and we didn’t give him a dime to do it. In early 2020, we used our constitutional responsibility and impeached Donald Trump for his corrupt abuse of power,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries informed the crowd mostly filled with seniors about the medication pricing corruption that plagues the country sharing that unlike other countries, the federal government is prohibited under law to negotiate lower drug prices on our behalf.

“House Democrats have advanced legislation to help with the rising costs of prescription drugs. One of which limits the amount that drug companies can charge and eliminate the Pay for Delay deals that exists,” he said.
After each mention of the various issues that currently exist in the country, the Congressman continued to reinvigorate the crowd under the repeated theme “Hold on…. change is coming”. 

Jeffries also touched on the issue of gentrification, saying that it has displaced many longtime residents due to overdevelopment and the rise in the cost of living in Brooklyn.

“It’s true, in some places broken glass and crack viles have been replaced by bike lanes and sidewalk cafes, but individuals who helped turn those situations around and transform neighborhoods should not be victims of their own success. If you were here during the rough times, you should be here to experience the good times,” said Jeffries.