Our Time PressThe Local Paper with the Global View

Nearly seventy years ago, the Supreme Court decided that aggrieved persons could boycott or picket a store or business that was denying, to them, equal opportunities. During the height of the Korean Boycott, the Dinkins Administration sought to undo gains Blacks won under the Norris-La Guardia Labor Act in 1937. Blacks in Harlem boycotted white businesses for a lack of employment opportunities after the Supreme Court decision.
Sofi Hamid, if he could resurrect himself and return to Harlem, would find business ownership on 125th Street in Harlem virtually as white as it was in the 1930’s when Blacks were seeking jobs from white businesses. Attorney Belford Lawson was the architect of Harlem’s boycott campaign in the 1930’s.
An interesting question was raised on Like It Is. From river to river on 125th Street, how many businesses are Black-owned? Without identifying the business, Gil Noble noted that he only knew of one Black business on 125th Street. Under my definition of a Black business, I also know of only one Black business; that is, the Cotton Club owned by John Beatty.
Our historical struggle of begging for jobs rather than owning the businesses in Harlem has given rise to gentrification. While Black leaders have been chasing cameras to produce headlines, white businesses, and now Korean businesses, have been stuffing their pockets and urging a change of the ethnic character of the community. They are vying for white pocketbooks. All dollars are not equal.
The historic Cotton Club is a beautiful dining facility with great entertainment and sumptuous food. Yet, many Black churches prefer to attend gospel brunches elsewhere and nearly all Black-elected officials hold their affairs in foreign venues. More than ninety-five cents out of every dollar leaves the Black community without touching Black hands. Where will Blacks hold their Christmas parties and Kwanzaa celebrations?
Beatty put up his club, in 1989, to keep Rev. Al Sharpton out of jail while he awaited trial on a 70-count indictment. When Rev. Sharpton reached the top rungs of the social ladder, he started holding his affairs anywhere but at the Cotton Club. When Blacks achieve artificially elevated social stature, they seek to become honorary whites. This is a form of passing and emulates “Imitation of Life.”
A Korean woman has established at least two restaurants on or near 125th Street. Blacks are throwing money at her. At all times, it is infested with Blacks. The profits go into Korean pockets and banks. This allows for further investments in New York. Would she put up her restaurants for an indicted Black person?
This landscape is like Harlem seventy years ago. Frank’s Steakhouse was owned by a Greek. He only hired other Greeks in the 1930’s. Jewish merchants, like Blumstein’s, hired Jews. This practice also expanded their professional ranks of lawyers, accountants, advertising agencies, etc. Only Blacks advocate integration and urge diversity.
In recent years, Blacks have enjoyed neo-colonialism. Now, Blacks are getting the boot out of both Harlem and Brooklyn. Look out Queens and The Bronx. Black politics, without Black economics, must accommodate the economics of the business community even if it is to the detriment of the Black politician.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune.” Landlords and merchants draft a community’s political and economic agenda. This explains the absence of a Black agenda. Politics follows economics. Any people that lack economic institutions have no business in politics. This is the sine qua non of plantation politics.
Blacks practice xenophilia. All other groups practice xenophobia. We are always encouraging coalitions, especially with Latinos. Last Thursday, Latino groups arranged a “public hearing/town hall meeting” on media diversity at Hunter College. Commissioners from the FCC were present.
Even though Latinos already have achieved greater access to the public airwaves than Blacks, Latinos sought to arrange a public hearing on diversity without Black participation. Latinos have several national coalitions to serve as media watchdogs. They recognize the harm from media bias and receive support from Latino members of Congress. Blacks must get serious.
It nearly succeeded. Ollie McClean received notice of the hearing in the eleventh hour and was able to present testimony highlighting the media conspiracy which is about to undermine her independent bid for Congress in the Eleventh Congressional District. Blacks and whites, in the media, are the co-conspirators.
Rev. Herbert Oliver also gave testimony coupled with testimony from the “Friends of Like It Is.” Gil Noble’s Like It Is is hanging on by its fingernails at WABC-TV. A petition still needs to be filed with the FCC concerning the lack of Black programming in violation of the public interest in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Where is our tristate coalition?

At this very moment, should you be reading this article? Have you allowed e-mails, books, newspapers and magazines to become a distraction? Is their something else you should be doing right now that can help to reduce your expenses or increase your profits? The book of Ecclesiastes suggests, “There is a season for everything  The keyto effective time management is based on your ability to schedule the right tasks during the proper season. Just as there is a time to plant and a time to harvest, there is also a time to review your finances and a time to manage your team. Anxiety and her older sister depression begin to enter the picture when you fall prey to the seduction of multitasking.You can’t walk in two different directions at the same time. So, why try and make sales calls in the midst of dealing with staffing issues. Your attention is never focused on one activity and thus your effectiveness is greatly diminished. Studies repeatedly prove that you can get more done in less time if you focus on one activity at a time.
You probably feel that your business is unique and it’s hard to focus on one thing when there are 101 items on your to-do list. I’ll challenge your thinking by suggesting that your business is more routine than you realize. Bills need to be paid, products have to be ordered and you need to attract new clients. You waste a great deal of time by dwelling on these activities and then attempting to work on several projects at once amidst a constant barrage of interruptions. Hundreds of my clients have been able to increase their productivity and spend more time on the things that matter by creating a series of Focus Days. These are days during the week when you focus on specific activities. Let’s first make a list of all the things you need to get done during a typical week. Next, let’s place all of these items within a few categories. With a few exceptions, you’ll find that all of your business activities fall into the following areas:
1. Sales – Direct-to-consumer activities related to closing the sale
2. Marketing – Creating a “buying” environment for consumers
3. Finance – Review budgets, payables and receivables
4. Management – Recruit and manage your team
5. Operations – Logistical issues that keeps the business running smoothly
6. Customer Service – Delivering on the promise made to the customer
7. Training – Improving your team’s skills and knowledge
After you establish your business categories, next decide which days and times during the week you plan to focus on those activities. Have fun with this portion of the exercise. When a small business owner tells me that they don’t feel like doing something, I respond by saying, “Okay, then don’t do it. Instead, how about doing something that you feel like doing?” It’s possible to run your entire business by doing things when you feel like doing them. The only catch is that you have a week to complete the task.
What do you feel like doing on Monday mornings versus Thursday afternoons? Break-down each day into mornings and afternoons and then place each of the seven business categories into a specific time period. This enables you to create a week that allows you to do things when you have the energy and desire to complete them.
For example, your week may look something like this ..
Monday am – Finance / Operations, pm – Training;
Tuesday am – Marketing, pm – Sales;
Wednesday am – Sales,pm – Customer Service
Thursday am – Customer Service, pm – Sales
Friday am – Customer Service, pm – Management
The final piece to this time- management puzzle is to learn how to deal with distractions. Here are a few tips:
1. Alert your employees, vendors and clients to your new schedule.
2. Develop a habit of checking e-mails only three times a day.
3. Find another business owner who can hold you accountable with daily phone calls.
4. Plan your week on Sunday night.
5. List the top 3 activities you plan to complete during the day before you leave the office each day.

“We have launched an aggressive effort across this country with all 84 of our local boards to move (up) the home- ownership levels for Black people in America, and New York City will be the model for this effort,” said Clifford H. Turner, President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, in an interview with Our Time Press, October 26, during the Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Board’s 69th Anniversary Banquet  at Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn.
“Homeownership amongst African-Americans across the country is at 44.7% of the total Black population. Within the Hispanic community, 55% are home owners and whites are at 77.3%,” said Turner. “NAREB has an aggressive agenda to move African-American home ownership to above the 50% level.”

BSREB to Effect Model
“And the Bedford-Stuyvesant Real Estate Board, along with the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board, is committed to this agenda to help Black New Yorkers own where they live,” said Joyce Turner, BSREB president. “We are working on a blueprint for change to rebuild New York, following the guideline set 69 years ago by BSREB founder Jesse L. Vann, who was committed to securing equal opportunity in housing for all.  It is not by happenstance that our anniversary motto this year is ‘Remembering the Past, Creating for the Future.’
Mr. Turner said, “We are going to effect the model that will make a difference in this city and will be replicated all over the nation.  Our goal is to close 100,000-plus homes (for Black home-seekers) in New York  (within the year).”
Turner’s activist positioning comes at a time when African-American homeowners in Brooklyn and beyond are struggling to hold on to what they have, and home-seekers are stressed with concerns of being priced out of the very neighborhoods in which they were born and raised.
According to William C. Collins, NAREB’s New York/New Jersey Regional Vice President, “BSREB is uniquely poised to contribute to the national goal, having had a longstanding commitment to the community.  As the board helps more African-Americans realize their dreams of homeownership, neighborhoods will become more stable and the wealth will be shared.”
Challenging
the Industry
In response to Our Times’ question regarding the preponderance of African-American and Hispanic homeowners overwhelmed by the brutal tactics of predators, Turner made it very clear that NAREB is “challenging the whole real estate industry to come together in New York to unveil (and dismantle) all the (unfair) practices – whether predatory lending or other predatory practices. We want to uncover the myths. We want to challenge these industry leaders as we work together on these goals.
“In light of recent devastation that our communities have suffered,” noted Turner in the event journal, “Realtists are stepping forward, showing the way to create opportunities for those who have been uprooted and displaced.  We must continue to develop what we have, access what we don’t and educate ourselves to manage what has been given.
“Serving the unserved is not a stranger to me, personally,” said Mr. Turner.  “My roots and foundation have been through the NAACP.  And over the years, I’ve seen the most aggressive way to get wealth is through homeownership.
Starting Off: 10 Years Behind
“The average age of a white person buying a first home is 26 years old,” he said.  “The average age for a Black person is 36 years old. We’re starting off ten years behind. That’s why the Black realtors are getting in the schools to start our youth early. Our realtists must be realists; every local real estate board should have a real estate project for youth as part of our rebuilding efforts in the community.”
“Together, we must take back our families, our homes and our communities holistically through education, motivation and participation, and be motivated by those who paved the way before us and step out on faith for the greater good.  We can do this!!”

Building on Past …..
In separate interviews, distinguished real estate giants Robert G. Buckner and William Turner, event honorees for lifetime achievement and both past presidents of BSREB, shared thoughts on the shifting market in Bedford Stuyvesant.      William Turner (no relation to Clifford) is one of Brooklyn’s most powerful and successful real estate entrepreneurs (his Crossboro Realty Co. at 1514 Fulton St. in Brooklyn was responsible for the selling of 574 cooperative units for the Willoughby Walk Cooperative Apartments).  He is a past president of the very active Fulton-Nostrand Merchants Association.
Buckner, according to Joyce Turner, was “a leader in the fight for fair and equal housing opportunities for minority home buyers and also instrumental in advancing opportunities for minority real estate professionals.”
“Houses selling for $20,000 in the 60’s are now $600,000,” said Buckner. “The shifting market in our community  (reflects) a trend all around the country. Unfortunately, our children have left, and we’re losing a lot of our young people.”
William Turner recalled purchasing a house 40 years ago for $50 from HUD.  “You can’t do that now,” he said, noting that one way to sustain a Black presence in the community is “for those who can afford the real estate . more lawyers, doctors, teachers, writers, entertainers — to move back into the neighborhoods” they left behind.

…Creating for Future
In addition to Lifetime Achievement Awardees William Turner and Robert Buckner, event Mistress of Ceremonies Jac’Qui C. Weekes, recipient of the President’s Appreciation Award, and Joyce P. Turner, acknowledged realtor Barbara J. Haynes, the journal chair, and honorees: Rudy Bryant, Associate Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development and Director of Training, recipient of the Jesse L. Vann Community Service Award; realtor Emerson Atkins, Banquet Chair (Service Award); Michael C. Forth, Esq. (Broker of the Year Award) and realtor Nelva Ortega (Salesperson of the Year Award).
Rev. Evelyn Hawkins delivered the invocation and benediction; Atkins offered welcome remarks; Hon. Randolph Jackson, Justice of the NYS Supreme Court-Kings County, installed the new officers (see photo on this page); and Collins presented a moving message on the realtors’ legacy.  Highlights included Ms. Weekes’ poignant video salute to Mr. William Turner and Mr. Buckner and the brief but focused remarks of Bed-Stuy Restoration Corp. CEO Colvin W. Grannum, event keynoter, who was introduced by realtor Richard Flateau.

Grannum: Battle in Millennium
is for Our Neighborhoods
Echoing the comments of Mr. Clifford Turner and others at the warm event, Mr. Grannum said, “The battle of the 21st century is the battle for our neighborhoods.  Together, we can preserve Bedford-Stuyvesant by establishing cooperative partnerships and building on the outstanding legacy of   Mr. William Turner and Mr. Robert Buckner, and Jesse L. Vann, the late founder and 1st president of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Real Estate Board.”
In its remembrance of the past, the BSREB recalled in a moment of silence the rich life and real estate work of the recently departed pioneer Pinkey O. Harris.

Brick by Brick
Moving forward, Ms. Turner noted: “This year, the BSREB has increased its membership and expanded our outreach efforts directly into the community in conjunction with its mission to promote ‘Democracy in Housing’. But we have a lot of work left to do . and I know we can do it by working together, creating a better future for everyone, brick by brick.”
It also was announced at the event that in the summer of 2007, New York City will be the site of the Annual Convention of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers – with Black real estate professionals gathering in the Big Apple from around the nation. For more information on sponsorship opportunities for next year’s annual conference and NAREB’s vision of an expansive homeownership (“Realtists Building America”) project, contact: The Bedford- Stuyv

Our Time Press debuted its first “Community Conversation with ….. ” at the elegangt Brooks Valley Cafe & Restaurant, last month with the dynamic, young Kenny Rushing, president and CEO of Rehabbers Superstore and House Hustlers Enterprises, Inc., who is also a nationally known motivational speaker and successful real estate businessman.
Mr. Rushing, 33, a native of Tampa, Florida, is bringing an empowerment message to communities of color through his motivational seminar, “God Bless the Child That’s Got a Home.”
Rushing  is on a mission to “save the lives of young African-Americans and Latinos.” And to promote the message: there is “money in the hood” — in the form of real estate.  Instead of supporting crack houses; own the houses.
When Our Time Press learned that Mr. Rushing was lecturing at the State Office Building under the sponsorship of Sen. David Paterson and motivational speaker/author Terrie Williams, we inquired if we could introduce him to some members of the Bed-Stuy family, including real estate professionals and local leaders.
Attending the breakfast meeting were:  Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Councilman Al Vann, Realtors Charles Atwell of Stuyvesant Heights Brokerage and Barbara Haynes of ERA-Petkoff Realty; Wayne Vaughan, Chief Financial Officer  of Concord Baptist Church, Thomas Pope, Vannguard Community Development Association; Aminisha Black, The Parent’s Notebook; Phyliss Hurd, Bridge Street Development Corporation; Randy Waterman, Community Board 3; Doris Pinn, Community Board 3 and the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Brooks Valley owners Charnaine and Chris Brooks.
The session included networking and comments from Mr. Rushing on his background and career, as well as a joint community/press question- and -answer session.
Rushing told the gathering that he especially targets young African-American males because “we’re losing too many to the streets,” says Rushing.
“Young people have to have the will and determination to do something different.”  Councilman Al Vann noted that other young people were on the same track as Rushing was.  “Got arrested.  Got in jail. But they did not make the change you did.  How do we get them to see the future coming?”
Rushing said that the key for him was education.  “I was inspired by the Autobiography of Malcolm X.  Because here was a man who spent seven years in prison and when he came out he was one of the most brilliant men in the world.  He had a great socio-ideology.  Many of us get caught up in recidivism because we don’t leave prison with any more than what we took in.  You have to combine street knowledge with a formal education.
“Unfortunately,  we are losing a great generation of entrepreneurs to the street.  These guys on the street corners, ‘don’t stop what you’re doing, just change the product.  Business is business.”
Earlier, we had spoke to Mr. Rushing about real estate and the business of buying low and selling high and how it fosters predatory buying, where attempts are made to purchase a house at far below market rates.  He advised that “before you sell your home, you should always know the value.  Ask other brokers, neighbors, check prices in the newspapers.”
Responding to a question  about what kind of support system he had when he came out of prison, Rushing said,  “When I left prison I went to a different city.  When you’re trying to change your life, you have to get away from three things: people, places and things.  You have to associate with different people.  Be around people who provide you with hope and inspiration.
“The support came from my wife, Katrice, who has been there for me from the very beginning.  You have to take the initiative to want to do better for yourself.”
Pioneer realtor Charles Atwell of Stuyvesant Heights Brokerage said, “What I do for people who come into my office, I advise them and other homeowners that every six months or so, look at the Department of Finance and see if you still own your house.”  As an example he said, “It happened to  my brother’s house, somebody else’s name was on it.  He had to go down and get it straightened out.  It happened to some of my property.  There’s a lot of unfair things happening here and I advise people to check on their property at regular intervals to make sure their name is still there.”
Rushing was taken aback that this kind of thing could be happening in Brooklyn, “No, that shouldn’t be happening.  Unless you have something different here in New York, but if you don’t sign a Quit Claim Deed or a Warranty Deed, transferring the rights over to someone else, then either the Property Records is having some errors down there, but that should never be happening at all.”
“It was not an error,” Mr. Atwell assured him.  ” Let’s say, if I take your house, I’m down at the Department of Finance, and I take your name off and put someone else’s name on it.  Now, I don’t do anything with it for a year or so, if you don’t complain about it, they turn around now and sell that property to the third party.”
Rushing was amazed at the ferocity of real estate in the Brooklyn waters.  “See, that’s where I have to be educated,” he admitted. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. How do  they do that?”
Annette Robinson spoke about how in her community hearings she’s heard and responded to these kinds of problems.  “It is a major problem in the Brooklyn community with the Quit Claim Deeds.  People do it.  There’s a lot of fraud going on with predatory buying.  There are some complications in our community in terms of the sales and buying and theft of property.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my life,” Rushing said.  “That’s a political issue.”  City Councilman Al Vann commented that his focus has been on  “bringing resources to local non profits  such as Bridge Street Development, the Brownstoners, Bedford- Stuyvesant Restoration, so they can combat predatory lending and other types of illegal things that can occur, that’s my primary interest right now.  And there is a lot of education that needs to be done.   If we can educate the community, the block associations, that this is going on.  Before you sign anything, there should be someone you can go to.”
Realtor Barbara Haynes noted that Rushing had spoken about his wife, and asked to hear from Katrice Rushing “about how she believed in you.”
Katrice responded, “I met him and we started talking and I could see the kind of person he was.   I had no hesitation about his being in prison.  Everybody deserves a chance to better themselves. His mom had really put morals in his life, as far as getting out there and taking care of himself.  He was very aggressive about getting a job  in Tampa, and trying to better himself.  I saw that he was making an effort for himself and our life, and we did get married.
“He’s always had the ingenuity to do things, and a vision I never guessed was there until  I  looked at some of the houses that he’d taken and remodeled.   He brought us to our first house that we lived in, I thought it was called the Spooky House.  It had holes in the windows and everything.  I said, ‘Okay, I’m putting it in your hands.  It’s up to you.  I have the faith in you that you’ll do what you say you’re going to do,’ and he did it.  I’ve always believed in him and never doubted him so I said tell me what you need me for, I’m here.”
Of note: The Rushings are completing work on their new $4.5 million dollar home.

She is the only woman in a congressional race abound with testosterone. But New York City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke is no shrinking violet. A month back at a candidate’s forum held at the 55th AD Democratic Club, she took center stage with arguably the most impassioned speech of the night. The crowd of mostly senior citizens – visibly intrigued by her palpable fervor – ceased the clamoring of their canes and fans to hear the Jamarican speak.
Despite standing out amidst a disinterested panel of contenders, Clarke’s speech came across a bit too rehearsed – a sign, some would say, of a typical political player. Though this didn’t discredit her message of economic equity or immigration reform, it did cast her in the light of the baby-kissing politician. Learned behavior? After all, she is the offspring of political veteran Una Clarke, the first Caribbean-born city councilwoman.
Regardless, Yvette Clarke’s message seems to be resonating with voters. She maintains a marginal lead over her opponents in  several preliminary polls, including one sponsored by 1199. The opinion poll, conducted by Kiley & Company, found that 27% of those surveyed would vote for the council representative of the 40th district. Her closest contender was David Yassky, to whom 15% of voters would place their confidence. Though these polls tend
to be inconsequential to election results, they do pose the question of whether Carl Andrews and Chris Owens should bow out of the race. It’s no secret that folks are scared of losing the 11th District’s congressional seat – created in 1967 to add color to Congress – to Yassky, a white man.
Some argue that the existence of three Black candidates may divide the Black vote and give Yassky, the so-called carpetbagger, a clear path to victory.
Only time will tell if two of the three Black candidates will opt to fall in line behind one contender of color. For now, it’s every man/woman for himself/herself. As much as Clarke’s popularity can be attributed to her four and a half  years in the council, it’s just as likely that name recognition helped up her numbers. Much like her opponent Chris Owens, the minor of the
Major.Owens that is, perhaps Clarke benefits from hereditary politics. But the councilwoman contends that she doesn’t have to ride her famous mother’s coattails. “I have a very distinguished record of passing legislation. I’ve passed more than five bills in my own right,” asserts Clarke. “My advocacy and my delivery of resources to the 40th Council Diistrict, which accrues to the 11th Congressional District, has demonstrated my commitment.”
Clarke certainly has a history of political involvement. Before  succeeding her mother in 2001, the Brooklyn native did her share of climbing up the political totem pole. She was a congressional intern, a legislative aide and the first director of business development for the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp.
Since being elected to the council, Clarke has been very active in healthcare and women’s rights issues. She has secured millions for SUNY Downstate Hospital, particularly with the creation of the Bio-Technology Incubator and the neonatal intensive care unit. Clarke, the co-chair of the council’s Women’s Caucus, has also obtained funds for a number of organizations that address issues of domestic violence and health care for women. Her dedication to women’s interests is reflective in much of the legislation that she has brought before the council. For example, Clarke introduced legislation, Res. No. 3, which eventually led to the Minority & Women-Owned Business Empowerment Study for equity in the distribution of city contracts.
Needless to say, the economic and social mobility of women is a congressional priority for Clarke. However, she didn’t rank female-centric issues within the five-pillar platform for her campaign. But what woman isn’t affected by immigration, education, health care, economic justice and affordable housing?
Of course, Clarke, a first-generation Jamaican ,is focused on the immigration debate in Congress. Like most Democrats, she believes law abiding, undocumented workers “should have the same opportunity  as those waves of immigrants that came before them without being criminalized.” Clarke opposes Bush’s Guest Visa Program because “it sets up an indentured servitude class and it undercuts the labor movement for standards in wages and health care in this nation.”
Instead, she would like to see, “an inclusive system for documentation, which will allows us to a) identify security threats without profiling, b) assist our local police, education and healthcare systems by encouraging participation and c) allows us to better address unscrupulous employers who are able to lower wages and safety standards for everyone because of the existence of a ‘hidden’ workforce.”
Clarke is also a proponent of universal health care, increased federal subsidies for affordable housing, economic equity for people of color and education reform. “We’re suffering as a society because of a lack of vision for how children of color, in particular, can be educated in a public school setting,” Clarke stresses. She calls for free preschool, an increase in parental training programs and more federal grants for higher education.
The councilwoman’s platform addresses both local and national concerns. She mainly stresses the importance of educating her constituency about and providing resources for economic stability. She wants to address the staggering unemployment rate among Black men by providing more federal funding for civil service training programs and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Clarke also acknowledges the importance of legalizing same- sex marriages. “There are way too many families already existing within this nation that are built on same- sex relationships,” she says. “I know that many religious communities can’t abide by it and I’m not asking them too, but as a civil society we have an obligation to ensure that those families have the same rights and privileges from a secular civil society standpoint.”
As it stands, there are only 15% of female representatives in the House. Clarke believes that it is tantamount for women to become a larger part of the federal power structure. As important a role as gender may play in political perspective, Clarke’s ability to present effective policy is the true issue at hand.