Our Time PressThe Local Paper with the Global View

By Eric Adams

Federal investigators entered into the suspect’s house and searched through all of his personal belongings to locate evidence that would substantiate their belief that he was a foreign spy. Although they did not locate anything connected to their investigation, they did find items that showed he was involved in a homosexual relationship. This fact was reported to his employer who used it against him when it was time to fill a promotional vacancy in his government job.
The above-mentioned event was not a post- 911 law- enforcement act that was
performed due to the passage of the 2001 Patriot Act. It was an action carried out during the mid- 1960’s with the approval of then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
From the mid- 1920’s to the early 1970’s federal government  records have shown the FBI and other government agencies came dangerously close to stretching the boundaries of the constitution. In many cases, they openly violated constitutional laws. The agency used everything from illegal wiretaps to “black bag jobs”, a term used by the federal bureau of Investigation to describe the illegal entry into an individual’s home to gather evidence or plant a bug.
Mr. Hoover used his fifty-five years in the FBI to create a government within the government. Ten presidents and sixteen attorney generals all stood by while the violations of law took place under the guise of fighting Communism. Much of these abuses of power were done with public opinion polls showing that Americans overwhelming approved of the FBI’s illegal actions. It was as though the country was saying, “handle the threat of communism and we don’t care how it is done.”
Director Hoover created his own definition to classify immigrants and citizens as enemies of the government. Some of the criteria that would have a person placed on the enemy list included being gay, attending a Communist party meeting, or speaking out against a government policy that Hoover agreed with.
Hoover wrapped himself in patriotic clothing to justify his encroachment on constitutional rights, all in the interest of national security. It was only years later that a review of FBI files proved how far our federal government had gone in circumventing and violating the constitutional rights of innocent Americans.
 The FBI was not alone, for many of the other federal and local law- enforcement agencies during that time followed Hoover’s attack on constitutional safeguards.
It is important to point out the historical role of the FBI and other federal agencies when we talk about the new legislation that is created out of the response of the attack on the World Trade Center. The discussion cannot be carried out in a vacuum. We must take a critical look at the past to get a full understanding of where we are going in the future. America has always had threats to its interests. Whereas yesteryear it was the communist threat, today it is terrorism. The Patriot Act is one of the many pieces of legislation that have been enacted to address these concerns.
Federal legislators passed the Act in just six weeks after the attack on the World Trade Center. Undoubtedly, the justifiable emotionalism during that period of national mourning had impact on the debate, or lack of, regarding the Patriot Act. Although all Americans agree that our law- enforcement agencies should have the necessary power to fight terrorism, how this task is done on American soil should come with much debate and analysis. The desire to have a thorough review of new laws is not to delay the protection effort, but to ensure that we safeguard our constitutional rights.
The FBI is not the only agency that is using the Patriot Act for other
than terrorism investigations. Some financial institutions are currently using the Act to explain why they are requesting sensitive information from their customers. Everyday banking services such as starting up college savings plans have resulted in turning over more personal data. In this age of increasing identity theft, the concern of citizens who provide personal data is understandable.
The communities of color must remain vigilant more than ever to ensure that the proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuses of law enforcement newfound powers. We more than any other group in America have felt the abuses of federal investigations. A cointelpro style government cannot return to our community.

Kevin Brockenbrough lived in Brooklyn twice: once in a brownstone owned by a Pratt student, located just off Clinton and Myrtle and then more recently in a condo at  1 Rockwell Place, which was, he says, “delightfully close to Junior’s Restaurant.” He lived for three years in each location. And that’s long enough for us to think of him as one of ours. 
Brockenbrough, who now resides in Newark, N.J, wrote ‘Cause Harlem Needs Heroes, a short story in the newly released second volume of Sheree Renee Thomas’ Dark Matter speculative-fiction anthology series.  Thomas’ first volume won the New York Times Book of the Year honors, the 2001 World Fantasy Award and the 2001 Gold Pen Award.
Brockenbrough’s story is set in Harlem in the year 2053. “It was inspired more by my love of jazz than a particular locale,” he says. Check availability of the  Dark Matter anthologies at Brownstone Books on Lewis Ave, nr. Decatur and Indigo Caf‚ & Books on Fulton Street, nr. So. Portland.

By Linda Armstrong
Williams Is Wonderful In ‘AIDA’
Michelle T. Williams of Destiny’s Child is making her Broadway debut in AIDA, a Disney musical with amazing music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton. Williams’ debut is delightful. She is a wonderful fit to the cast of the Tony- Award winning show. Her acting and singing are on point as she takes on the powerful character of Aida, a Nubian princess. “AIDA” is a story of forbidden love, filled with passion and betrayal.
Williams’ voice soars during several numbers in the play. Although she does not have a Broadway- trained voice, she manages to hold her own, amongst a gifted cast. During numbers which showcase Aida in a dance where the enslaved Nubians beg for her leadership, Williams’ singing talent is enormous. Her voice rocked the theater as she sang “The Gods of Nubia” and “Easy As Life.”
“I thank God that I am making my Broadway debut in a Disney production and in a strong role representing Nubia,” said Williams at a celebration party held after her December 11 evening performance.
Williams performs the role six times a week. She stepped into the role after singer Toni Braxton, who she carefully watched nightly for three weeks. She also viewed tapes at the Lincoln Center library of Heather Headley, the original Tony Award-winning  AIDA. “I had four weeks to practice vocal and lines before doing the show. Each person who has had the role has taken it to a different level. I’m also trying to do that and whoever follows me will do the same,” Williams said. Williams believes she brings a more gospel style of singing to her character and it is very evident.
Williams hopes to perform the role through February 15 and continues to try to improve her performances with a little help. “I’m surviving because I have a very supportive cast. That’s the only way I’m getting better. I get notes on my mistakes after performances and I take them as constructive criticism and use them to help me to improve. I definitely want to do Broadway again,” said Williams.
The immensely talented cast of lead role players who work with Williams include Will Chase as Radames, the Egyptian captain who captures the Nubian princess Aida and her people and falls in love with this strong-willed and beautiful character. Mandy Gonzalez, the ever- neglected Amneris, the Egyptian princess engaged to marry Radames for several years. She focuses on fashion and her appearance to occupy her time. She is a character that suffers from loving a man who does not choose to give her the time of day. Donnie Kehr plays Radames father, the ruthless, power-hungry Zoser. African- American actor Delisco is the comic relief in the show and is a slave to Radames. These cast members’ impeccable performances combined with the powerful songs and outstanding choreography of Wayne Cilento, and marvelous direction by Robert Falls, makes this play an impressive production to take on.
Go see “AIDA” and enjoy.
Latin Passion Ignites On Broadway
Actor Jimmy Smits smolders with passion in Anna In The Tropics on Broadway at the Royale Theater. Smits plays a lector, a person traditionally employed at a Cuban cigar factory who reads novels to the workers as they hand roll cigars. Smits’ character, Juan Julian captures more than the attention of the workers at the cigar factory in Tampa, Florida, in 1929.
The factory is owned by Santiago (played by Victor Argo), who is from Cuba. His workers are his family-Ofelia, his wife (played by Priscilla Lopez); their daughters Conchita (played by Daphne Rubin-Vega) and Marela (played by Vanessa Aspillaga); Palomo, Conchita’s husband (played by John Ortiz) and Cheche, Santiago’s half brother (played by David Zayas).
There are problems that the family members face, which are kept covered until Juan Julian begins to read the novelAnna Karenina.  As problems are revealed passions and pain ignite.
Playwright Nilo Cruz not only delivers an interesting, creative story, it is also educational. It explains the Cuban tradition of using a lector and some Cuban cultural beliefs.
There is absolutely nothing predictable about this play. Cruz dramatically builds it moment by moment, assisted with the precise direction of Emily Mann.
Go and enjoy Anna In The Tropics.

TO AWARD $50,000 to Top Submission
DEADLINE is FEBRUARY 29
If you possess the determination to run your own business and a desire to help fuel the community, or you’re already doing it, you may want to check out the current Ford BEST Business Plan Competition.
One Grand Prize winner will win $50,000 towards their business or business idea; First and Second Prizewinners will win $25,000 each. Entries must be fully developed and presented in a business- plan format. All entries must be submitted by February 29, 2004.
Applicants must submit a business plan to be judged by SCORE counselors for a grand prize of $50,000 and two runner-up prizes of $25,000 to start up the business of their dreams.
The plan should include five main elements, including type of business, product or service, pricing considerations, target market and competition, and general operations. An advisory panel of SCORE counselors will review the plans based on the following judging criteria: overall presentation of the business plan, the viability of a success, funding requirements, anticipated sales, analysis of competition and overall benefit to the community.
All applicants will receive a free one year online subscription to Diversityinc.com and winners will receive free counseling and mentoring from a SCORE counselor. For more information and to apply, log onto www.ford.com/go/best.

By Errol T. Louis
As reported on the front page of last month’s Our Time Press, a group of neighborhood residents and several local politicians   dug its heels in to oppose plans to build a sports arena, office towers, and 4,400 units of housing along Atlantic Avenue between Flatbush and Vanderbilt Avenues. Much of this opposition is misguided and shortsighted; some of it is downright dishonest. Here’s my view of the project.
I’ve always been skeptical about the true motives of the earliest and noisiest opponents of the project because, as I reported here last October, it’s clear that many of them actually want nothing done with the site at all. Leaders of at least two groups, the Prospect Heights Action Coalition and the New Black Leadership Political Club, were circulating petitions and printing stickers saying “no stadium” way back in September – two months before any plan was completed or announced.
The same fast-and-loose approach to the facts has continued. Many opponents of the project continue to claim that “thousands” of people will lose their homes, although the people who keep repeating this know that it’s not true. ÿAs Newsday reported last month, the number of people that would be affected is unclear. Estimates range from the developer’s lowball guesstimate of 100, through the Census Bureau’s count of 350, up to the Prospect Heights Action Coalition’s count of 864.
ÿWe should put an asterisk next to that number, 864, which is not “thousands” by any stretch of the imagination. The Prospect Heights Action Coalition, which has been chasing and receiving most of the anti-arena press, is the same group that was protesting in 2002 against plans by the city to place a shelter for the homeless on Dean Street between Vanderbilt and Carlton Avenues. The group went so far as to file a federal lawsuit to try and block the facility.
Now they’re now counting the residents of those same shelters to reach their grand total of 864 people who must be protected from being displaced by the proposed arena. As far as I can tell, they’re using the homeless as silent props. My guess is that some of the homeless families would be in favor of seeing the housing portion of the project built, particularly if they were promised a shot at the hundreds of units that would be designated for low-income residents.
I was recently stopped on the street by a young man, Eddy Petit Jr., a/k/a E-Props, who was upset about the way the discussion over the arena proposal is going. The note he later sent me is too long to quote in full, but it shows that opinions over the project are split.
“My family, the Privats, have been at their home, which they own outright, and is located on Ratner’s proposed site, for 40 years,”  Bro. Petit wrote. “I have never heard of or seen the Prospect Heights Action Coalition until this situation. This brings to question their actual motives.  How can they really claim to represent the community when they themselves just became part of the community?  Are they genuinely concerned about the long time residents of Prospect Heights or is their wish for Prospect Heights to become their own gentrified vision an extension of Park Slope? Keep in mind that they not only oppose the stadium,   that they also wanted to shut down a homeless shelter on Dean Street, also on Ratner’s proposed location.  Does the Prospect Heights Coalition plan include relocating these residents and finding them jobs?  Does Ratner’s?”
Bro. Petit is asking important questions. There are indeed people who, like his family, own property that’s at risk of being taken and demolished through the process of eminent domain, which is basically a forced-purchase arrangement. Those people have every right to fight for their homes, and to argue for design changes that might save them.
But it’s hard for them to negotiate in a situation where there are people – whose property isn’t at risk – claiming to represent all of us and letting it be known, by word and by deed, that there’s no possible outcome that would meet with their approval. That’s a fast track to irrelevance. At some point, the rest of us have to enter the conversation and ask a few questions of our own.
Here are a few. Would it be better to get a seat at the table to discuss the jobs, contracts and housing related to this 10-year, multibillion-dollar project -ÿor should our leaders just stand on the sidelines until all the decisions are made?
Are engineering or architectural solutions available? I’ve seen one drawing that would move the proposed arena one block north, which would eliminate the need to take anybody’s home. It’s also worth asking engineers whether the homes on the arena footprint could be jacked up, moved east, and set back down.
Given that nearly half of the 21-acre site has been unused since the 1950s, is it responsible to wait another half-century and hope for something positive to happen? We’ve heard a lot from the middle-class opponents of the project, now shouldn’t we include the many poor, unemployed, and homeless members of our community in the deliberations over what should be done?

The project calls for 4,400 units of new housing, which would include 880 units designated for low- income people and 2,200 for moderate-income people. If all else fails, shouldn’t somebody be fighting to make sure that people being moved from their current homes get first dibs on the proposed new housing?
I hope people will raise these and similar questions at the next meeting of the Fort Greene Association on the evening of Feb. 23 at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. The group is scheduled to take up the arena question.