Home Blog Page 988

Kings County Politics (KCP)

Stephen Witt
-
1

By Steve Witt

The Whole Schmear

When Political lobbyist Ezra Freidlander calls to come for breakfast almost all the political players show up to Boro Park for lox, bagels and pastries – or in Yiddish speak – the whole schmear.

The event was Shema Kolainu’s 10th Annual Legislative Breakfast. The organization runs Hear Our Voices, a school and center for Children with Autism.

Those, who attended the event reads like a who’s who in city and state politics and included Central Brooklyn’s Assemblyman and Congressional lock Hakeem Jeffries, City Councilwoman Letitia James, who is looking more and more like a viable public advocate candidate, and State Sen. Eric Adams, the front runner to succeed Marty Markowitz as Brooklyn Borough President.

This little nosh also drew the likes of front running mayoral candidates City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Possible Republican Mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis CEO of Gristedes Supermarket was also in attendance. Others at the schmooze fest included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. City Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito, Dan Garodnick, Domenic Recchia, Lew Fidler, Mark Wepren, David Greenfield and Brad Lander; Assembly members David Wepren and Dov Hikind, and Williamsburg/Greenpoint District Leader Lincoln Restler.

“It’s about autism, and galvanizing elected officials on addressing and funding this very relevant issue,” said Friedlander noting that the City Council recently allocated $1.5 million split up in $25,000 and $50,000 increments to various autism programs throughout the city.

While Orthodox Jewish Boro Park is long known to deliver votes, Friedlander noted he worked hard to bring all the players together and if they think it will curry favor with local voters all the better.

It’s about identifying an issue, organizing it well and giving them (politicians) recognition for the good work they do,” said Friedlander. And if an elected official steps up to the plate and hits a double or homerun, you make sure the community knows about it.”

Mosley Kicks off assembly campaign

Male District Leader Walter T. Mosley officially kicked off his candidacy to succeed his mentor, Hakeem Jeffries, as State Assemblyman from the 57th District.

Jeffries, the Democratic nominee for Congress to replace Ed Towns, is all but assured a victory in the upcoming November general election.

“This diverse district continues to change and it needs leadership that will protect the priorities of working families,” said Mosley, adding his priorities include addressing the need for more affordable housing, improved neighborhood healthcare, better quality schools and more job opportunities.

In regards to Atlantic Yards, Mosley said he always supported the arena project, but that developer Forest City Ratner Companies must be held responsible fro the promised jobs and affordable housing.

Mosley is running against female district leader Ola Alabi. Also in the race is educator Martine Guerrier.

The thinking at KPC is Mosley is the candidate to beat as he has the backing of Kings County Democratic boss Vito Lopez and Jeffries. Additionally, he has raised $43,000 and retained vetted political operatives Scott Levenson of the Advance Group and Lupe Todd of George Arzt Communications – the same group that worked on Jeffries’ campaign.
Interestingly, Mosley did not petition to run for re-election as male district leader and nobody has filed to run for the position.

Mosley said this means he will most likely retain the position by default.

Quid pro quo

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic nominee for Congress to replace current Rep. Ed Towns, this week announced his endorsement of Robert Cornegy, Jr. for district leader in the 56th district, serving Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and parts of Bushwick.

Cornegy currently also serves as president of the Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA), the first Democratic Club to endorse Jeffries over Towns in the recent primary.

The endorsement came after a closed VIDA meeting, in which only one reporter was given access. That reporter went on to write a lengthy story that concluded with everything but the coronation of Jeffries as the new boss of black Brooklyn politics.

VIDA was founded by City Councilman Al Vann, considered by many to be the current boss of black Brooklyn politics. To his credit, Vann has also mentored several of the current top black political leaders in the borough.

With Vann term-limited out of the city council next year, Cornegy has to be considered the early frontrunner to replace him.

It’s an open seat, however, and the 2013 City Council primary to replace Vann may also be the first test between the changing-of-the-guard in old black Brooklyn politics and the possible rising of new independent voices.

Cymbrowitz fights for political life

Sheepshead Bay Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz is facing two tough challengers in Democratic Ben Akselrod in the September primary, and if he gets past him, Republican Russell Gallo in the November general election.

Akselrod is said to be fairly popular with the growing Russian-American community, and Gallo also appeals to the very conservative Russian base.
“Everything south of Kings Highway appears to be going red,” said one political operative.

Lawmaker charges Central Brooklyn shorted by city council

Stephen Witt
-
0

Says $50 million doled out by loyalty to Speaker Christine Quinn and not need

By Stephen Witt

A Brooklyn lawmaker charged last week that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn doled out the council’s discretionary funds by favoritism and loyalty, and it resulted in much of Central Brooklyn’s impoverished neighborhoods getting less money than Manhattan’s wealthier neighborhoods.

“Part of my district was designated one of the poorest in Brooklyn and I got very little compared to the Upper East Side,” said the City Council Member, who preferred to remain anonymous, lest they draw the wrath of Quinn.

“One person controls all the money and maybe it should be based on need and income or children living in poverty, or the amount of homeless shelters and food pantries in a district, or the number of people living with HIV/AIDS or the highest number of formerly incarcerated people returning home, or the number of dropouts, or where the lowest performing schools are located,” the city lawmaker added.

According to the recently passed 2013 City Budget about $50 million in total was doled out between the 52 City Council members.

The top five allocations went to powerful council members Domenic Recchia, Lew Fidler, Leroy Comrie, James Oddo and Joel Rivera. All brought home over a million a piece to their districts.

In Central Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy City Councilman Al Vann, who is also the council’s majority whip, received $735,964, or a very respectable 14th of the members, to give to local non-profit organizations and civic institutions in his district on the expense side of the budget.

However, after Vann, other Central Brooklyn city council members received considerably less money.
This includes Fort Greene City Councilwoman Letitia James who ranked 41st of getting expense allocations ($481,964), Flatbush City Councilman Jumaane Williams, who ranked 42nd ($472,464), Bed-Stuy/Brownsville City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy, who ranked 48th ($426,964), and East New York City Councilman Charles Barron, who ranked 50th ($399,464).

Quinn spokesman Jamie McShane responded that many allocations crossed district lines and that the money was doled out fairly.

“Various different factors go into making decisions regarding funding allocations, including each district’s needs and the ability of nonprofits to meet them,” said McShane. “At the end of the day, we end up with a distribution that is truly citywide and diverse.”

Iconic Harlem Entrepreneur Passes

Editor, Our Time Press
-
48

Sylvia Woods built a world-renowned institution

Sylvia Woods (February 2, 1926 - July 19, 2012)

Sylvia Woods was an American restaurateur who co-founded the landmark restaurant Sylvia’s in Harlem on Lenox Avenue in New York City with her husband, Herbert Woods, in 1962. The soul food eatery is a popular gathering place for Harlem residents and tourists not far from the Apollo Theater.

Sylvia was born to Julia and Van Pressley in Hemingway, South Carolina. Her father, Van Pressley, died when she was just three days old from complications of injuries he received during combat in World War I. By April 10, 1930, she had lived in Williamsburg County, South Carolina with her grandmother Sylvia Johnson, the woman she was named after. Johnson had worked as a farmer, a trade that Pressley would get into when she got a little older. Research of Sylvia’s ancestry is being conducted by Yonkers, New York resident Dennis Richmond, Jr. In 1930, Sylvia’s mother took the rest of her family to New York so she could better provide for her family, leaving her grandmother Sylvia Johnson to raise three-year-old Sylvia.

Woods met her future husband, Herbert, in a bean field when she was 11 years old and he was 12. They married in 1944 after he followed her to New York. They had four children together: Van, Bedelia, Kenneth and Crizette. Woods graduated from high school in her hometown of Hemingway, South Carolina. She trained to become a beautician in New York, and also ran a beauty shop in South Carolina. Woods also worked in a hat factory, and as a waitress at a restaurant called Johnson’s Luncheonette in Harlem from 1954 to 1962.

Woods bought her own restaurant in 1962; the restaurant could seat up to 35 people. During the early 1990s, the business expanded and now seats up to 450 people. It also has a catering business. Organized and started by her son Van in 1992, Sylvia came out with her own line of soul food products that are sold nationally. Woods’ products include many of her special sauces, vegetables, spices, syrup and cornbread and pancake mixes. Woods produced two cookbooks: Sylvia’s Soul Food Cookbook, published in 1992; and Sylvia’s Family Soul Food Cookbook, published in 1999, both by William Morrow and Company. The restaurant remains owned and operated by the Woods family. In August 2011, they celebrated 50 years in Harlem. Guests have included Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Robert F. Kennedy and President Barack Obama.

Sylvia Woods stepped down from the day-to-day operations of the restaurant when she was 80 years old. Sylvia’s is currently owned and operated by her children and grandchildren. Her husband Herbert predeceased her, dying in 2001.

Woods died on July 19, 2012, at her home in Mount Vernon, New York at the age of 86.[1] She had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for several years. (www.wikipedia.com)

Sports: Say it Ain't So

Eddie Castro
-
7

By Eddie Castro

The Yankees once again, have the best record in the majors, and are on pace to win about 103 games. Despite leading the American League East by 6 games, there are still some concerns about the Yankees’ play going into the second half. The team found themselves in a predicament they haven’t found themselves in some time. After sweeping a 3-game set against. The Toronto Blue Jays, the “Bronx Bombers” traveled to Oakland in a late-season West Coast trip to start a 4-game series against the A’s. The Yankees were “outplayed” the entire series as they were swept 4 straight games right out of the Oakland Coliseum. The four losses snapped a nine-game winning streak the Yankees had in Oakland. In an early-season visit back in May, it was the Yankees who seemed to overwhelm the A’s in a 3-game sweep of their own. The four straight losses to the A’s was also the first time since 2003 that the Yanks were swept in a four-game series (May, 2003 vs. Toronto all losses by 1 run). Several sources have indicated that the team has “lost it’s swagger”. How does a ball club with a $200 million dollar payroll get “beat up” by a team who has one of the lowest payrolls in baseball at $53 million. The Yankees, since June 2, has the best winning record in the Majors, but the team that is second on that list behind them was the team that defeated them 4 straight times.

Sure we can go on and make excuses about the team’s rotation being a bit unsettled with the injuries to Andy Pettitte and C.C Sabathia, however, pitchers like Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes have proven in the past that they can carry the rotation through the second half of the season as Sabathia works his way back into form. Pettitte is not expected back until late August, perhaps early September. Even with a 1st place record, the Yankees apparently are on a panic watch. The offense appears to be two-dimensional with Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter leading the way. It is players like Alex Rodriguez who need to get his bat going. After all, he is making $30 million dollars this year. Put it this way, C.C. Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez are making more money this year then anybody on the entire Oakland A’s team. The biggest part of the season is coming up for the Bombers as 20 percent of the team’s remaining games are against division opponents, including 12 games against the Boston Red Sox.

So is it panic or patience? I say, neither! We all know that every team has its ups and downs during the course of a grueling 162-game season. It’s just a rarity for the Yankees to lose 4 straight to a team. That’s baseball for you, on any given day or night, a team can be beat. It’s the beauty of sports and part of an excitement and frustration of being a fan, especially in New York. The Yankees will be right there in the mix of things and the mid-week acquisition of Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki will help the team’s offense. Pettitte will be back, Joba Chamberlain will return, and despite an ACL injury, there are even reports of Mariano Rivera possibly returning this season. There are many things for Yankee fans to be excited about. The only question is, can they put it all together come October.

Sports Notes : With the newest acquisition of Ichiro Suzuki, The Yankees should be better. They will  display their new look as they start a 3-game set at the stadium against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night Ichiro’s Yankee home debut. Lets’ be nice and call it a “Summer Slump.” Either way you put it, the Mets have struggled so far in the second half having lost 9 of their last 10 games. They look to get things going as they host a 4-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team traditionally have played well on the road against them.

On The Right Track with Diane Dixon: On the Road to the London Olympics 2012

Diane Dixon
-
3

The GAMES are finally here! July 27 will mark the opening ceremony with 30 sports, 17,000 athletes, 227 countries, over 20,000 journalists, 63,000 people involved in staging the Games, 500,000 daily spectators, and over 9 million tickets sold to engage in the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

The Opening Ceremony will commence on July 27 at 9:00 PM London Time.  The Queen of England will officially declare the Games open but before that James Bond, Paul McCartney and other high-profile celebrities and political heads will dazzle the crowd.  The theme of the night will be “Isles of Wonders”, a name drop from English playwright William Shakespeare.  First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, along with European royalty, will be in attendance.

Brooklyn’s own Lia Neal, will be one of those 17,000 athletes representing Team USA.  She is one of the youngest swimmers on her way to compete in the 4×100 Meter Relay.  Neal is only seventeen years old.  Growing up in the Fort Greene section, Neal was able to break through the stereotype that swimming is a costly sport due to expensive training costs, private lessons and travel by receiving a scholarship from Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics, a Manhattan nonprofit whose mission is to help people achieve health through sports and fitness; and her school, Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan, also contributed money to help defray the costs of training.  She will be the second African-American female athlete to make the team.  Neal will begin her Games’ experience on Saturday, July 28.

There will be the traditional parade of athletes from over 200 countries walking around the stadium.  From the United States, faces such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, Abby Wambach and Jordyn Wieber will be the most recognizable during the march.  Other notables such as Tyson Gay, Kevin Durant, Allyson Felix, Gabby Douglas and Alex Morgan will also be there.

Some of the biggest stories will be Michael Phelps, with seven races to compete in, he needs three more gold medals to pass Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as the most decorated Olympian of all time.  Phelps has 16 Olympic medals and Latynina has 18 Olympic medals.  Dubbed the “female” Michael Phelps, seventeen-year-old Missy Franklin is on the verge of swimming superstardom.  If she medals in all four of her individual events and makes each of Team USA’s three relay squads, she could become the first American female athlete to win seven medals at one Olympiad.

Four years ago, Usain Bolt was the quintessence of dominance, winning three gold medals in world record times. This year, he could be the first sprinter in history to win the 100-and 200-meter sprints in consecutive Olympic Games.  Led by Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, the U.S. women’s soccer team would have to overcome their 2011 World Cup Final loss to Japan to get the gold medal.  Reigning World Champ Jordyn Wieber and U.S. Trials Champ Gabby Douglas could make history if each one gets gold; it would make a third consecutive title for Team USA.

American hurdler Lolo Jones remains a long-shot for Olympic Gold after hitting hurdle nine in Beijing on her quest to win has become a household name.  Due to her backstories on NBC Nightly News, HBO, ESPN cover, TIME magazine & spread in Rolling Stone magazine, expect to hear her name, especially if she makes it to the finals.  American sprinter Allyson Felix is missing one thing from her resume and that is an individual Olympic Gold Medal.  A prize she will seek in the 100 and 200 Meters.

Decathlete Ashton Eaton broke the event’s 11-year-old World Record at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Oregon, he will be the most decorated athlete since Dan O’Brien and Dave Johnson ruled the sport.  Valarie Brisco-Hooks, Michael Johnson and Marie-Jose Perec are the only athletes to win gold medals in the 200 and 400 Meters.  American Sanya Richards-Ross looks for redemption as she goes for gold in the 400 Meters after an upsetting third place at the Beijing Games.  Ross also holds the second-fastest time in the 200 Meters.  Perhaps she can add her name to this list.

American sprinter and U.S. record holder in the 100-Meters, Tyson Gay had multiple surgeries and is looking to win his first Olympic medal.  He will have to first get around World Record-Holder Usain Bolt and his teammate, 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake.  After defeating Bolt at the Jamaican Trials in both the 100 and 200 Meters, he could take his first step toward international celebrity if he wins the gold medal.

New Yorker gymnast John Orozco is one of the most talented gymnasts in decades and could become a major international symbol if he can bring home the gold.  Of course, let’s not forget the Williams sisters in Tennis.  Serena Williams could be the first woman to win double-gold since her sister captivated this at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Kenyan runner David Rudisha broke the 13-year-old 800-Meter World Record twice in one week, and has been virtually unbeatable since 2010. He will be one of the faces to watch this August.  American Galen Rupp has a chance to make history.  An American man has never medaled over 800 Meters since 1968 (excluding the Marathon).  Rupp could be the first man by running both the 5,000 & 10,000 Meters.

American quarter-miler and 2008 Olympic Champion Lashawn Merritt is looking to defend his title.  However, up-and-coming Kerani James from Grenada, at nineteen years old, has the potential to capture gold after defeating Merritt at the 2011 World Championships.

Good luck to Team USA at the London Olympic Games from July 25 –  August 12.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.london2012.com

For more information or questions, please contact OlympianDianeD@yahoo.com
Check out my blog website at http://blog.dianedixonfoundation.org
Follow me on https://twitter.com/DianeDixon

1...987988989...1,289Page 988 of 1,289