So after considering a run for Congress against Yvette Clarke, Brooklyn boro-prez Marty Markowitz -I am now told- has decided against it, and is even considering endorsing Yvette for re-election. WOW!!
You really want to talk about hypocrisy and two-facedness folks? This is a sad sad commentary on contemporary political relationships. Sad.
In my humble opinion, Marty probably would have won this race relatively easily. He has a serious shot at winning the mayoralty of New York, but my suspicion is that he doesn’t really believe this deep down in his heart. That’s why he has been all over the damn place of late. One minute it’s public advocate he is eyeing; next minute it’s mayor; now we hear about Congress (something we have heard before mind you); then we hear he is retiring from politics and opening up a lil reefer-joint (Jamaican-style) somewhere in East-Flatbush or Carnarsie.
WTF!
Focus Marty; focus. And I say this as one who has never been in his fan club. On the contrary: I have tried to defeat him almost half a dozen times (Andrews, Gumbs, Sharpe, Fisher, Myrick-and maybe another along the way/as I get older I can’t remember everything anymore/lol). Marty is tough as nails. He is more silly than Billy but dynamic and charismatic too.
Now a good Brooklyn political-reporter (like myself/lol) would chase down Boro Prez Marty and have a hard-nosed interview with him; in order to get clarification and verification of all these rumors on the streets for the past couple weeks. Some people are wondering: how could he even think it? Well, he did; so deal with it and stop trying to trivialize my columns.
You see, I can’t chase down these folks anymore. I hardly ever get interviews now. Too many cowardly electeds in Brooklyn refuse to engage me these days. I could hardly even get a phone call returned these last few years. I wonder if it’s something about my columns. What do you think? Was it something I wrote?
Elected officials shy away from me the same way loose women shy away from the men with small penises. Well, I have heard that’s what they do/lol/ not that I know.
I am told that petitions for Congress are circulating as I write this column. I am told that Vito Lopez -the leader of Dems in Brooklyn -will be supporting three insurgents (Jeffries, Dilan and Sylvia Kinard-Thompson) against Ed Towns, Nydia Velasquez and Yvette Clarke. If true, this will be a historic first: that a Dems county leader will be going against three incumbent members of Congress from his own political party. WOW!!
I could be wrong but I really don’t think this has ever happened anywhere in this country: ever. Howard Gatemouth can always tell us if I am incorrect here (seriously).
I told you before Sylvia Kinard-Thompson has the potential to be a very good candidate. If she can mount a reasonable campaign effort, both Yvette and her mom (Una) will have to fight from inside the foxhole with knives and bayonets. I wonder if Kinard knows the quality of effort that’s needed here. Rumors are that her campaign has been floundering from Jump-Street. She needs to go get some professionals to help her put this together. Time is already running out.
Look, the combined records of Una and Yvette Clarke show eleven wins and three losses when you add general election victories. This is no record to shy away from. It is formidable enough. The only time Yvette lost an election was when she challenged the incumbent congressman (Major Owens). And remember in that race there were two other opponents (Tracey Boyland and Professor Tooks Pierce) joining her in splitting the anti-Owens vote into three pieces.
On the political streets of the hottest borough in New York City there are a few other conversations taking place: Brooklyn is always hot folks. And as I always tell you: politics is the only game in town – even though I must admit that the New York Knickerbockers are trying to play (just as I told you in my Christmas column / go dig it up in my archives).
Here is a news item for you Bed-Stuy / Brownsville folks. My sources tell me that there are many challengers lining up to go after a weak Junior Boyland (incumbent assemblyman/under federal indictment for bribery). The field includes Tony Hurbert, Nathan Bradley, Bilal Malik, David Miller, Anthony Jones, Royston Antoine (Uncle Roy) and Danny Gourdine. I am sure you will hear a few other names circulate in time.
In the 56th AD, Annette Robinson is returning for an umpteenth time. I sure wish attorney Cinceria Edwards will come out from the sugar bowl and challenger her. It’s time for Annette to go. Ms. Edwards -who challenged a few years ago- is the chair of the Bed-Stuy chapter of the National Action Network. She will make a fine legislator and rep. She is an attorney and also an accountant. She has tremendous potential for progressive and dynamic leadership.
Look, it’s time for many of our Neanderthal black-representatives to exit the stage at the left. It’s just that simple: go. Go now. Your uninspiring leadership has worn us out. We are tried.
In East New York, Brooklyn, word is that Chris Banks will challenge Inez Barron. Chris is a thirty-something year old young man with boundless energy; who has done lots of good deeds in the area: especially working with senior citizens over the years. Someone recently said that they saw a picture of perennial candidate Ken Evans on a milk carton. I doubt he is entering this race.
In the 42nd AD, district leader Rodneyse Bichotte is challenging a 34 year incumbent Rhoda Jacobs. Rhoda has held this seat since John the Baptist was wearing pampers. The problem for Ms. Bichotte is that there are two other Haitian-American political activists supposedly in the race. These two are Zacary LaReche and Michelle Adolphe. Some are saying that Michele isn’t going but I will await clarification from her before I rule her out.
In the district leader race there is heavy action apparently. Word is that Ms. Mary Hobson will be coming back for her previous post. Last time around Ms. Hobson was knocked off the ballot by Bichotte’s forces. I am told that Hobson will be on a ticket with both Rhoda Jacobs and male leader Booker Ingram. If true, this will be another first. Hobson usually ran by herself if memory serves me right. She is currently the deputy county chair for Brooklyn’s Dems.
Mary Hobson is one of the sweetest ladies you will meet in Brooklyn’s politics. No word yet on whether Natasha Holliday will make this race. Indications are that she would not.
In the male-spot I hear Bichotte’s cousin (Pierre) is running. I am also told that Jamaican-born activist Delroy Wright is also gearing up for a run at the district leadership this year. Initially, there was heavy word that businessman Wright was contemplating a run for city council next year; so I guess plans may have shifted. I am told that Wright will be joining forces with another Jamaican-born political activist Leithland Tulloch, to make some political moves in the area. We shall see.
I guess incumbent council member Mathieu Eugene should take note. Word is that the district is thoroughly dissatisfied with his tenure in office. I always said that Mathieu is a nice guy but not an aggressive council member: being a council member is not only about photo-opportunities. Ask Charles Barron about this folks.
Here is another news item for you: Nick Perry is finally getting a primary challenge after 14 years. I am told that the leader of Community Board #17 will do it. This young man is an attorney named Terry Hinds. My sources tell me that he is going to resign from chairing the board and is seriously contemplating a run against Mister Nicolas. I am told that he is almost one hundred per cent certain now. I hope I am not wrong about this.
Mr. Hinds hasn’t filed a committee as yet (last time I checked); nor has he held fundraisers as far as I know; but lots of folks are lining up to support him. Nick Perry-fatigue has set in on this district folks. This is a development that many have been salivating over for years. Nick Perry is another one who has outlived his usefulness. His twenty years in office has been punctuated by mediocrity and pomposity.
In the 57th AD, I warned you guys (years ago) this will be the race to watch: who will replace Hakeem Jeffries in the assembly? District leaders Walter Mosley and Ms. Ola Alabi will get down to hand to hand combat real soon (if not already). This fight probably started years ago really.
Contrary to the automatic put-downs by supporters on both sides of the divide, these are two formidable opponents. On one hand you have a political-animal with tremendous energy, smarts and ambition; and on the other you have a “Cool-hand Luke type”. Personally, I like them both; thus I will be taking no side. I will take cover if I were you: this is about to get bloody. I expect to see bodies strewn all over the district like when Mack the Knife came back to town. May the better person win. Either way the district will be well represented. If Ola ever learns to relax she will be very formidable. Her political mind is always racing.
I intend to write a full column on the congressional race between Towns, Barron and Hakeem Jeffries. I am going to endorse Hakeem Jeffries shortly. I guess I am going to have some ‘splainin’ to do; given that at some point in the past I have been politically (or professionally) aligned with all three candidates here.
Hakeem Jeffries is the best option in 2012: it’s that simple. I want to believe that I have a solid right to make that determination given my years of activism, and given my familiarity with this race, the borough, the district and the candidates. To sum it up let me say that it’s time for Ed to retire. It’s that simple. What can he hope to accomplish now, that he hasn’t had time to accomplish in around three decades in office? As to Charles Barron: he will be entertaining on CSPAN, but ineffective in Congress. It is REALLY that simple.
Back to the 58th AD (Nick Perry), the district leadership races will be exciting. Incumbent leader Weyman Carey will face a challenge (again) from the young and ambitious Corey Provost. Last time around Weyman edged out Provost in a competitive race. Some folks have been egging Wellington Sharpe to enter this race but he has resisted so far. It’s still early though.
On the female side, word is that educator Gale Reed-Barnett is contemplating a run for her old seat. Gale is a cousin of Sylvia Kinard-Thompson (small world isn’t it?). Word also is that there is a young, industrious and dynamic female about to throw her hat into the ring (more on that in my next “Vines” column). She is said to head up a youth group with membership in the hundreds and very active in the civics of this district.
In the 43rd AD, Ms. Lindiwe Kamau -that energetic leader of the Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association- has been recruited to run for the female leadership, by folks who think she will make a fine public servant. Ms. Kamau’s father was a well known political activist and trade unionist back in Trinidad. It’s time to elect a Trinidadian in Brooklyn folks. I know. I am one/lol. However, Ms. Kamau hasn’t made a decision to run or not. Last time I spoke to her she was quite reluctant to get into Brooklyn’s rough and tumble world of local politics. We shall see. She claims to be supporting Delroy Wright -head of the Empire / Flatbush Merchants Association, should he enter any race in the near future.
Word on the streets also has Geoffrey Davis -the brother of deceased council member James E. Davis- running for the district leadership in the 57th AD. This will make things even more interesting in that district. When asked if he would challenge Walter Mosley, Geoffrey Davis said he was “thinking about it”. Like his lil brother was, Geoffrey isn’t one to shy away from contact folks.
Right now I am not running for any office; thus I will only run my mouth a bit. Stay tuned-in since I still have time to run for congress this year: but it’s running out/LOL. Can you imagine the awesome congress member I could be? Picture the scope and content of my columns were I to run and win a congressional seat: Damnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!