Author: Rock Hackshaw

Nearly every year, judicial positions open up in Brooklyn, that require elections. All bona-fide political parties can nominate candidates. What used to happen in the past (1980’s & 1990’s especially), was that the two major contemporary political parties (Republicans and Democrats), generally made deals whereby there were trade-offs: with democrats dominating the process. This has lessened over time, but this year there is apparently some deal-making going on behind the scenes.

As I implied in my last “Vines” column: relative to the five boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn is usually where the political action's at. And sure enough, when the Daily News came with their expose on the many NYC council members (almost 20 -the last time I looked) whose ethics can be put to challenge, Brooklyn had more than just a few of their electeds represented on the “Council of Shame” list. This story broke last Sunday (3-20-2011); and that was fine; but I still have a big problem with the Daily News.

In my most recent “Vines” column, I was a bit hard on council member Jumaane Williams; I would  admit that. I even felt it was justified based on the information I was working with. So it wasn't at all surprising when he called me to defend his position. This column essentially delves into the gist of the council member's response.

It has been a while since I did a “Vines” column: so here goes. As I always caution, this type of column is a bit different to my regular columns, and as such, it should not be held up to the same rigorous scrutiny (and standards) as the others. Here I do a bit more speculating than I normally do: so keep that in mind as you search for ways to jump my blog-bones (lol).

There have been times over the past six years of engaging these blogs, when I have wondered if it's even worth it. I had hoped that local races -hardly covered by mainstream media- would be dealt with on the blogs, by local electeds, staffers, community activists, and the sort. I had hoped valuable info would be disseminated to the voters in time to further inform the choices being made. Alas, I have come to the conclusion that this hardly ever happens: too many people come to the blogs to ridicule rather than inform.

A FAMOUS ACTOR, A DEAD PRESIDENT,  AN UNHERALDED ICON, TWO DISTRICT LEADERS, A NEW BOOK, TWO AUTHORS, A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AND AN ASSEMBLYMAN: ALL COMING TOGETHER FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH (FEB. 2011).

If you stick with me on this column, I am sure that long before the end, you will be both edified and entertained. Who knows, it may even help you change the way you viewed “Black History Month”. 

Last night the Knicks obtained Carmelo Anthony in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. All in all it was a trade that had to be made. In the end the Knicks may have paid a “tad” too much for “Melo”; given that they had to throw in lots of cash: but I'm not going to bitch about that. The Garden needed this player as much as Sarah Palin needs some more college credits: real bad. Plus, the Knicks obtained a few throw-in players who will be quite useful  over the next year or two (namely, Billups, Williams, Carter and Brewer); useful off the bench, or  useful as trading-fodder.

All long-suffering basketball fans of the New York Knickerbockers (aka: N.Y. Knicks), must be quite pleased with how the team has progressed this season: since the signing of free-agent forward/center Amare Stoudemire, in the off-season (last July). After all, it's over a decade since the Knicks last appeared in an NBA finals, and almost 38 years since the team  last won the NBA title (1973).

Throughout his political career, Assemblyman Darryl Towns (Brooklyn/54AD) has labored under the heavy shadow cast by his amiable congressman-father Ed (Brooklyn/10th congressional district): although it has apparently been more of a help than a hindrance. But now, it looks like that's about to change. Darryl is stepping-out folks. He was recently selected by freshman governor Andrew Cuomo to become the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New York State's Housing and Community Renewal.

Dear Mr. President:

Let me preface this by saying that I am not only a supporter, I am also a fan and admirer of you on many levels. And with that out of the way, let me also say that you have pissed me off so many times in the last two years that I need a mulligan now; thus I write this letter.