Author: Rock Hackshaw

In last week’s Sunday’s Daily News, Errol Louis wrote about my problems with one of my opponents in this race (Leithland “Rickie” Tulloch). I didn’t blog about it before, mainly because I didn’t want to sensationalize the issue of intimidation in politics. But since Errol used his column to put it out there, I will now elaborate: albeit in a nutshell. Believe me that there is a lot more to this and I will blog on it eventually. 

Way back when this race was shaping up and there were many potential candidates, I had a few short conversations with Mr. Tulloch. And after a while all he seemed to want was for me to get out of the race. I found him to be disrespectful. I used to have him on my e-mail list, and would even send him my blog column long before it was openly published. I took him off my list because I don’t think he is a nice person. I arrived at this conclusion after he berated a few people when they told him that they were supporting (or considering) me over him for the 40th council seat. There is much more to this. 

Yesterday the Flatbush Life Newspaper -with an aged tradition in the area's politics- endorsed me for the 40th city council seat. The newspaper had this to say: "Two and a half years ago, a whopping ten candidates ran for the open City Council seat in the 40th district. This year, that number is down to three -the incumbent, and two community activists with long records of involvement in the neighborhood. While all three candidates are worthy, the one who stands out is Rock Hackshaw.

Hackshaw -well known to many as a political blogger, who has spent upwards of three decades involved in neighborhood issues- brings to his candidacy a strong intellect and a fresh perspective on community concerns, from health care to education.

You can assume from the title of this piece that I may be running out of titles/lol, after hundreds of columns here. But I try to remain imaginative; don’t I? Even if I may not be creative enough for my Room Eight quarterblack Howard Gatemouth. 

The title is taken from one of the many tunes Paul Simon wrote and sang, and there is a part in it where he says: “my mama turns around and spits on the ground every time my name gets mentioned”; I thought of this line when I saw Tracy Boyland at the NYC Campaign Finance Board (“the schoolyard”) yesterday. (They sure take candidates to school at the CFB; don’t they? But that’s another column). 

Okay; confession time is here. My quest for the 40th council district seat has been rather challenging over these past six months (surprise…surprise…lol). Those of you, who have been following this race via both mainstream and non-conventional media, have probably kept score on my manager changes, fundraising obstacles (I limited any one contributor to only 200 dollars/ max), my fights with campaign staffers, lawyers and advisors, and the other issues that have swirled around this campaign. Those who have been following it through the grapevines probably have heard even more outlandish stories circulating the district: don’t believe the hype.

It’s almost a month since Michael Jackson died (June 25th, 2009), and yet the news media’s obsession with this individual ceases to wane. Day after day we are inundated with news items about some aspect of his life and legacies; sometimes sordid tidbits emerge about things more speculative in nature than factual. And lately, a few New York politicians have waded into to the news stream with their condemnation of the deceased as a pedophile (Rep. Peter King for example). Well; was he? 

Was Michael ever convicted in criminal court of pedophilia? The answer is no. But then that doesn’t say that he wasn’t one either. Many criminals have beaten back criminal charges against them even when it was ostensible that they had indulged in criminal activity. In Michael’s case, I don’t believe we have enough info in order to condemn him as such. And remember this: a man is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law (for whatever that’s worth). 

Earlier this week -and without much fanfare-a city council candidate for this year's elections, went up with a brand new website; that candidate was yours truly. Although the site is a perpetual work in progress, and will be frequently modified and updated until I am fully satisified with it, viewers can still get a comprehensive look at my personal history, my political activism, my record of public service/community involvement, and also my political vision. 

I hope many of you will go up and take a look at my positions on some of the many issues facing this city -and also the district in which I seek public office (again). 

When I first ran for public office (state assembly) in 1998, I was called for an interview by the Brooklyn leaders of the Independence Political Party; so I showed up. I was reached out to by some people within that party, with whom I was politically connected. We met in a Brooklyn Diner (Lindenwood). I thought it was a strange venue for such an interview, but I held my sometimes-wayward tongue in check that night. There were many candidates seeking office(s) that year, and quite a few insurgents showed up to be interviewed. I thought I did well in the session, and their officials must have concurred since they offered me their line on the November ballot.