The 40th City Council District: A Post-Special Election- Analysis (Part I of II)

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I am going to save the heavy stuff for part two of this article. You know: the deep stuff; the in-depth analysis and so forth. The kind of heady stuff that will get me in trouble (as usual), because I am sure some feathers will be ruffled; the kind of behind the scenes stuff that most of you like. You know what I am talking about: the “national enquirer” kind of stuff. The stuff I held back on during the campaign. The stuff I save for the political crack-heads.

Firstly, I must take some credit for the fact that I was the first blogger in the city, to bring attention to the Haitian-American agenda of political-empowerment through this special election. It was rough road all the way, but in the end the mission was accomplished. Congratulations are in order; not just for Mr. Matthieu Eugene (some are saying “Una-gene”), but also for those in that community who have been crying out for empowerment over the years.

The Real Reasons Why Barack Hussein Obama Should Run For The US Presidency (Part two of three)

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After writing the first part of this story, I got a little bit of flack from a few of my USA-born black friends who thought that I was being hard on them. I am not in any mood for apologies; as I said before, I write it as I see it, then I duck. If you haven’t read the first part of this column, then I suggest you do so before going forward; that way you won’t have to look like inane in the comment section, like some folks did in my last column yesterday. Thank God for the “anonymous” label; really.

After part one was put up on my blog, Senator Joe Biden (a rather intelligent individual, I must say) went to “stupid place”, and in so doing destroyed his miniscule presidential possibilities/aspirations, by trying in a roundabout way to hit out at Barrack Hussein Obama’s exciting presidential candidacy. Claiming to be complimentary, Biden said that Obama was “clean and articulate” for a black man, and demonstrated why I have said for so long on these blogs, that white boys are in heavy and serious denial about their racist predisposition towards blacks; especially toward black males. It’s not just the insensitivity of his statement that jumps up and bites you, but it’s also the mode of unconsciousness in which he operated.

The Vines #01-07

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When I first started my “Grapevine” column almost a year ago, I promised to bring you the real story behind the events and happenings that mainstream media reports to you, relative to the politics of the places I peregrinate. I also promised to bring you the behind–the-scenes speculation, innuendo, gripes and analysis of such; the kind of stuff that both mainstream and local media usually ignore. I figured that the “grapevine” will always be full of the gossipy kind of stuff that political junkies like. The stuff that fuels political crack heads who read blogs like this. I always hoped to get as close to the truth as I could. I try, but I am not perfect. Sometimes the real truth can be elusive; other times it can be disguised. Most times I do all right; once in a blue moon I come up short; so sue me: I never promised you a rose garden.

Grapevines and Pumpkinvines (Part Two/2007)

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The grapevine has it that Councilmember Charles Barron and political operative Michael Roberts, almost came to blows at a recent event, at Africa House on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. It is said that Roberts (former editor at Carib News, who is deep in the camp of Una and Yvette Clarke/ some say deep up their respective asses too), took umbrage with Barron’s support of Gerry Hopkins in the special election for Yvette’s replacement on the NYC council. It is said that Roberts even threatened to run candidates in East New York (Barron’s turf), since he was pissed at Barron’s intrusion into the Caribbean-American political arena. Fact is however, Barron has been supporting candidates over on this side (Flatbush/ East Flatbush) for some time now. Three years ago, he supported Michelle Adolphe over Rhoda Jacobs, for the 42nd Assembly seat. He also supported Ed Roberts over Clarence Norman in the 43rd Assembly race. If you go back to 2002, you will find that he also supported Frances Purcell in the special election for the state senate.

The Real Reasons Why Barack Hussein Obama Should Run For The US Presidency (Part one)

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To all my many fans in blogland, let me caution you to fasten your seatbelts on this one. Expect a few picket-signs and also few demonstrators, circling outside the Room8 headquarters, after this one goes up. But you know me: I call it as I see it, then I duck. So I am putting Gur and Ben on notice here: I am going to need a bullet–proof vest soon.

Before I even start this column let me do some prefacing. By now, most of you must know that I was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad (Republic of Trinidad and Tobago). I have lived in the USA (only New York City) for the past thirty-three and a half years. Eleven years ago I became a naturalized US citizen. One of the first things I did was register to vote; you see, even though I have been politically-active all my life, I had never ever voted in an election before, in either New York or Trinidad. Since then, I have voted in three presidential election cycles, and I haven’t missed an election date bar one; and that was because I had to travel to Trinidad to bury my dad in November of 2005.

Standing Up For Clarence Norman (Who Would Have Thunk It)

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Nancie Katz from the New York Daily News called me a while aback just to chat. No big thing. She let slip that she was working on a big story about the sale of judgeships in Brooklyn. I smiled to myself as I wondered if she could dredge up something new from the sewer of Brooklyn’s “taken for granted” politics. After all, the sale of judgeships in Brooklyn wasn’t virgin territory. This call came around the time that Wayne Barrett broke another Clarence Norman/ Carl Andrews innuendo in the Village Voice. I say ‘innuendo” here because it seems like practically all these stories can’t seem to make it to an indictment, far less a criminal conviction. I wonder why; and not that I am vested or invested either way. If there is truth to half of these stories that most of us- who are deep into Brooklyn’s politics- have heard over the years, then why do statutes of limitations keep running out? I am no public-defender of Clarence Norman (although I like the guy on a personal level), but I am really starting to believe that Clarence is getting a raw deal here. I will get to that later.

Grapevines and Pumpkinvines – Part One/2007

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So, I have changed the name of this particular column; and it’s not just to mess with my detractors in blogland with their demeaning satire. It’s also because I will try to go beyond the first-hand experiences and insights, and get into some more of the mundane political gossip and innuendo floating around out there, in between the grapevine and the pumpkin vines (since in many instances things do relate); especially since there are times when I get little or no corroboration / collaboration for some of my pieces- from those in power or those in the know. I will try to get to the analysis behind the analysis, if you catch my drift. So call or e-mail Cousin Rocky with scoops folks/lol.

This full column is dedicated to the race to replace Yvette Clarke, in New York’s 40th council district.

They Walk Among Us

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Today is Monday, 15th January, 2007. It is a public holiday. It’s the day that most states have set aside for the celebration of MARTIN LUTHER KING’S birthday; but it’s actually a day for celebrating the man’s life-accomplishments over his thirty-nine years on earth. MLK was born on January 15th, 1929, and by the time of his assassination on April 4th, 1968, he had -like many of the great humans who have walked among us- evolved into a person of civility, compassion, dedication, determination, decorum and humanity; amongst many of the qualities (or is it “virtues”) that single such people out.

Renter’s Rebate: It’s Time

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There used to be a time in NYC when the life-formula for a working man was simply this: out of the four weeks a month that you worked, one week was to pay your rent. If you don’t believe me, ask some old-timer on your block. The other three weeks of the month, you worked to pay for utilities; other bills of living-like credit cards and higher purchases; food, clothing and entertainment costs; and then you saved a few dollars for a lil vacation somewhere (like to Atlantic City before the casinos came, or to some lil spot on the Jersey Shore during the hot summer); and finally, you put aside a few more dollars for a rainy day. Since it was always pouring for black people in general, you didn’t see too many of us on the Jersey Shore in summer, but you could have glimpsed some of us on the AC boardwalk from time to time.

Grapevine #2007-001

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To the person(s) who attempted to do a satire of this column, here on Room 8 over the Christmas holidays, let me say that imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery. Oh, sure I am pissed, but then I saw it as nothing but another thinly veiled attempt to ridicule me (as per usual) by my detractors on the blogs; needless to say, I blog on none the less. It never ceases to amaze me, when countless folks walk up to me at events and say how much they enjoy reading my blog. I am yet to encounter anyone who was hostile. So: happy New Year to all my detractors; and a happy, healthy, fantastic, wonderful and stupendously successful New Year to all my fans/lol.

So with all due respects to Letterman and his folks, here’s the top ten list of grapevine/ pumpkin-vine items: