Author: Rock Hackshaw

JUMPING INTO NEW YORK’S REAPPORTIONMENT (REDISTRICTING) DEBATE.

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Every new decade, we are forced by various constitutions (federal and state), various court decisions, legal frameworks, local charters, and other socio-economic-cultural-political precedents, to do a census count. This is essentially a precursor to reapportioning lines for legislative (and election/EDs) districts: on all levels of government (federal/state/local). You can say that it’s a tradition now. 

FIDLER ON THE MOVE

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New York’s city council member Lew Fidler (D/46th council district/Brooklyn), stood on City Hall’s steps today (MLK Day),  to announce that he will be accepting the nomination of both the Democrats and the Independence political party, to contest the upcoming special election for Brooklyn’s 27th senatorial district.  This vacancy was recently created when the previously elected state senator (Carl Kruger) pleaded guilt to federal bribery charges.  
 
Fidler was first elected to the council in 2001. He is a lifetime resident of the East Flatbush/Midwood area.

THE FINGER: NOT A NEW YORK ORIGINAL

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New Yorkers love to give the finger; especially drivers on its roadways. If while driving, you swerve sharply to avoid hitting someone suddenly stopping in front of you; you can expect the person driving in the other lane (the one you swerved in front of), to give you the finger (the middle-finger to be exact). If you are in the subway jostling for position on a crowded train-platform, don’t expect that when you accidentally bump someone, you will not get yourself “a finger”.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOM EIGHT NEW YORK POLITICS (2012): THIS BUD’S FOR YOU.

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Room Eight New York Politics is six years old this month. I guess congratulations are in order for Ben Smith and Gur Tsbar. After all, as editors, they had the foresight and vision to launch this website. Thanks to the contributions from like Gatemouth, Larry Littlefield, Jerry Skurnik, Judge Boyajian, Manny Burgos, Mary Alice Miller, Yoda, Vincent Nunes, Dominic Carter – and all the other prolific contributors over the years- this site has grown exponentially. 

THEY ARE DELIBERATELY BEATING UP ON TWO JOHNS IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA

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The two “Johns” of whom I write are John Liu and John Sampson. Liu is the NYC comptroller. Sampson is the state senator from Brooklyn’s 19th district. He is also the conference leader of the senate democrats. I want to believe he is actually the senate minority leader but some folks tell me that’s not official.

Anyway, both Liu and Sampson have come in for some serious ragging in mainstream media lately. I want to believe there is more to this than meets the unsuspecting naked eye.

Next week’s Iowa Caucus will further muddy the waters for republicans

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A couple months ago I told some people that Rick Santorum might just win the Iowa caucus. His poll-numbers were around two per cent then. A few of them laughed at me. One cynically asked me if I owned a crystal ball. Another questioned my punditry. Another said I was getting too full of myself. All these comments were similar to those made when I called the Obama caucus-victory four years ago.

Who was Leroy Wilton Homer Jr.?

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Recently, the USA commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tragic series of events that transpired on September 11th, 2001. At some point in the future, some people might review contemporary media accounts and question the impact of “9-11” on African Americans; since mainstream media has focused on white families affected by the overall tragedy: much to the chagrin and dismay of many in the black community.

Some say we live in a post-racial society with the advent of Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the US presidency; but is that true?

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM MY SCRAMBLED BRAIN: ON THE FUTURE OF “ROOM EIGHT NEW YORK POLITICS (www.r8ny.com)” AND BLOGGING IN NYC

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I am quite aware that I do not write as often as I used to, but I did put you all on notice. I also gave some of the many reasons why I have chosen to decrease my output. Now it looks as though another writer/blogger is probably going the same route. That’s not good for NYC political-blogging. Over the years we have lost many political-bloggers in this city: or have we already forgotten Maurice Gumbs? 

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