Back in October 2006, I did the first of a two-part column, where I asked whether or not a black person would soon become Brooklyn’s Borough President, and in so doing: make history. At that point in time, the only black who had publicly spoken about running for the office was Assemblyman Nick Perry. Let me tweak that: Chris Owens-the well known political activist from Brooklyn- had also publicly stated interest in running for the position. Now remember that Chris has a black father and a white mother, so to be accurate I call him mixed (both black and white); just like Barack Obama. That’s the only reason why I didn’t mention him in the same breath as Nick. If Chris calls himself black – or considers himself black (only) – then he can le me know, so in future I will refer to him as he wishes. It is one of the painful realities of the good old USA: this racial identity thing that could be ridiculous and absurd at times.
The Latest
The shameful and deafening silence of Charles Barron
|You want to know what makes leaders effective? One word: credibility. And credibility comes from consistency, reliability, loyalty and honesty. Once credibility is established, it is easy to get people to follow your lead; since they trust you as a leader. So this is a column about two so-called leaders living oceans apart; one is Robert Mugabe and the other is NYC councilmember Charles Barron.
In the past, both of these men have flattered to deceive. They started out with so much promise, but in the overall analysis: they both fail on many levels. Barron came to the City Council with optimism and flair, and even though he has gained nationwide popularity by skillfully “playing” the media and race cards ad infinitum, the end result is that his accomplishments are few, insular and personal. Mugabe was a hero of the colonial struggle in Rhodesia (later: Zimbabwe), but since the overthrow of Ian Smith, he has dismally failed to lead a rich African country- with enormous potential to be a big time player on the continent, and on the world stage– to the kind of stability and prosperity that all well-wishers anticipated.
Can NYC Councilman Dr. Kendall Stewart survive these latest hits?
|Dr. Kendall Stewart is no stranger to controversy; he believes it comes with the territory (politics). That’s why he is so calm after the latest hits. Two of his staff members have been charged with misusing NYC taxpayer dollars- amongst other felonies- through various organizations that one of the accused had set up. Federal prosecutors allege that although the not-for profit organizations did indeed do some good work over the years (relative to its mandates from the council), a significant amount of its funds were diverted to the wrong places and/or persons.
Look, we are all supposed to grant to any accused, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and in this case we should afford both of Stewart’s staffers (Asquith Reid and Joycinth Anderson) the same courtesy. As much as I know both individuals charged, I will let the system of justice take its natural course before I say anymore- relative to their current plight. I could only wish them well, given what they are facing. If these charges are proven in a court of law, let me say that I will be personally disappointed and saddened. From where I come: if you do the crime then you should do the time. Period.
Showdown in Pennsylvania: Will the Clintons finally read the writing on the wall tonight?
|For the past six months, mainstream media has been playing catch-up with me. Their talking heads have proven over and again, that their analysis fits in precisely with their agenda of pseudo sensationalism: for attention and profits no doubt. This counterfeit sensationalism has thrived because of one simple rule: in US politics most folks refuse to do the heavy thinking. Thus mainstream media will stir up the pot more times than a witch stirring a burning cauldron. And like the witches of Macbeth: mischief is their only brew. This supposedly unending presidential primary between Barack and Hillary has been over since Super Tuesday, last February 5th, 2008; somebody wake up the mainstream media please.
What’s Your Trade Gap?
|I generally try to stick to my knitting here on Room 8, and write about things that I have at least some level of knowledge and expertise that the reader does not. And I am not an expert in trade economics. Yet with the Republican Presidential Primary over and the amount of immigration nonsense therefore reduced, I couldn’t help but notice the amount of foreign trade nonsense emerging from the Democratic side. It’s yet another variation of the early 1990s anti-welfare crusade — if things aren’t going well, find someone black or brown to blame. Well I have a message for all those worried about the effect of foreign trade on their economic well being. Trade cannot hurt this country, only help it, if the amount we export equals the amount we import. And how much is exported and how much is imported is not decided in a trade negotiation. It is decided in every American family. Lots of Americans have chosen to spend more than they earn, going deeper into debt to do it, and when you add them all up the United States as a whole is consuming more than it is producing. Before pointing the finger at NAFTA or the Chinese, ask yourself “what’s my trade gap?” If you have one, trade agreements aren’t the problem, your personal financial choices are.
I Want My Fair Share of the Street
|So the State Assembly has non-voted down congestion pricing. Although I was in favor for reasons I explained here last year, so be it. My chief concern was that the state legislature would enact congestion pricing, claim that it had done its fair share for transportation, be believed, and thus escape blame for the onrushing consequences of all the debt dumped on the MTA from 1992 (or so) to 2009. I hope, now that CP is off the table, that blame will accrue where it is deserved: the MTA Capital Plan hasn’t been sensibly funded since Richard Ravitch was in charge, and the funding for roads has been no better. But I’ve said my piece on that problem, and will otherwise leave it to the congestion pricing opponents to solve.
Now that it has been established that crossing into the Manhattan Central Business district will be free, driving on the congested streets will be free, and parking there will be free for many, however, I believe it’s time to re-think how that scarce space on the street is allocated. With all the taxes I and other non-drivers pay for that street space, I don’t think we’re getting our fair share, and want more of it. Specifically, I want more street space taken away from motor vehicles and allocated to pedestrians, who live in an area or arrive by transit, and bicyclists. I am both. And, I want more street space allocated to those who use private automobiles on weekends, for pleasure travel and visiting, rather than on weekdays to commute, by ending the practice of paying extra (a lot extra) to avoid road construction during rush hours.
Joe Bruno’s Untruth Squadron: Senate “Democratic” Hopeful Shills for the Republicans
|Why Didn’t The Senate Vote on Congestion Pricing?
Two Views
THE ANTI-BRUNO POSITION:
From “Bloomberg and the Press Give Joe Bruno a Pass on Congestion Pricing
The Man Who Shot Congestion Pricing (New Jokes Added)
|“This is New York, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
The Governor Blinks
|It’s like déjà vu all over again.
For a while it did not seem thus. Through an infortuitous concatenation of events, for fourteen long and agonizing months of tumult and confrontation, it sometimes appeared that the line it had been drawn, and the curse had been cast, with the old order rapidly fading.
Stock Prices and Public Employee Pensions: A History
|Many Americans are feeling outrage over top executives who made risky assumptions, looked good in the short run, paid each other massive amounts, and walked out the door with enormous golden parachutes when their bets went sour. Shareholders — and perhaps in some cases taxpayers — are left with the bill. For the past 40 years, however, elected officials and the public employee unions that support them have done the same thing. Whenever the stock market has been on a tear, they have upped the assumption of future rates of return and handed out “free” pension enhancements, claiming the stock market would pay for it all. And later, when the stock market turned down and pension contributions soared, the resulting tax increases, service cuts, and diminished wages and benefits for newly hired public employees have been described as the “inevitable” result of “circumstances beyond our control.” The prior pension enrichments are never given back, just like those executive bonuses. There have been two such cycles in a general sense, as the attached chart shows. In recent years, however, the state legislature has been even more irresponsible – handing out more pension benefits even when the stock market is down, taxes are rising, and services are being cut.