The Vines (#04-07).
In the grapevines, rumors are circulating that State Senator Eric Adams is considering whether or not to enter the race for the Brooklyn Borough presidency in 2009. If this is true then that brings the number to five, of blacks considering the same race. This list includes Assemblyman Nick Perry, Councilmember Charles Barron, Deputy Boro Prez Yvonne Graham and Chris Owens (son of former congressman Major Owens). Still no direct words yet, as to what are the intentions of State Senator Velmanette Montgomery relative to this race; indications are however that she will pass on this one (again). There are (hopefully) no other blacks looking at this race, at this point in time. It seems that Al Vann is finally going to retire when his term is limited (thank God), and his sidekick Annette Robinson has shown no indication that she is interested in this race (thank God again).
I am sure that common sense will prevail (and egos will be sacrificed) so that the main objective will be to make history in Brooklyn after 173 years of incorporation. You see the next black elected boro prez here, will be the first black ever elected boro prez in Brooklyn. This race is getting awfully crowded fast folks. What’s with that? Term limits?
NYC councilmember (45) Dr. Kendall Stewart had a successful fundraiser last Thursday at the Grand Prospect Ballroom. It is said that more than 200 guests attended. Funny enough, it was observed that one of the people Stewart was supposedly honoring, also happened to appear on an invitation for his opponent’s (Senator Kevin Parker) fundraiser, a week or so from Stewart’s event. Curtis Nelson of Sesame Flyers was that person. Is he playing both sides of the fence, like many others?
Among those observed at Stewart’s fundraiser were Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (seen hugging Wellington Sharpe), her mother Una Clarke, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, District Leader Jake Gold, County Leader Vito Lopez, former leader Gale Reed-Barnett, Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, Senator John Sampson, Councilmember David Yassky, Attorney Baldeo (Queens) and Assemblyman Nick Perry. One of the many Kodak moments at this event, was observed when Professor Sam Taitt was seen hugging Dr. Kendall Stewart. Speculation is that Sam is hoping for an endorsement from Stewart, when the council seat opens up.
Sam Taitt - who has run three times for the 45th council seat- will face stiff competition from many others in that race. A comment on the Daily Gotham blog has Attorney Terry Hinds as having filed a committee to run in 2009. Also considering this race is activist Wellington Sharpe, Dr. McKenzie, and a few others.
Next week there will be an election in Trinidad and Tobago; I am predicting that the current government (PNM) will retain power (unfortunately). Their inability to find solutions to the high crime wave is enough to have them removed/replaced; however the opposition forces are set to split the vote thus allowing them a chance to get back in power.
People in Caribbean-American corners of NYC are talking about the abrupt turnaround by Governor Eliot Spitzer, on his plan to allow illegal aliens the right to obtain a NYS driver’s license. Many Caribs who supported the plan are quite disappointed; they are saying that he blinked. Some are now saying that he has weakened himself by doing this. What do you think?
Back to Brooklyn’s Boro prez race; is Bill DiBlasio the only white candidate running? Now that it appears Dominick Recchia is running for Congress, there seems to be a dearth of white candidates. In some quarters it is being said that Lew Fidler isn’t going to idly stand by and let DiBlasio get this position- as easy as it looks for him right now. So are we to expect a move from Fidler? What do you think folks? Will another white enter the race?
It seems that many folks are calling for a Hillary Rodham-Clinton coronation in the upcoming presidential primaries; I am still not impressed. Maybe I am just hard of hearing. Barrack Obama is not out of this by a longshot; he has put together an impressive grassroots operation. One thing though: it appears that Obama is spending money like a drunken sailor. As a supporter, I can only hope that the money is being well spent; and yet somehow I have my doubts.
It is claimed that Haitian-American activist Yvon Alexis intends to challenge Mathieu Eugene for the 40th council seat; the problem is that Alexis is Republican. In this district, Republicans have as a much chance of winning here as a duck has of winning in a cockfight. Yvon needs to stop mouthing off; he has been doing this for over twenty years now.
What do Brooklyn political players Carl Andrews and Zacary La Reche have in common? Well; they both scream like babies. It appears that they have been telling (complaining to) folks, that all I do on my blog is attack them politically. After I defended Carl in a couple of my columns, this is what I get/lol? I wish they would read what I write before they make these claims.
Carlos Bristol e-mailed to say that he has held three fundraisers so far, as he pursues the 42nd council seat in East New York, Brooklyn. Bristol is as serious as a heart attack folks. He also expects a crowded race.
Queens activist Marlene Tapper (now on State Senator Sabini’s staff) is fighting the NYC Campaign Finance Board over issues that date back to her 2005 run for city council. Tapper came in second to Hiram Monseratte in that race. Lots of people are waiting for her next political move; lately is she back being highly visible in her area. And while I am still in Queens, let me say that Leroy Comrie’s chances of becoming Queens Boro Prez two years from now are 99% slimmer than he is
In the Bronx it is said that Helen Foster’s chances of becoming Boro Prez has increased, since there seems to be four or five Hispanics running in this race, along with one or two whites. Foster appears to be the only female (unless an Arroyo enters) and also the only black. Can she raise the required money needed to run a high quality campaign? You tell me what you think.
In Manhattan I expect Scott Stringer to stay put and not shoot for a higher office this time around. Hey Scott: I need a full time job (do you remember me politically?). I guess not.
Stay tuned-in folks.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
Brooklyn
My take on Parker.........
Submitted by ROCK (not verified) on 30 October 2007 - 4:44pm.
Kevin Parker has no integrity as far as I am concerned. Read my previous piece ("foot doctor").
Some rumors
If I may engage in some rumor slinging, moreso than I usually do: (note: I take all of these with at least one grain of salt, but some are more reliable than others...)
One rumor has it that Recchia is not ruling out BP. One version of this theory is that the BP is his fall back from the Congressional run that many see him as having little chance of winning. The more convoluted version is that certain Democrats who prefer having Republicans around rather than Democrats they can't control know full well Rechhia has no shot but running him is likely to sour DCCC interest (that part of the rumor I do believe for various reasons!) and hence improve Vito's chance of holding on to NY-13. This version of the theory postulates that support for BP will be his reward rather than the more common judicial seat that one gets in return for favors in Brooklyn.
Another rumor has it that one of the blacks you have listed as running for BP does not intend to run. The field may be less crowded than it now seems and will undoubtedly thin our more. It will also get more crowded from the other side, I am sure. De Blasio is unlikely to be the only white even if the rumors of Recchia still aiming for BP are false. I am sure others will be coming forward.
Eric Adams as BP. One thing I will say is that Eric will undoubtedly want a higher profile office at some point. And I personally think he SHOULD aspire higher. He's a crossover hit (in several ways: racially, across the reform/machine/progressive divides, etc.) with much experience and much promise. I have always said David Yassky's ambitions aimed about as high as they can go. I suspect Eric Adams also has very high ambitions. Yassky has said State Senate would be a step down from City Council. I suspect Eric Adams is also frustrated by the fairly narrow range Albany offers a State Senator whose last name isn't Bruno.
And Carl Andrews...well rumor has it he's pretty much a washed up has been. Okay. Maybe that's not a rumor. But truth is, what has he got to complain about? He dodged a bullet when his boss got indicted and he never to my knowledge even came up with a sound byte to distract people from the obvious question of where he was while Clarence Norman was doing what he did to get himself convicted. When he ran for Congress I found I personally liked Carl and considered him perfectly good Congressional material compared to the material that comes from most districts in the country. But beyond that I was decidedly unimpressed. I have heard many say far worse about him than you have said. Personally I think he could have done better with himself, but in the era of the Clarence Norman machine doing better was not really rewarded so he went down the wrong way. Which I consider something of a waste.
Speaking of which, Wellington Sharpe. I have met him and heard him a few times. There again, I think there is better there than can find an outlet in the swamps of Brooklyn politics where the best in people is not encouraged.
What is your take on Kevin Parker? Have to admit he has been somewhat off my radar until recently.