Barron as Boro Prez: The Implications for Brooklyn?
In the wake of the controversy over his efforts to name a street in Brooklyn after the black activist Sonny Carson, Charles Barron announced yesterday his bid to succeed Marty Markowitz in 2009 as Borough President. “We’ve had a cheerleader. Now we need a real leader in Brooklyn,” quipped the current councilman who represents eastern…
In the wake of the controversy over his efforts to name a street in Brooklyn after the black activist Sonny Carson, Charles Barron announced yesterday his bid to succeed Marty Markowitz in 2009 as Borough President. “We’ve had a cheerleader. Now we need a real leader in Brooklyn,” quipped the current councilman who represents eastern Brooklyn. In addition to his current battle with Christine Quinn over the firing of his aide for making threatening remarks, the former Black Panther has a rather contentious relationship with the NYPD, something political experts point to as a potential hurdle to getting elected. Putting aside the question of electability (The Post cites Bill de Blasio, Domenic Recchia and Yvonne Graham as possible competitors), we’re curious to hear readers’ thoughts about what a Barron borough presidency would mean for Brooklyn—and Brooklyn real estate. Affordable housing and race relations are two of things Barron has already put on the top of his list.
Barron Poised for Historic Run at Brooklyn Boro Prez [NY Daily News]
Charles Barron To Announce Candidacy For Borough President [NY1]
Councilman Barron Eyes Brooklyn Borough Presidency [Gothamist]
Barron in Brooklyn Beep Race [NY Post]
So true, 4:04pm. Where are Barron and Sharpton when such a wonderful young black man is killed, but not by a white cop? Their lack of comment on tragic events like this is horrible, and shows a complete LACK of leadership in the black community.
Well said, 2:55pm.
This Barron is disgusting. He’s seeking to profit from whipping up racial tensions, plain and simple. Whether it’s profiting by getting votes, or profiting by getting attention and paid TV appearances like Sharpton, it’s repugnant. Karma!!
Did anyone see Mr. Barron quoted in the newspaper articles of the upstanding, hardworking young man who was gunned down in Brownsville over the weekend?
Me neither.
If this young man had been shot by a white police officer, then you can bet your right arm that Barron would have found the time to show up.
I think tom has it right, this will let him raise money, match it with public funds, skim some off the top, hire friends, rent a nice office, with a back room, get himself in the papers, and did I mention skiiming funds?
That’s what it is about.
Oh and also about his deep commitment to the less fortunate in the African American community. Ha Ha Ha!
Please remember this election isn’t for two years. This gives Mr. Barron two years to beg for donations without having to show results until September 2009. This is what Mr. Sharpton did when he ran for Prez, remember? At the end of his ‘run’ all he had was a bunch of hotel receipts and some threatening letters from the Federal Election Commission.
BTW, more African-Americans in Brooklyn have voted more times for Marty Markowitz than will ever vote for Mr. Barron.
Let the games begin.
I live in affordable housing. My secret?
I stretched myself financially twenty years ago to buy a nice property, which I could baely afford, and now it is almost paid for and very cheap to live in.
That’s affordable housing!
Just want to thank Anon at 2:20 for remembering a good cop doing his job who took a bullet that would probably otherwise have made it into someone whose eventual murder may not even have made the news. The racism in our police force is there because it’s in our society; it’s not a separate thing for which we civilians bear no responsibility. At the same time, just as there are members of our society who have little if any hate in their hearts, there are plenty of honorable cops. This was a kid who could have done anything and been a world beater at it, and he took a tough job at a crap salary instead because he was committed to making a difference in our lives. I wish we had politicians who would put themselves on the line like that, giving up perques and prestige and choosing to take risks to protect the people in Brooklyn most in need. I know Barron wants to project that vibe, but I’m not receiving it. It’s vital for a politician to put the needs of his constituents first–all politics are local–and I would respect Barron if that was his goal. Being pro-black isn’t the problem. Being anti-white is–that just paints us all with the same brush–and some of us have been here a real long time, aren’t rich, and share the same problems black Brooklynites and not “Brownstone” Brooklynites have.
2:20, I agree. Affordable housing is such a common refrain it may as well be programmed into a cell phone ring. Most “leaders” simply screech about the large number of condos, but offer little, if anything, in the way of alternatives.
OH, crap. I just bought my place and now I’ll have to sell it? No way I’m living somewhere represented by such a blatant and unapologetic racist.