So after months of brutal battle by the forces of Tish James and Mathieu Eugene over Lefferts, Sterling and Lincoln, the northern most border of the 40th District remains in the hands of the Haitian Sensation. The latest map of boundaries is here clearly showing Empire Boulevard as the dividing line once again, preventing the breakup of neighborhoods.
The Q met the feisty Tish for breakfast a few weeks back, as part of his curiosity campaign, and though she acted all non-committal about her bid for NYC Public Advocate, she was committed enough to call me a week later for a campaign contribution to that very race. For those of you who've seen Battle for Brooklyn, the illuminating doc on the Atlantic Yards protests, Ms. James comes out as one of the few public officials willing to take on the political and financial establishment in the biggest landgrab (to date) of Brooklyn's 21st century. The Q is ashamed to admit the degree to which he loves the new Barclay's Center (it reminds him not so much of a "rusty turtle" as Fudgie the Whale), but as you may recall the project was pitched by Bruce Ratner as so, so much more. It remains to be seen whether affordable housing, parks and plazas, and thousands of jobs materialize. But the Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, the Who, Jay Z, Barbara Streisand, the Nets, Justin Bieber have all graced our borough in the last couple months...pretty impressive. I'd love to be a fly on the mallet as that list of characters played croquet together!
Where was I?
Oh yeah, turns out Tish's annointed successor - the most awesome Laurie Cumbo - won't be dipping down into PLG after all. For awhile, it looked like the ever-dapper Eugene would lose Sterling, Lefferts and parts of Lincoln to redistricting.Mr. Eugene so far has no competition in his seat for next September's primary. Without a challenger, he will once again be sworn in as your representative in the City for four more years come January of 2014. He will be your voice in government until the end of 2017. Anyone going to challenge him?
13 comments:
On balance, it's probably a good thing to keep PLG in one council district, although I would have been envious of my neighbors to the north getting competent representation for the next council term.
I am sorry James is not going to cover my block. This man is incompetent. He does acknowledge his role and takes his constituent for granted.Sometimes I wonder if he resides in the area at all.
You mean to tell me no one is going to run against that man? I can't believe he will be representing us for four more years. In that case, I can assure you PLG will not be making any progress-moving forward. That's not good news and I am totally sad... bummer.
Someone, anyone, please run! This man does not take his role seriously and takes his base for granted.
I am HUGELY disappointed not be escaping this person, but now that we know where we stand, my neighbors and are ready to do all within our power to ensure that he is not re-elected. I believe (and hope) that Rickie Tulloch will run against him, and will be in touch with him soon to see where he is in the process. Is he my ideal candidate? No, but I realize that my ideal candidate would most likely not carry the whole of this district.
PS I hate whatever this automatic iPad version of the blog is and always go directly to the bottom where it says, "Go to web page." Almost as annoying as those Captcha thingies.
dear Mr Q
i can certainly not be the first to propose that you would be a suberb Councilman!
I'll second that!
Yes, Q for councilman!!!
I third it! I hereby make a motion that Q run for councilman!!!!!
I guess I'm fourthing actually
I fifth that. M Eugene won because Tish James was able to organize a very specific voter base, the Haitian community. That's what I read about it when he was elected. I can't imagine it's impossible to drum up support from everybody else in the district. And I agree about finding out exactly where he lives. Is his permanent full time home, and this is a genuine question not an accusation, REALLY in our district like it's supposed to be? Or did he do what some folks do to get enrolled in popular public schools, rent a small apartment, get some utilities in his name there but in reality live in his home outside the district where he resided while he was running for office and stubbornly stayed until a fuss was made over it and he was forced to move. If he actually moved.
Not Tish James, but Una and Yvette Clark.
Of course Mathieu Eugene got the Haitian vote (as the first Haitian-American City Councilperson, his victory was historic in that sense), but the reason he won was not that (many, many are not registered to vote for various reasons) - it was Una and Yvette drumming up non-Haitian supporters and the endorsement of the SEIU (health care, hotel, and public service employees - many members in our area). This position is Una's legacy - that's how Yvette got it, and anyone she designates will win. Yes, as long as Una and Yvette are behind him, his base is for granted, regardless of where he lives.
L. Rickie Tulloch was to be Yvette's intended successor, but they got in a fight over the renaming of part of Church Ave. Bob Marley Blvd., and she threw her support behind Mathieu Eugene instead. That may be changing, however, as I think even she is fed up with his do-nothing ways (although to be fair he has done a lot for the Haitian population in NY - however, all of his district is not Haitian).
Additionally, in the last elections most people didn't even know who was running and didn't even bother to vote, which also helped Mathieu Eugene, so let's make that different this year!
Yes, Yvette Clarke, not Tish James. I was being lazy and brain-tired. Thanks for the correction, Bob.
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