It is unknown how long Gov. David Paterson will have his honeymoon period, not only with fellow politicians, but with the voters in the Empire State. And some are already asking: Now what will be the state’s excuse for not fixing the problems in the Black community?
In Brooklyn, the tone is guarded optimism. “We expect him [governor] to be looking at Brooklyn’s serious problems,” stated Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College and board member of the Black Brooklyn Empowerment Convention (BBEC). “He has already had an open and brotherly relationship with his colleges in Brooklyn and I am one of them,” Ms. Simmons stressed.
Back on June 17, 2006, Brooklyn’s powerbrokers in the Black community gathered at the famous Concord Baptist Church of Christ to come up with a plan of action to help change the paradigm for their people in the disciplines of health and human services, affordable housing, economic development, education, higher education, criminal justice and public safety, civic engagement and voting rights. One of the main BBEC conveners, Councilman Al Vann (D-Brooklyn), aptly wrote that this was not a unique meeting, because back in 1980 there was a similar meeting held in Boys &Girls High School. “It established a political, social and economic action agenda and a goal of increasing Black political representation.” The last goal has been achieved, according to observers, but what they say is lacking is Brooklyn representation in the corridors of power in Albany; and they don’t mean elected officials.
In October 2006, another meeting of the BBEC was held, this time at Medgar Evers College and the guest of honor was one Eliot Spitzer, now the former governor. In fact, the meeting was appropriately called “A State Policy Dialogue with Eliot Spitzer.”
At this meeting, discussion centered around (1) Black Brooklyn personnel in executive management, middle management and policy positions in all key state agencies; (2) Board representation on key state institutions; (3) Increased funding and targeted resources for Black Brooklyn neighborhoods; (4) A state fund “Community Infrastructure Development Fund”; (5) Establishing a governor’s regional office for Black Brooklyn; (6) A commitment from the governor to ongoing periodic meetings.
So far, the only two things that seemed to have developed out of that dialogue meeting was that Carl Andrews received a position as director of information in the governor’s office and a couple of people served on the Spitzer transitional team.
“There is still a lack of state services and no real state agency visibly in our neighborhoods,” Simmons said. She said there is too much gentrification without affordable housing and the issue of police violence is paramount.
As far as Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, pastor of Concord Baptist is concerned: “The former governor did not live up to the conversation we had with him. However, we owe it to Gov. Paterson to give him an opportunity for the next dialogue.” Rev. Simpson cautioned. He [Paterson] is Brooklyn born, and has some family roots here at Concord, the reverend said. Rev. Simpson noted that the former lieutenant governor’s ascendancy “means there can be a payoff” for Blacks in Brooklyn. But, he insists that there is much work to be done by Brooklyn’s Black representatives in getting the concerns of their communities to the new governor.
“We are already talking with the governor’s people. The door is open,” said Assemblywoman Annette Robinson (D-56 Assembly Dist.) She cautions everyone to understand where the state is at this time. “We are kind of in a recovery mode,” the veteran pol said. Assemblywoman Robinson was also a main planner for the BBEC.
Robinson said some of the issues now on the table with the new governor pertaining to Brooklyn are: employment, (particularly re-entry into the work force), affordable housing and economic restructuring.
“There is something positive to be said about Gov. Paterson, he knows and understands our situation. He is more knowledgeable on the conditions we face in our communities,” Robinson told the AmNews.
Councilman Vann agrees with Rev. Simpson. “The expectation is that we need to be helpful in getting the governor our agenda. Help him so he can help us,” Vann told the AmNews. He also said there was not a lot of communication back from Spitzer, but does expect that to change.
The AmNews has learned that the BBEC held its regular meeting on March 15; and there were plans made to put the Brooklyn agenda in front of Gov. Paterson. But, what actually is on the agenda we have yet to learn.
Vann says that they are expecting a call from Gov. Paterson in the very near future to discuss the Brooklyn agenda. “What is important is that we don’t just sit still and say, David is the governor so things will be alright,” Vann said.
Prof. John Flateau, also of Medgar Evers College and a chief architect of the BBEC, said the priorities are: resolving the sub-prime crisis, that has become a big problem for Blacks in Brooklyn; getting real affordable housing in the borough; minority business development (the state does $20 billion in contracts, with Blacks getting one percent); public education and real job development for the many state prisoners returning to Brooklyn neighborhoods.
