Unveiling of Christopher Rose Way.

Join the Christopher Rose Community Empowerment Campaign   

        Hon. Jumaane D. Williams 

 

 the unveiling of

Christopher Rose Way.

 

Christopher Rose, 15, is  is believed to be the first  person who was murdered in an iPod robbery. I wonder if the young man who killed Christopher would of had a job, or parents with money to buy an iPod for him, or perhaps someone to teach him about materialism and where it leads- would this have happened?

‪‬

Carlos Menchaca for Brooklyn

Friends,

I wanted you all to know about a very good friend of mine who is running to be the next Council Member from the 38th district Carlos Manchaca. When Carlos is elected he will be the 1st openly gay council member from Brooklyn. Inspired by his humble upbringing Carlos Menchaca says he seeks to fight for those who are struggling.

Carlos' historic election to the NYC council cannot happen unless we make it happen. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez who's congressional district encompasses the 38th Congressional District has endorsed Carlos. In addition to the endorsement of Representative Velasquez Carlos has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, 32BJ, Communication Workers of America, 1199 and a host of other organizations fighting for the working families of Brooklyn's 38th Council District.

I've known Carlos personally for about three years. He's been one of my solid supporters as I pursue my undergraduate degree at Brandeis. He's even made the trip! Look- we owe it to our fellow Brooklynites to make sure Carlos Menchaca is elected to the 38th Council District.  To find out how you can help click HERE.

Let's make it happen!

Jay

Today in the southside (HONEY TURKEY WITH EVERYTHING ON IT)

Today I had an awesome July 4th. Happy 4th everyone! I spent part of the day hanging out with a good friend from Brandeis and part of the day relaxing with my best friend. When leaving out the house to day I purposely brought $15 dollars with me because I haven't been good at budgeting lately. Long story short over the course of the day my friend and I became hungry so and we could not agree on what to get. I was really craving a honey turkey with everything on it. The first store I went to was clearly a new store so I thought to myself oh this is cool I get to support a new business. I walked to the deli section and asked how much was a honey turkey with everything on it the guy looked at me so confused. So I broke it down to him. The guy turned around looked at a chart and said $7.25.

I thought he must of made an error so I begged his pardon and the sandwich was in fact $7.25. We are not going to get in to how much money I had in my pocket left from the $15 I left with. I told the guy that every other store charges 3.50 for the same sandwich. The guy just looked at me and blinked.

I told him I hope your business fails. How dare you come to this neighborhood and charge 7.25 for a god damn hero. I feel like businesses could do whatever they want legally but it's not ethical to do that. The lower income people that remain will not be able to afford anything. Yes, there are corner stores still but they are being brought out before you can blink.

Anywho Happy July 4th everyone.

What Would Chisholm Do?

  

    I'm feeling especially inspired after talking to voters about the upcoming mayoral election. Almost everyone who stopped talked with me seemed to have a since that this election was an important one.

     Two conversations in particular stood out to me during my outreach. One was with a short elderly woman whom by her accent I could assume to be West Indian. Growing up in Brooklyn, and watching the media it would not be inclined to vote for the first openly gay mayor. The woman looked up at me after she heard me say the Name Chris .. before I could say Quinn she said "Oh the gay one?" I immediately assumed that this woman would not be interested in signing a petition to get Chris on the ballot let a lone vote for her in September and November. To my surprise the woman signed the petition. She looked at me and said "The lady wants to be Mayor.. the rest is none of my business. While she never said she was affirming of LGBT lifestyles I left with a great amount of respect for her. She asked me " You like her?" We talked for a second, the woman began to walk away and she turned around and said " I have a good feeling about her." I said "I know, me too" smiling.

   To me it wasn't just a conversation, over even just about this Mayoral election. This conversation was so inspirational because I learned a lot about the assumptions I make. I also learned to be patient and to realize that progress is happening within communities of color regarding accepting LGBT people.

    Another conversation that stuck with me was with a mother. She told me that she feared for her son's life because she heard the mayor say that he wanted Black and Latinos stopped and frisked. She told me that she wanted a mayor that would oppose Black and Latino young men being targets of the NYPD. I smiled when she said "We need a black woman, another Shirley Chisholm." If Mrs. Chisholm was alive today what would she say about stop and frisk?

This Calls for a Blender

                    
This past weekend I was pleased to visit my family friends house at their house in Brooklyn Heights. It was a very beautiful one might I add. When I was visiting John and his partner Mike and their two children the only thoughts that were in my head was "I gotta Look Good, you know how these queens can be" and OMG they have such a lovely family.

                  Openly sharing about the adoption of his own children was very affirming. Some times the images I have seen of adoptive family situations are not always positive. Speaking of portrayal of foster families in media I have to ask: has anyone seen the show the Fosters? I couldn't stand to watch the whole first episode.
                    
                  Ok- Back to Mike and John. Even if Mike and John was the meanest person I have ever met they would still deserves the full service of his government; all of the benefits straight couples have. But it happened that they weren't Bitches at all and I don't need to tell anyone but yes, they were a family.

                    What was interesting is that Mike and John loved each other. They loved their children. Regardless of what the Federal government said they were married. The love was there. The only thing that was missing however was a blender. Mike said that if DOMA passes he and John would wed. Someone better get looking for a blender soon!

Jay

"The Boys"

I wanted to discuss something that has been on my mind lately- the police and their targeting young people of color. Since returning to New York I have been stopped by the Police several times and I have had friends who have been booked for  the most petty crimes mostly possessing a small amount of marijuana. I have a few thoughts. While I respect the the officers who risk their lives to make our neighborhoods a little safer I can't help but feel targeted and racially profiled when I see a police cruiser pull up to me closely or when an officer questions me. What frustrates me even more is the fact that I remember when you would be tough out of luck trying to find a Police officer for help. I remember when the community tried to work with the police to make our streets safer. It seems to me that the only reason we are getting this attention now because our neighborhood (Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brooklyn) is becoming increasingly gentrified. This makes me to have the feeling that the police is not there to serve people who look like me and make our community more safe but to target us because of course we are the problem in the community right?

I mean every young black man can't be a criminal. Maybe to them we all look alike. I cannot tell you how many times I got the line "We're looking for someone that matches your description." When they stop us of course they ask to see our identification. Which leads to another issue to many of us are not walking around with proper identification. Once, were stopped even if you have the smallest amount of marijanna your going to be arrested. What I find unfair about this is that it seems that we are the only ones being targeted. Are we the only ones who smoke? Why aren't the young artist in my neighborhood being stopped.

Now I know there are some youth who are up to no good but I also not a lot of good kids who are victims  of the system. Who are just looking for a place to hangout. Who are not bothering anyone and who may just happen to have small amount of drugs on them. It's not just us who smoke weed. I feel like my peers are being criminalized before they even have a chance make something of themselves. Let's face it the odds are against us. If we really want safer streets stopping every targeting us isn't going to help. If it was it would of already.

As someone who has grew up in poverty and in the foster care system I know how easy it is for youth to turn to the streets as a safe haven. I'm conflicted because I too want safer streets but I know that nobody chooses to hang out on the street over night. No child wakes up one day and just chooses to skip school and smoke pot.  I'm angry because the Police is suppose to be a partner to out neighborhood not just there to lock up my peers. If we invest the same time, money and energy we invest in stoping and frisking into education, community centers and day cares I know we can turn our neighborhood around. Maybe these youth would find somewhere to go instead of hang out and get into trouble. Then maybe I could walk around my own community and feel like the I'm not a criminal. I believe that the police department can be an ally and not an enemy but in order for that to happen there has got to be some changes.

I wana know what y'all think.

Jay