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CLOWNING AROUND IN THE 42ND COUNCIL DISTRICT
I got an interesting piece of lit in today's mail, something that was long in the making: an attack ad about Councilmember Charles Barron, aka "Homie the Clown".  It calls into question his record on delivering for the district. If you listened to the audio from last week's 42nd council district candidates forum, you heard Barron speak about what he says are his deliverables to the district. Click here for the post that has the link to the audio. Click here to download the entire clown ad in PDF format. As you can see, the councilman is in full clown gear. I don't feel one bit sorry for him being ridiculed this way considering how he berated one of his opponents during his closing statement in the aforementioned forum, attacking the opponent personally. Unfortunately my audio recording runs out before just before the closing statements (my recorder's battery died). Up to that point, the event was mostly civil and calm. It's a rare thing to see attack ads like this in local races around East Brooklyn. This one was produced on good paper, with good copy and graphics. I don't know if it went out to prime voters only or beyond that, but I do know that many people in and out the district are pleased that the news is getting out about his discretionary fund deliverables--or lack of. Does this cross a line in campaign ads? Does the ability to bring in big discretionary funds to a district make for a good councilman? Is this a sign of things to come for Barron? --- Manny Burgos,
 On Friday, 5 different people described it for me. I had to see it for myself, in all it's 8"x 11" glossiness. People are wondering who is Hariam Consultants of Saratoga Ave., the return address on the mailing. People are also talking about the library on Church and E 96th St. (in Barron's district). For years, that branch was open on Sundays... until last year. The East Flatbush Sundays were given to McKinley, across town, leaving no library in Bed Stuy, ENY, Brownsville, Canarsie open on Sundays. Barron's office was notified last year. Of course, he did nothing. Apparently, keeping a library open on Sundays is a constituent service beneath him. On another note, this from a member of the Allen AME in Queens. Last Sunday, Rev. Floyd Flake told the congregation that Barron had called him asking what he thought of de Blasio putting pictures of his family on campaign literature. Barron also asked Flake if de Blasio was using his Black wife for political gain. Flake said he told Barron no, he didn't think so. You love who you love. Flake also said he met de Blasio in 1993, and they have been friends ever since. Post new comment |
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I believe it his duty to bring home discretionary funds. As a tenured councilman, Barron should be at the top of money distributed by the council. Instead, he ranks in the bottom five of receiving money. I know, he does not get along with Councilwoman Quinn, nor did he reason with Miller and Vallone, Sr. when they where the speakers as well.
My wife & I started our agency in 2002. Our Board of Directors mandated that I would not take discretionary money from the local elected officials for the first 10 years. Their reasoning was that it would made us to lazy and comfortable, and become to dependent on their funding.
I did not understand the WISDOM at that time, since I thought I had a good working relationship with the councilman. My wife & I had a chat & chew in our home, and invited 12 of our closest friends for Councilman Barron, and raised nearly $10,000.00 for him. Let me add this they were all developers! We are not hustlers, as he refers to me.
I think it is very dangerious for a non-profit to wholly be funded by local elected officials. I believe that the leadership of the councilman should encourage all agencies in their district, instead of glorifying just one. There are so many agencies in the 42nd Council & 40th Assembly district that deserves funding based on deliverables rather than relationship.