From the Times Ledger:I had the misfortune to attend the CB 7 hearing March 22 regarding the proposed Flushing Commons project. I arrived at 7 p.m. when the hearing began, but I did not get to say my piece until the early hours of the next day — more than five hours later. The preparation for and organization of the hearing was inadequate and disrespectful to the people who attended.
First, the board leaders should have realized this project would bring out a large segment of the community, both in favor of and against the project. The room at the site of the hearing was too small to handle the hundreds who showed up. Of course, there were not enough seats and people had to stand for hours in the aisles. The room was hot and uncomfortable. It was difficult to hear the speakers and see the rendition pictures of the project in the front of the room. Building security had a hard time managing the crowd.
My church, the Macedonia AME Church of Flushing, attended in full force to support the affordable housing aspect of the project, known as Macedonia Plaza. But instead of dealing with that part of the project in a timely manner, we were the last to be heard. It was like we were told to sit in the back of a bus.
Sitting there, I thought back to the 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, which held that a free black man does not have rights that a white man is bound to respect. That sentiment is still alive today.
It was also infuriating because that land where the project is to be built — Municipal Parking Lot No. 1 — was once a predominantly African-American community of homes and businesses. Back in 1954, New York City callously took by eminent domain all of that property to make the parking lot.
It paid the people little for their land and homes. Macedonia AME, located on the lot, escaped being swallowed up at that time. But many of the church’s members had their property taken away from them. And some of their descendents were present at the board hearing.
And here we sat at this hearing waiting for our turn to be heard. Many of my sisters and brothers could not wait to speak. They were tired from a hard day’s work and had to get their sleep for the next day’s labors. Many church members attending were senior citizens like myself, but we were made to stay for hours, biding our time while others debated about parking and traffic.
Yes, they are important issues, but the board should have showed the proper respect to my people.
Construction workers and others present at the hearing got to have their say before my people. My people, many of whose ancestors had connections to that land, had to wait into the early morning hours.
I believe those who run CB 7 could have done better. They need to get their act together and, in general, show more consideration and respect for the people who come out to the board’s hearings. The board is there to serve the residents of the community. It is an arm of our democracy, where it operates for and by the people.
Unfortunately, on the night of March 22, it did not serve my people well and a public apology is in order for what happened to the people of Macedonia AME at that hearing.
Mandingo Tshaka
Bayside
There's a nice little exposé about CB7 coming up tomorrow.
27 comments:
There's a nice little exposé about CB7 coming up tomorrow.
Uh Oh
If my wig is going to be flipped, I better make sure I'm wearing the right one!
Make no mistake -- CB7 deliberately discourages public participation by doing all of the things described within this excellent letter. Packing the hearing room beyond capacity, having insufficient seating, scheduling other matters on the same night as major hearing items to delay the speaking time until very late -- these things are all designed to thin the crowd. You know this is the case, because the Queens Borough president is obligated to provide a more spacious venue for public hearings if CB7 requests it, but they never do. CB7's contempt for the opinions of neighborhood residents is palpable. At the committee meeting several days after the public hearing described within the letter, first vice-chairman Apelian told the committee members that they gained "nothing" by sitting through the public testimony. "No new information." Really? I recall quite a lot of significant new information that had never been considered during any of the multiple committee meetings.
Although the letter-writer did not mention it, CB7 also rigged the structure of the entire hearing so that the controversial Flushing Commons development would ride the coattails of the popular Macedonia affordable housing project. Macedonia church members should be upset that their project was exploited by CB7 in this way.
Puh-leeze! Decisions are made well in advance of the shout fests called "Public Meetings". Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive.
If the nursing home auditorium is too small for a CB7 meeting, why not use Flushing Town Hall and make CB7 a true local government that it was intended to be?
Mr. Tshaka just wanted to bring out one fact, YOUR people are not the only ones affected by Flushing Commons.
I admire his opposition to Flushing Commons, but does he really believe he is helping the cause by playing the race card?
Why not play the race card? Isn't that what the City is doing, and quite effectively?
The Federal Government plays the race card. Look at the Census questions.
I am a White man.
The government of New York City seems to have played their own shameful eminent domain race card very well back in 1954.
Yet has anyone since then (particularly our elected officials) ever stood up and cried out a resounding, "Foul!", regarding this?
Speak up, please. We still can't hear you!
And what real reparations have been made by NYC since then, for their underhanded land seizure and resulting diaspora?
I've not seen anything significant beyond token measures being tossed to the African American community in this currently proposed project.
Does not, "And justice for all", still sum up our "Pledge of Allegiance"?
Then why not abide by it with a fully honest and generous heart?
I guess when there is much money to be made by a politically connected developer, we can ignore our founding fathers' wishes regarding fully transparent democratic procedure and equally fair treatment for all American citizens.
Amen, Mandingo Tshaka!
Your sentiments are truly noble and well spoken!
CB7 should hang their heads in shame for being an accomplice in this second feature land grab sequel.
There are other self-interested local organizations who should do likewise.
Macedonia AME Church of Flushing?? I mentioned this once in another comment - but I got into a fender bender with one of the "leaders" of this church. They were beyond nasty. They ran into my parked car and acted like we were driving crazy. I was disgusted that people like this lead a 'church'. So you had to wait to have your voice be heard. Here we go again - the race card. Give me a break.
i. recall reading that this church and its pastor hid TAWANA BRAWLEY and her mother from the n.y.state police . they then alledgedly aided them in transport to the south, to avoid prosecution for lying about the BRAWLEY fantasy, that she was raped by a member of the D.A's office.
A.Sharpton supposedly still hasn't paid all of the court ordered money for false accusation of the D.A. official.
race card use has been widespread in c.p.b.11 and c.s.b.26 in the past.eg. "martins park",p.s.130 vs. p.s.31 during school closings in 1982.the threat of N.a.a,c.p. use in controversial community affairs.etc.etc.
the racialists are not"always" correct.
Demand an apology? Who do they think they are? Everyone was under the same uncomfortable situation. This man leads a "church"? Smugness and arrogance is smeared all over his picture in this article. This man probably preaches hateful sentiments if things don't go his way in the Commons. So scary that any man can preach from a pulpit these days.
Mandingo Tshaka is not a preacher, he is a civic leader from Bayside.
Why not play the race card? Isn't that what the City is doing, and quite effectively?
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I understand Crapper, but it is a cheap, low-class tactic to resort to, regardless of which side resorts to it.
How is he even playing the race card when he is complaining about something that EVERYONE who attended the meeting complained about and doing so after the vote was taken?
He didn't even mention in his letter what his position was on the project. At the hearing, he said he was concerned that Flushing Commons would be built too close to the church and undermine it and that a wider buffer between the two should be mandated.
Bet you didn't know that.
So when/where is tomorrow's meeting? Are you attending QC?
Nvm, it's at 1030 am in Kew Gardens
http://www.queensbp.org/clients/queens_events/queens_calendardetails.asp?id=2054
How is he even playing the race card when he is complaining about something that EVERYONE who attended the meeting complained about and doing so after the vote was taken?
-----------------------------------But instead of dealing with that part of the project in a timely manner, we were the last to be heard. It was like we were told to sit in the back of a bus.
Race card
Sitting there, I thought back to the 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, which held that a free black man does not have rights that a white man is bound to respect. That sentiment is still alive today.
Race card
It was also infuriating because that land where the project is to be built — Municipal Parking Lot No. 1 — was once a predominantly African-American community of homes and businesses.
Race card
Yes I know where he mentions race, but you can't play the race card unless it affects the outcome of a decision, and the decision was already made. In fact, it was the one he wanted. You're just pissed that he chose language you don't like that reminds you that these things happened. He was alive when they happened and has every right to express himself that way.
Get to the back off the bus or rather the back of the room.
It was the Ebeneezer Baptist Church located on Prince Street that once harbored Tawana.
But I guess all Black churches look alike to you...dumb-ass HONKY!
You're just pissed that he chose language you don't like that reminds you that these things happened. He was alive when they happened and has every right to express himself that way.
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The race card can also be used to gain sympathy for a group and a cause, as was the case here. He didn't like the way his congregation was handled at the meeting. Instead of complaining solely about the community board's lack of consideration to all in attendance, he tried to paint it as a deliberate assault on African American rights. Hence, playing the race card.
you can't play the race card unless it affects the outcome of a decision, and the decision was already made.
--------------------------------
Of course you can. The race card is played after the outcome of many court cases where the decision didn't favor the particular racial group in question.
The letter writer started off talking about and on behalf of everyone, then gave his personal opinions as related to his experience and that of his church.
I applaud his choice of words.
If you don't like it, write a rebuttal letter.
see Andrea Peyser's article in the n.y.post,4/19/10,headlined "MEET THE REV.AL GAGA".
she refers to the 1987 TAWANA BRAWLEY RAPE HOAX.
we make memory errors from time to time,and we apologize. even the letter writer , formerly named JAMES GARNER,sometimes embellishes facts to build his stories. he damages his credibility.
eg. where is his proof that Mr.Martin ,"MARTINS PARK,now YE OLDE FLUSHING BURIAL GROUND" was a "RACIST"? the n.y.times refutes that image of MARTIN.he supported afro-americans ,then called negroes.
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