Desperate times call for the Nation of Islam?

Ray Cameron and the "Southeast Queens Host Committee" (quite frankly, no one I've spoken to in SE Queens has heard of it) are apparently hosting fundraisers for both William Thompson and John Liu at the law office of Jacques Leandre, a litigious failed candidate for City Council and proud Nation of Islam member. The Nation of Islam is categorized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, in case you weren't aware.

Which candidate is the "Southeast Queens Host Committee" actually supporting? Why do Liu and Thompson condone being two-timed? Why are they comfortable rubbing elbows with a sleeper cell?

Crowded field for Sanders' seat

Selvena Brooks

From the Daily News:

The District 31 run-off race to fill former City Councilman James Sanders Jr.’s vacated seat is loaded with candidates that have wacky or barely distinguishable party names and connections to current elected officials.

The city Board of Elections announced Wednesday that nine candidates met the Jan. 15 deadline to submit at least 1,350 signatures to have their name on the ballot for the Feb. 19 special election.

With no political primary, the candidates were tasked with inventing their own party and adopted cause.

Selvena Brooks, a former staffer of state Sen. Malcolm Smith, and former Councilman Allan Jennings both alluded to Superstorm Sandy with their party name choices, running under the “Rebuild Now” and “People’s Relief” lines, respectively.

Three of nine party monikers include some form of the word unite, including current Community Board 8 District Manager Marie Adam-Ovide running with the People United ticket.

Community activists Jacques Leandre, Saywalah Kesselly and Earnest Flowers add to an already crowded field. Flowers is a community liaison for Assemblyman William Scarborough, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The early frontrunner appears to be Donovan Richards, Sanders’ former chief of staff. The outgoing councilman has thrown his weight behind his protegé. Richards is running under the Community Unity line.

The overflowing field of candidates is predominantly African American, except for Pesach Osina, a liaison for Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. One source within Osina’s camp said that his path to victory runs through the prominent Orthodox Jewish enclave in Far Rockaway.

Candidates host boozefest in Brookville Park

From the Times Ledger:

Southeast Queens civic leaders and parks advocates are slamming City Council candidate Jacques Leandre and state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) for allegedly allowing a wild party to take place at Brookville Park during an outdoor family day event they sponsored two weeks ago.

A tent was set up in the park advertising an open bar for ladies, hard liquor was given away to dozens of participants and several empty bottles and trash were left behind the next morning, according to Kress.

“The debris field was one square block. I’ve never seen something like this in the park,” he said.

Among the garbage left at the park were sexually suggestive pamphlets with color photos of scantily clad women. It was not known who exactly set up the tent and sold the alcohol, according to the Parks Department.

“It’s so disturbing to see them not respect our community,” said Laurelton community activist Barbara Morris.

Nation of Islam member running for council

From the Queens Campaigner:

City Council candidate Jacques Leandre’s association with a controversial religious group may have cost him a key endorsement for his race against Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), a source close to the contest said.

Leandre, who plans on running against Sanders in the Democratic primary this fall, did not receive the backing of the Queens Democratic Party last month despite picking up the support of Democratic District Leaders Elmer H. Blackburne and Jacqueline Boyce.

A person with knowledge of the factors behind the endorsement who asked not to be identified said members of the Queens Democratic Party and Working Families Party grew concerned about the 38-year-old candidate when they learned shortly before they made their endorsement picks that he was a member of the Nation of Islam and threw their support toward Sanders.

Leandre confirmed he has worked with the Nation of Islam in the past and defended them in State Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed against the group by the NYPD in the 1990s. He was also a guest on the Dec. 24 episode of the Sankofa Experience, a podcast hosted by Brian E. Muhammad, an advocate for the group, which Malcolm X joined and is currently led by Louis Farrakhan.