MEALY MISSING WHEN SHE'S NEEDED MOSTBy Keith L. Forest
So I wrote this long glowing article in support of Council Woman Darlene Mealy winning the 41st Council seat the other day and was about to post it to my blog (mybedstuy.blogspot.com) when reality smacked me in the face.
My outrage originated from the fact that voters in our community would rather waist their vote re-electing Tracy Boyland, who in the 8 years she held office, did very little for us and continues to run on her family legacy.
My argument was that Ms. Mealy deserved another chance.
In the past month alone our community has been under siege by gang violence which has claimed the lives of 4 young men, killed in 2 separate gang related shootings. Both tragedies took place in broad daylight with the last young man 18 year old Jahlil Lee, life cut short only 4 days after the 81st Precinct removed the watch tower.
In the midst of these grave tragedies one significant voice has been missing – Council Woman Darlene Mealy. For the last few weeks concerned citizens, civic and community leaders have been working feverishly arranging a meeting with residents, shop owners and elected official with Deputy Inspector, Steven M. Mauriello of the 81st Precinct. All area elected officials were sent updates and agendas requesting their presence including Ms. Mealy whose office forward a response stating that she is on vacation and will be sending a representative in her absence.
During the primaries, candidates seeking the 41st Council seat common complaint was that Darlene Mealy lacked visibility in the community. Her flip flop on term limit; constant hiring and firing of chiefs of staff; and awarding her sister $25,000 were also key points. Needless to say these recent tragic killings were a golden opportunity for Mealy to seize the moment and show true leadership. Yet, she opts to send a representative and take vacation.
After a long election, I am sure Ms. Mealy deserve a much needed rest. However, she owes the families forced to cancel their plans, tap into their savings and life insurance plans to bury a child to put her personal life on hold and do the job she was elected and that our tax dollars pay her to do. She owes it to the traumatized children in our area to negotiate strong, skilled police presence in our community and provide them and their parents with a safe environment to call home.
Ms. Mealy we’re watching.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.
So I wrote this long glowing article in support of Council Woman Darlene Mealy winning the 41st Council seat the other day and was about to post it to my blog (mybedstuy.blogspot.com) when reality smacked me in the face.
My outrage originated from the fact that voters in our community would rather waist their vote re-electing Tracy Boyland, who in the 8 years she held office, did very little for us and continues to run on her family legacy.
My argument was that Ms. Mealy deserved another chance.
In the past month alone our community has been under siege by gang violence which has claimed the lives of 4 young men, killed in 2 separate gang related shootings. Both tragedies took place in broad daylight with the last young man 18 year old Jahlil Lee, life cut short only 4 days after the 81st Precinct removed the watch tower.
In the midst of these grave tragedies one significant voice has been missing – Council Woman Darlene Mealy. For the last few weeks concerned citizens, civic and community leaders have been working feverishly arranging a meeting with residents, shop owners and elected official with Deputy Inspector, Steven M. Mauriello of the 81st Precinct. All area elected officials were sent updates and agendas requesting their presence including Ms. Mealy whose office forward a response stating that she is on vacation and will be sending a representative in her absence.
During the primaries, candidates seeking the 41st Council seat common complaint was that Darlene Mealy lacked visibility in the community. Her flip flop on term limit; constant hiring and firing of chiefs of staff; and awarding her sister $25,000 were also key points. Needless to say these recent tragic killings were a golden opportunity for Mealy to seize the moment and show true leadership. Yet, she opts to send a representative and take vacation.
After a long election, I am sure Ms. Mealy deserve a much needed rest. However, she owes the families forced to cancel their plans, tap into their savings and life insurance plans to bury a child to put her personal life on hold and do the job she was elected and that our tax dollars pay her to do. She owes it to the traumatized children in our area to negotiate strong, skilled police presence in our community and provide them and their parents with a safe environment to call home.
Ms. Mealy we’re watching.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.
No comments:
Post a Comment