Written by Kazemde Ajamu

Forging Alliances and Conquering the Congressional Maze for Justice

Let’s talk about a game where the stakes are nothing less than the scales of justice themselves. We’re not just building coalitions here; we’re stitching together powerhouses of influence to push through the thickets of Capitol Hill’s maze. It’s about mastering the political chessboard, plotting moves with Machiavellian grace, and pulling the strings in the puppet show of legislation. This isn’t your polite hand-shaking affair; it’s a strategic battleground where only the savvy and relentless emerge victorious. Are you ready to navigate the treacherous corridors of Congress and claim justice as your prize? Buckle up; it’s going to be a wild ride.

Kazemde ajamu – The urban politician

Developing a Unified Reparations Plan

Before any political maneuvering, the first step is to forge a widely accepted reparations plan within the African American community. This plan needs to articulate clearly the rationale, the beneficiaries, the form reparations should take (e.g., financial, educational, community investments), and funding mechanisms that are politically feasible. The challenge here is immense, as it involves balancing diverse viewpoints and interests within the community while also presenting a proposal that can gain traction in a broader political context.

Engaging Beyond Black Congressional Districts

While the 58 Black Representatives and 3 Black Senators play crucial roles, the real political battleground lies in districts and states not directly controlled by African American voters. Identifying Democratic-held districts with significant Black voter populations but represented by White Congress members is a strategic starting point. These districts potentially offer leverage to influence representatives by making the case that their electoral success depends on addressing the concerns of their Black constituents.

Building Cross-Demographic Alliances

Achieving the necessary majority in Congress will require building alliances beyond the African American community. This means engaging with Hispanic, Asian, and White voters in districts critical for securing the additional votes needed. Crafting a message that resonates across these demographics, emphasizing justice, equity, and the long-term benefits of reparations to American society as a whole, is essential. The complexity of this task cannot be overstated, as it requires bridging diverse interests and perspectives.

Navigating the Senate’s Higher Hurdle

The Senate, with its broader state-wide constituencies and the need for a supermajority to overcome filibusters, presents an even more formidable challenge. Success here demands a nationwide strategy, targeting states where Senators might be swayed by public opinion and pressure from a coalition of voters from various racial and economic backgrounds.

The Role of Republican Support

While the discussion often focuses on the Democratic Party, gaining some level of Republican support could be crucial. This involves identifying moderate Republicans who may be open to the idea of reparations under certain conditions or framing the issue in ways that resonate with conservative values, such as justice and rectification of historical wrongs.

Learning from State-Level Efforts

California’s exploration of reparations provides a valuable case study. Observing how one of the most liberal states addresses the challenges of consensus-building, funding, and implementing reparations could offer key lessons and strategies that might be applied at the federal level.

The Political Realities

The suggestion to withhold votes from the Democratic Party to force action on reparations risks alienating the very representatives who might be most sympathetic to the cause. A more effective approach may involve targeted political engagement, voter mobilization, and strategic alliances to shift the balance of power in Congress gradually.

In conclusion, navigating the political landscape to achieve reparations is a multifaceted challenge that requires a sophisticated and strategic approach. It demands unity within the African American community, the building of broad-based coalitions, and a pragmatic engagement with the realities of American politics. While the path is undoubtedly difficult, the pursuit of justice and equity through reparations remains a noble and essential endeavor.

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Hey Atlanta,

You’re upset that Special prosecutor Peter Skandalakis didn’t indict Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan for killing Rashard Brooks? I am too, however, what are the laws in Atlanta governing police use of force? Who makes the laws governing police use of force? The Atlanta City Council makes the laws and the Mayor signs them. The same goes for police union contracts. More importantly, who votes for council members? The citizens of Atlanta vote for them in office. Even if you stand on the sidelines and don’t vote, your nonvote or your voice stands in the way of corrective action. The other side wins. Police officers continue to be held to a different standard.

Prosecutors can only indict based on the laws that govern their decisions. What was the Atlanta Citizens Review Board recommendation or Police Officers Standards and Training (POST)? Were these officers stripped of the certifications or cleared by all agencies?

What was the recommendation of the Citizens Review Board or the Police Officers Standards and Training (POST)? Did these officers have their certifications removed?

Here are some action items.

• It is imperative that you petition your local representatives to Update the legislation governing law enforcement’s use of force.
• If demands aren’t met, vote for officials that will meet your demands
• Require police officers to carry liability insurance.
• Get involved with the Citizens Review Board
• Don’t get mad, stand up, be counted

Atlanta is a predominantly Black city; if you harness your political power, you can ensure that no more police officers get away with murdering an unarmed citizen.

If you want more information on police officers’ liability insurance plans, check out this article.

The post Upset About the Rashard Brooks Decision appeared first on Urban Politician.

CSX Transportation has the legal right to use the tracks through Lithonia and all of Georgia that have been granted to them by the federal government. Local municipalities have no control or oversight over this activity. They are one of the seven largest freight railroad companies and the largest in the Southeast. Additionally, Georgia boasts the largest rail network in the Southeast.

Earlier this year in February, the 11 Alive News Investigation Team looked into the matter and found that complaints about stalled trains in Georgia had jumped 259% in 2021. Deshon Cooper of Lithonia started a change.org petition late in 2020.

Nearly 400 people in Lithonia have signed a petition on change.org complaining that CSX trains blocking traffic for days at a time, an issue that Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds says has been plaguing the city for nearly a year.

“Today they have it opened up and we’re grateful for that,” Reynolds said pointing to the tracks, showing two rows of train cars on either side. “But nine times out of 10, it’s mostly connected and we have to go a different route.”

When the trains are connected, Reynolds said it blocks people from accessing resources like grocery stores and can keep police from using the most direct route to an emergency. 

In each instance, CSX’s temporary relief measure will only buy time until they can return to blocking off Lithonia streets for extended periods of time. This has resulted in frustration for residents and officials, who have received a variety of explanations for the delay, including a lack of personnel and trains being stuck in place for mechanical and operational difficulties.

CSX’s website states, ‘While CSX operates in many kinds of communities, the company’s focus remains constant. CSX has an unwavering commitment to the safety, the service of its customers, the disciplined utilization of assets, and the development of people and the communities where the company operates.”

The commitment CSX claims to have toward safety for the communities they operate in does not make sense.

When the focus is on them, they appear to rectify the situation without having a fervent dedication to addressing it entirely. It seems as if CSX has no plans to address the issue and will continue to act with total disregard.

This can only be solved politically and the Georgia State Legislators proposed HB1473 in their 2021/2022 Legislative Session. 37 States have passed legislation prohibiting CSX Transportation and other freight railroad companies from creating safety issues by limiting how long trains can sit on the tracks.

Georga House Bill 1473

To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to operation of trains at crossings, so as to prohibit the operation of a train in a manner that occupies or blocks a street, road, or highway grade crossing longer than a certain amount of time; to provide for exceptions; to provide for immunity from penalty in certain instances; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

(a) No railroad common carrier shall authorize the operation of a train in a manner that occupies or blocks any street, road, or highway grade crossing by engines or passenger or freight cars longer than 15 consecutive minutes unless the train is in motion or such blockage is:

(1) Due to a power brake failure or other mechanical failure;

(2) Necessary to avoid striking any object or person on the track;

(3) Due to a derailment or other accident; or

(4) In order to comply with a federal safety directive or regulation or other federal law.

Georgia HB 1473 never made it out of the Transportation Committee to a full vote in the Georgia State House. In other words, the bill was dead on arrival. It is critical that we have a discussion on HB1473 so that we can move forward with this important legislation. Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark (D) has co-sponsored the bill along with 3 Republicans, but the Chair of the Transportation Committee Rick Jasperse (R) in the Georgia State House has not allowed a debate on the bill. We need to pressure the Chair to allow a debate on this bill so that we can move forward on this crucial issue. Federal Interstate Commerce laws protect trains, so the state is limited in what it can do. Further Governor Kemp has expressed interest in bringing stakeholders to the table, but that’s about all he has done. He can do more, such as actually bringing people to the table. He has that power.

Virginia is one of a limited number of states that have a law in place to restrict the amount of time that trains can block crossings, as dictated by the State Corporation Commission. The time limits for such situations range from five to twenty minutes, depending on the circumstances.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission is “joining a national effort to seek federal assistance regarding the burgeoning safety issue of blocked railroad crossings,” according to a press release from earlier this month.

“The Association of State Railroad Safety Managers is urging the adoption of federal regulations to limit the amount of time a train may block a highway-rail grade crossing,” the release stated. “The association recently circulated a resolution calling for federal legislation requiring the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations making it unlawful for trains to block highway-rail grade crossings for longer than a specified period unless the train is stopped for mechanical or emergency reasons.”

The increase in complaints about stalled trains in Georgia is cause for alarm and we must take steps to address the issue. This is an election year in Georgia and Stacey Abrams is running against Brian Kemp for office. It is essential that she receive as many votes as possible in order to win. She trails Kemp by a few points in the polls. Issues such as this resonate with Georgia voters, especially in small places like Lithonia and other municipalities that are held hostage by CSX and Republican politicians like Rick Jasperse. This is an excellent opportunity for Stacey Abrams and other state and federal officials in Georgia to advocate for this critical legislation.

The Urban Politician Alliance is located in Lithonia, Georgia, in the Metro Atlanta area. This small city has a population of just 2,600 people. We are dedicated to bringing to light all that is done to keep our communities unsafe and unattended to by our local, state, and federal politicians. The time to act is now, and your donation can be instrumental in making this a reality. With your monetary support, we can maintain our tireless pursuit of combating social injustice through our writing and media platforms.

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Trump Speaks at America First Policy Institute Summit

Written by Kazemde Ajamu

While the mainstream media is fixated on the January 6 investigations, the Black community is concentrated on more pressing issues such as the rising cost of gas and food, education, and law enforcement. Meanwhile, Trump and the Republican Party rolled out their agenda for the mid-term elections this year and the 2024 elections should they win. Their strategy! is to isolate cities and speak to suburban and rural white voters through law and order. This strategy worked in the 2016 election and if we’re not careful, this may very well work again.

We live in an era of massive propaganda aimed at all sectors of the country, more specifically the Black community. This creates confusion and apathy for most voters. What lies underneath all the noise is the real agenda. It matters not whether these policy positions will ever become law—that’s not the objective. The objective is to diminish the Black vote and recapture the suburban white vote. Stoking fears among suburban and rural whites was on the agenda in his speech, and public safety is his most noted tool.

“Our nation is now a cesspool of crime,” “We have blood, death, and suffering on a scale once unthinkable because of the Democrat Party’s efforts to destroy and dismantle law enforcement agencies all throughout America.” Trump sternly tells a room full of Republican legislators and followers.

During Trump’s speech at the America First Policy Institute Summit, he detailed very specific policy goals for creating his own dystopian propaganda; placing police cars on every corner, moving the homeless population out of the inner city onto inexpensive land outside the city, reinstating stop and frisk, and subjecting the death penalty on convicted drug dealers. To be clear, Republicans in the House and Senate cannot impose these sanctions on local and state governments. Under the doctrine of states’ rights, the federal government is not allowed to interfere with the powers of the states reserved or implied to them by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

As Trump stated regarding the current situation, ‘We will pass legislation where you can go in and immediately help those people that are under siege and they have Governors that don’t know what they’re doing under these circumstances. The Federal Government has the right to do what they want to do, but we can’t do that. We can get that. It’s a duty for us to use every tool, every authority and constitutional power at our disposal to defend the citizens of our country.'”

In conclusion, Republican politics are characterized by a focus on personal gain, a willingness to political games, and a lack of transparency. These features are evident in Republicans’ approach to both domestic and foreign policy.

The Urban Politician Alliance is committed to shattering the misinformation and bringing you the facts. Your donation is essential in helping us meet the needs of our community. Thank you for your support

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By Kazemde Ajamu, The Urban Politician

I am a strong advocate for local politics; it is there that we can make the most impact on our daily lives. I attended the DeKalb County Board of Elections meeting and had the opportunity to see just how dysfunctional local government can be. I will stipulate that the Board is understaffed due to how funds are allocated in the county. But that’s a discussion for another day.

At these meetings, residents are allowed to challenge residency for registered voters in the county and challenge the residency qualifications for candidates running for office. To challenge the residency of a registered voter is quite easy. A citizen can arbitrarily gather a list of voters and challenge their residency, which consequently challenges their right to vote in their district or county. When the list is submitted to the Board of Elections, it becomes their responsibility to go through each one to verify and categorize each one into active, non-active or removal. For example, if you move but remain in your district without changing your address with the Post Office and Driver License you may end up on the non-active list or removed completely. Your status is left up to the five (5) Board Members or the Board of Elections where you reside. This can be a very thorough process yet maddening at the same time. I watched one particular Member Susan Motter (D) go as far as pulling property tax records in Maryland to prove a registered voter no longer lived in the property. Another registered voter changed her address with the Post Office and Driver’s License Bureau. This change triggered a notification to the Election Board and she still received a notice that she may be removed, only to find out she didn’t need to be there in the first place. If you move, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure your paperwork is in order. Otherwise, you leave yourself open to confusion and possible removal from the voting rolls.

As to the reason I went to the meeting with the Board of Elections in the first place. My business is in the City of Lithonia, which is in DeKalb County. Although I don’t live in Lithonia, I am very active in its politics. I sincerely care about the residents in this city and I even serve as the Vice President of the Lithonia Business Association. Needless to say, I have a vested interest in Lithonia. 2019 is an election year in Lithonia. Mayoral and City Council seats are up. The candidates for Mayor are Two-Term Council Woman and Jacinda “Cindy” Thomas.

This piece will focus on the two Mayoral candidates. In order to run for elected office in Lithonia, you must establish residency for at least one year. So candidates running for office had to have lived here as of November of 2018 in order to qualify to run for office.

Lithonia is a small city, one square mile with a population of just over 2,000. Most of the residents have been here for decades if not centuries. The business community is small and close-knit but growing. The future is bright for Lithonia. News travels fast in Lithonia as in most small cities. In the business community, we know each other fairly well. We’ve created a family environment among business owners. We have developed such a fondness for each other that our lives connect well beyond business hours.

A Councilwoman who is running for mayor is a child of Lithonia, born and raised here. I’m a little old school and believe in the days when the community had a hand in raising all of its children. I first met the Councilwoman three years ago when I began attending Bi-Monthly City Council meetings. My initial impression was that she was quiet and polite, a product of good upbringing. I quickly learned to not let her quiet and polite demeanor fool you. She is a fierce advocate for what is right. A characteristic often spoken about but seldom adhered to.  It wasn’t about political expedience with her. She actually sits back and listens to your concerns and moves on it. If it’s about the betterment of Lithonia’s residents and businesses, she has been all in. The Councilwoman really earned my respect when we disagreed on an issue. I was caught offhand with how strong she stated her position. I didn’t expect how she broke down her position with such clarity and how she almost changed my mind. I didn’t change my mind. However, in a subsequent conversation with her, she acknowledged that we both wanted what’s best for the city, and that’s a debate she doesn’t mind having. Watching City Council meetings over the last 3 years, I have observed that she is never the loudest voice in the room, but when she speaks, everyone listens. She became for me at least, the “Quiet Storm.” Not only is the Councilwoman quiet, steadfast, strong and articulate, she is also a lifelong resident, Councilwoman, and part-owner of a well-established business in Lithonia. She is perfectly positioned to fill the needs of the entire Lithonia Family.

There was a challenge to Mayoral candidate Jacinda “Cindy” Thomas’s residency qualifications by three Lithonia residents, City Council Members William “Ric” Dodd, Amelia Inman, and a local resident.

Cindy Thomas came to Lithonia sometime in late spring or early summer of 2018. She came to Green Love Kitchen with her Sister. During her visit, she met a local resident and business owner which gave her a tour of downtown Lithonia, something we pride ourselves in doing for people who have an interest in becoming part of our business family. When Cindy and the local resident developed a romantic relationship, we were all happy for him and his newfound friend. Cindy seemed to all of us to have it together, being bright, energetic, and motivated. The local resident had just recently purchased a building and was opening up an Arts Center in downtown Lithonia. Cindy was the catalyst to make it a reality. Unfortunately, the relationship between resident and Cindy soured and broke off in January of 2019. We barely saw Cindy through the winter and spring. Cindy started to reappear and the next thing we know she is running for Mayor of Lithonia. Practically every one of us in the business community is well aware Cindy does not fulfill the residency requirements to run for Mayor, or any seat in Lithonia, Georgia.

When it was time for DeKalb County Board of Elections to hear the challenge to Cindy Thomas’s residency, Ric Dodd and Amelia Inman contested that Cindy could not have lived at the rooming house on Swift Street because the building received their occupancy statement in late spring. No one could have imagined that Cindy and her attorney would attest under oath that Cindy lived at the local residency up until July of 2019. More importantly, the Board required no additional information to support Cindy’s residency, totally dismissing two City Council members’ claims. To add insult to injury, the attorney produced a sworn affidavit from her ex-boyfriend that Cindy did, in fact, live at his address currently. Now I’m not sure if the Board had already received copies of that affidavit, but not one Member asked to view it nor did the attorney hand it to them. So herein lies my issue with the Board. Just like they went the extra step to prove a voter lived in Maryland which is not required by law, they could have gone further and asked for a lease or utility bill to prove residency. The same rules should apply to both residents and candidates. This is exactly why people don’t trust the system, because when one is trying to do the honorable thing, no one takes it seriously. Yet, someone can compile a list of voters to purge, and everyone caught up in that list is subject to be removed. As I walked out of the hearing room, a woman who just witnessed the proceedings asked me if everyone feared that Cindy Thomas was going to win. I responded, “It’s not about winning and losing, it’s about the integrity of the process. How can we ever get the voting public to engage in their civic duties if all levels of government won’t hold to the very principles they require from us?”

When one wants to deceive the public, getting a driver’s license or an ex- boyfriend to sign an affidavit is easy. When we don’t hold elected officials accountable for their actions, we all lose. Sadly, while our communities are losing, these same politicians are profiting. One has to ask, why would someone go this far to deceive the same public she wishes to serve? We certainly don’t believe she has the public interest at heart.

It may seem obvious which way I’m leaning; however, it should be obvious to us all. We don’t let outsiders come into our homes to run our households. When you raise your children up to be leaders, you don’t look past them when it’s their time.

There is always a silver lining in all things. In the end, it is the voting public who decides. It is our job to make sure that the voting public makes decisions based on facts. An engaged and informed voting public maintains the power to elect and hold politicians accountable for their actions. We focus on Presidents, Governors, and Mayors during election season; however, it’s the U.S. Congress, State Houses, and City Councils that hold the power to pass laws and the power of the purse. Seldom do we focus on who sits on a Board of Elections and what laws and policies guide them. Governing laws and funding for the DeKalb County Board of Elections are managed by the DeKalb County Commissioners. If the Board of Elections lacks the proper funding to protect our vote and to ensure integrity in the entire election process, they should be held accountable. It doesn’t end there. No changes happen without each and every single one of us. We are the key to change. If we don’t like what we are seeing, it’s time to change the leadership; it’s time to vote people out of office. If you’re a registered voter that has moved or you haven’t voted in past elections, make sure you’ve completed a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service and changed your address with the Department of Motor Vehicles. For additional protection, while you’re at the DMV, update your voter registration card. These actions may not stop some unknown individual or group from challenging your residency and right to vote, but it will keep you safe from getting removed from the voting polls.

DeKalb County Board of Elections

• Anthony Lewis (R)
• Susan Motter (D)
• Dele Lowman Smith (D)
• Samuel E. Tillman (N)
• Baoky N. Vu (R)

Kazemde Ajamu

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