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.

The post “Strategic Pathways to Reparations” appeared first on Urban Politician.

GEORGIA: The Senate Runoff Election between Senator Raphael Warnock and Hershal Walker will take place on Tuesday, December 6. Early voting begins on November 28 and will end on December 2.

On Tuesday, November 15th, Raphael Warnock’s campaign filed a lawsuit against Georgia after the state said it would not offer Saturday early voting for the closely watched runoff in which Warnock is seeking re-election to the US Senate.

Contradictions have arisen from the shortened runoff period for voting that Georgia Republicans put into effect last year in order to deter people from voting. The four-week period that was supposed to last nine weeks is now in conflict with the state law that doesn’t allow early voting around holidays. According to state law, early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving would not be allowed. The day after Thanksgiving is also a state holiday in Georgia, which was originally created to commemorate Robert E Lee, a Confederate civil war general. However, in 2015, state officials decided to take Lee’s name off of the holiday and just refer to it as a “state holiday”.

In 2020, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were elected to the Senate in a run-off election by Georgia voters. They did not receive the 50.1 percent majority vote required by state law in the general election. The Urban Politician Alliance was able to get started with the help of generous donors from different parts of the United States. We were able to gather the necessary funds through both small and large donations, and we partnered with Georgia State Representative Doreen Carter and the DeKalb County Democratic Party. This allowed us to bring both Warnock and Ossoff to the Black Dot Cultural Center on Main Street in Lithonia. We also implemented a get-the-vote-out campaign that led to massive turnouts in DeKalb County, Georgia.

This year, we have less time to send Senator Warnock back to the Senate, and we need your help once again. The Urban Politician Alliance is a grassroots organization whose goal is to inform, engage, and activate the voting power of local citizens. We understand that all politics is local and that we must elect officials who will serve our communities.

Your donation will go directly to helping the Urban Politician Alliance organize local DeKalb County voters and getting the vote out during early elections from November 28th through December 2nd and election day December 6th.

The post Mobilizing the Vote for Warnock appeared first on Urban Politician.

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.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives in February, but has yet to receive a vote in the evenly-split Senate. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff with an update on where things stand.

The post What is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act? appeared first on Urban Politician.

If enacted, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would help protect voters from racial discrimination and voter suppression.

The post John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act appeared first on Urban Politician.

I remember the 2016 election campaign of Donald Trump when asked who he would bring into his administration since he wanted to drain the swamp. He attempted to define the swamp as the deep state or career people already working in the government. His reply was he was going to bring in the best business minds, the best talent ever assembled.

I was reminded of that time listening to Jacinda “Cindy” Thomas’s audio of last night’s candidate forum in Lithonia. I was not in attendance; however, I have listened to the audio from last night’s forum. The most striking resemblance was her lack of experience as to how government works. Being Mayor is not like being a President, however, they are both executive positions that have high visibility and sets the vision and tone for what they would want to achieve during their term. The questions by the moderators were basic questions of any politicians running for office. Unfortunately, we are used to politicians not answering questions, but never not answering a basic question like what is your greatest achievement both professionally and personally. That’s a softball question intended to give us some insight into what you’ve done in your past that will give us a clue as to what you bring to the table. It’s even more dumbfounding when you’ve just been asked to share with us the 20 million dollars you secured for businesses that you allegedly consulted with in the past. That would be a major professional accomplishment! Instead, we got what she would do in the future. A talking point designed to supplement when you don’t have an answer. Back to the 20 million dollars raised for her business clients. Unless you’ve raised hundreds of million dollars deals you would remember with specificities. Instead, we got ramblings about examples of funding. Even if I give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn’t want to give away trade secrets, surely, she could have given us how that experience transfer to government funding. Instead, we got something like, “I’ve been in sales,” or “my connections.” What connections do you have? Who are they? Not even a name drop. Can we at least get that? This leads me to believe that she is being evasive and not given anyone the ability to fact-check. It’s all talk with no substance, it’s what is called in the sales industry an air deal. Better yet, can we get some verifiable testimonies from the companies you secured 20 million dollars in funding?

Now for some of the governing questions, Ms. Thomas was asked and I’m paraphrasing, “Name one zoning requirement in the city you would change?” Before I continue, what are Zoning Laws?

“Zoning is the process of dividing the land in a municipality into zones in which certain land uses are permitted or prohibited. In addition, the sizes, bulk, and placement of buildings may regulate. The type of zones determines whether planning permission for a given development is granted.

Source: Wikipedia”

For example, if a property is zoned residential, there is no need to change the zoning on it unless you plan on tearing it down and building a commercial property on it like a store or office building. Or changing the structure of the building on that property from a single-family home to an apartment building. That would require a zoning change.

Here is a zoning ordinance in Lithonia that should address. Our downtown area zoned commercial is only so big, two whole blocks maybe. To obtain a liquor license downtown you can’t be within 75 yards of a church. At the time that Life & Times Cigar Bar was trying to get the liquor license, downtown Lithonia had two churches, one on Main Street and the other in Lithonia Plaza. If you look at small and large towns across this country, the downtown area flourishes with great retail shops, restaurants, and places of entertainment for the community to enjoy. It’s vital to the growth and sustainability of the community. Churches are vital to the community as well, however, most churches are not found in storefront locations. Churches aren’t typically open six to seven days a week during business hours. If the zoning laws were to change requiring retail, entertainment, and arts in downtown Lithonia, building owners could only lease their spaces out for those purposes. Therefore, allowing more economic growth within the city, which also provides jobs for its residents. Ms. Thomas did give an example of what zoning laws she would like to see changed, she answered investors buying properties and looking at what worked in the past and what didn’t work. For someone who prides herself on bringing new developments and attracting new businesses to Lithonia, I would think she would have a well-thought-out answer to that question not to mention her lofty goal of 100% employment for the residents of Lithonia. To achieve a better Lithonia, you must first understand the mechanisms of government and have a well-thought-out strategy to reach your goals. She had neither.

The governing body is in the case of a city the City Council. I was struck by the many times Cindy stated that she would bring in outside consultants or experts. On the surface that sounds solid, but if you know how governments work, it just not that simple. Ms. Thomas was asked, “What would you do if the city was awarded a million-dollar grant?” She talked about splitting the fund up and putting it in different areas for improvement. Again, that sounds rational, however, an informed candidate would work closely with the city council to map out a plan to maximize the city’s needs. The City Council has the power of the purse; they decide how money is going to be spent. The Mayor can give direction but doesn’t have a vote unless a tiebreaker is necessary. She was asked about the process of hiring police officers and using Police Officer Standards and Training (Post). Anytime in the State of Georgia, a police officer violates their oath it goes on the POST report. These reports are a great tool in deciding whether to hire an officer or not. You would prefer to hire officers that have a clean POST report or at worst have minor infractions. Ms. Thomas missed the mark altogether, instead talked about her own skillset and bringing outside consultants into the hiring process. If she knew, there is already a process in place to weed out unwanted police officers; the process just needs to be adhered to. A Mayor can certainly recommend or advocate for certain candidates, but the city council has the final say. Not once did she mention the city council in implementing her vision for the city. The moderator did ask Ms. Thomas how she would work with the city council in a separate question in which she stated that was ever good for the citizens of Lithonia would be a priority. That answer is good by itself but lacked the complete understanding that implementing any of her programs that require funding would have to go through the city council. It may appear that I am splitting hairs here, but someone with the experience to run for mayor would not have missed this very important point. One that possesses the necessary experience would always prefer their response with “I will work with the city council to ensure passage of this ordinance or law.

I don’t know much about a lot of things, but I do know when a politician is perpetrating a fraud against the very people they wish to serve. This is what I do, study politics.

Kazemde Ajamu

The post Cindy Thomas’s inexperience shows at Lithonia’s Candidates Forum appeared first on Urban Politician.

Every president has advisors. The most senior advisors have the president’s ear. They are able to push policy positions and craft messaging, even propaganda. In most administrations, we know who these advisors are and what they stand for. For example, President Obama had Valerie Jarrett, President Bush’s Senior Advisor Karl Rove was nicknamed “Bush’s Brain”. These senior advisors are considered the president’s right hand. They’re not elected nor does Congress have to approve their nomination. 

That being said, as far as I can remember, all the president’s trusted senior advisors are very much involved in re-election campaigns. You see them all over the news selling us on why the President should be re-elected. 

Until now!

The Trump Administration has seen more firing, resignations, or retires than any administration in recent memory. With the exception of Trump’s family members, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Eric Trump, very few have survived a full 4-year term in his administration. 

Who is this guy? His name is Stephen Miller and he is President Trump’s senior advisor for policy. Why is the Trump Campaign hiding him? If we review his record we may find out. In an article written November 12, 2019 by The Southern Poverty Law Center titled Stephen Miller’s Affinity for White Nationalism Revealed in Leaked Emails, 

it is suggested that “In the run-up to the 2016 election, White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller promoted white nationalist literature, pushed racist immigration stories and obsessed over the loss of Confederate symbols after Dylann Roof’s murderous rampage, according to leaked emails reviewed by Hatewatch.”

Don’t care about immigration policies from the Trump Administration or Confederate symbols? Here is another article from Forbes,  How Right-Wing Media and Stephen Miller ‘Radicalized’ Donald Trump.

Miller, adopting a sarcastic tone of faux shock common to talk radio, dismissed Acosta’s mention of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of America’s embrace of immigrants, and accused Acosta of “a cosmopolitan bias.” Guerrero says that phrase is no random insult, but a very specific line used by white nationalists—and one with long ties to white nationalists. As Politico reported at the time, “it’s a term that’s seldom been heard in American political discourse. But to supporters of the Miller-Bannon worldview, it was a cause for celebration. Breitbart, where Steve Bannon reigned before becoming Trump’s chief political strategist, trumpeted Miller’s ‘evisceration’ of Acosta and put the term in its headline. So did white nationalist Richard Spencer, who hailed Miller’s dust-up with Acosta as ‘a triumph.”

For all the Brothers and Sisters out there, who want to see police reform and think a Trump administration is going to deliver that, in an article from The Atlantic by McKay Coppins, Trump’s Right-Hand Troll,

Even from a young age, he said, crime stories on the news would upset him “on a core emotional level.” He bristled against the sort of “gentle rehabilitation programs” for convicts beloved by bleeding-heart Santa Monicans. “My core instinct was … to put them behind bars and keep them behind bars until they’re not a threat to anybody anymore.” 

I can hear the Trump supporters saying, well at least Trump did something about prison reform. Stephen Miller couldn’t have had too much influence. I like to remind you that Trump’s First Step Act allowing second-chance opportunities and sentence reduction for federal inmates didn’t directly impact our community. Sure, there are some federal inmates of color that received a shortened sentence, however, 60% of federal inmates are white. The remaining 40% is broken down between African Americans, Latino’s and Asians. Most African Americans are in state prisons and county jails. The bottom line is, the more you dig into Trump and his administration, the more you’re not fooled by his promises to Black America. 

For more information on Stephen Miller, check out this article from The Atlantic, Trump’s Right-Hand Troll.

Kazemde Ajamu

The post Who is this guy? appeared first on Urban Politician.

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

The post The Foolery of Lithonia Elections appeared first on Urban Politician.