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.

Written by Kazemde Ajamu

How the Southern Strategy is at work

The Southern Strategy was a political strategy employed by Richard Nixon and the Republican Party in the United States to win votes from white southern voters who had traditionally been loyal to the Democratic Party. The strategy involved appealing to white southern voters on issues such as race and law and order. In the 1972 Presidential election, Nixon won 43.4 percent of the vote to Humphrey’s 42.7 percent, and Wallace captured 13.5 percent. Third-party candidate George Wallace was unsuccessful in his run for the U.S. presidency that year, winning 13 percent of the vote (9,906,473) and five Southern states as the nominee of the anti-liberal American Independent Party.  Wallace garnered the majority of his backing from White Southerners and disgruntled blue-collar workers who were fed up with the Democratic Party’s Civil Rights policies from the previous decade. The success of this tactic led to its adoption by other Republican-majority states.

In 2021, the Republicans have complete control over the legislative and executive branches in 23 states, while the Democrats will have control of the legislative and executive branches in 15 states. African Americans make up a significant portion of the population in Republican-controlled states. As of 2022, the population of African Americans living in the 23 states controlled by Republican politics is 20,925,486.

 The Federal government’s passing of legislation to end Jim Crow and ensure rights for women was vital in setting the stage for progress in the southern states and across the country. This number is expected to increase in the coming years, which made it all the more imperative that the Southern Strategy refocuses its efforts on fighting for State Rights.

The term “states’ rights” is often used in political discussions, but what does it actually mean? States’ rights are the powers and authority that are reserved for state governments, as opposed to the federal government. This means that each state has the right to govern itself and make its own laws, as long as those laws don’t violate the Constitution.

So why is this important? The states’ rights vs. federal government. It is clear that in order for the Republican party to maintain power, they need to grow their base and control state politics. By passing laws within their own states and sending representatives to Washington to vote on legislation and putting Supreme Court Justices on the bench, they are working to dismantle any obstacles that stand in their way.

Beginning in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated seating was unconstitutional and made segregation illegal in public schools in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964—legislation initiated by President John F. Kennedy—into law on July 2 of that year. Followed by the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965. The Fair Housing Act was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that was passed in the aftermath of King’s assassination. It aimed to put an end to housing discrimination and ensured that everyone had equal access to housing opportunities, regardless of race, sex, national origin, or religion. This act was one of the many accomplishments of the civil rights movement. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed Congress in 1972 and was quickly ratified by 35 of the 38 states needed for it to become part of the Constitution. As the seven-year time limit for ratification approached in 1979, Congress and President Jimmy Carter controversially extended the deadline by three years. However, no additional states ratified.  During the mid-1970s, a conservative backlash against feminism eroded support for the Equal Rights Amendment, which ultimately failed to achieve ratification by the requisite 38, or three-fourths, of the states, by the deadline set by Congress. Roe v. Wade is a 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. The decision was based on the Fourteenth Amendment, which protects a woman’s right to privacy.

When Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, it shifted the ideological balance of power toward conservatives who embraced the Southern Strategy. These justices have embraced the Southern Strategy and delivered rulings that have brought power back to the states. The Supreme Court is now majority-conservative, we can expect to see more rulings that favor the states over the federal government and that chisel away at the civil rights protections that have been put in place over the past few decades. This is a major shift in the balance of power, and it will have far-reaching consequences for our country.

The recent Supreme Court decisions on the Voting Rights Act and Roe v. Wade show that the Southern Strategy is working. For example, the Voting Rights Act was weakened when the Federal government was stripped of its oversight role. Similarly, Roe was overturned, and states were given the power to make their own decisions about abortion. This is a huge step backward for civil rights in America.

Although schools are no longer legally segregated, 23 Republican-controlled states are introducing legislation that prevents educators from teaching history through the experiences of African Americans and other minority groups in America. Florida Governor Ron Desantis, a potential candidate for President in 2024, has recently signed into law one of the most oppressive education policies in the country. In an article for the Counterpunch titled “The Nazification of American Education,” Henry Giroux writes: “Not only are these laws aimed at minorities of class and color, but this GOP attack on education is part of a larger war on the very ability to think, question, and engage in politics from the vantage point of being critical, informed, and willing to hold power accountable. More generally, it is part of a concerted effort not only to destroy public education but the very foundations of political agency.” This is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed. It is imperative that we take action against this discrimination to ensure that all students have access to quality education.

What began in 1968 with Nixon’s attempt to convert White southern voters to the Republican party by appealing to their racist and misogynistic policies through messaging that would be described as dog whistles or code language that only whites can understand, became the national calling card for the conservative movement. The “less government intrusion” platform plank of the republican party is nothing more than their “State Rights” agenda. The coded language ended when Trump won the 2016 Republican primaries and Presidential election. Trump spoke directly to the White disgruntled voters of America who feared that their whiteness was losing political and economic power to African Americans, women, and other minorities. Trump and his Republican base began to exercise their right to hate speech both politically and socially protected by the Constitution.

In the unsuccessful bid for Trump’s reelection, he still garnered 74,223,369 votes, the second most by any presidential candidate. More confirmation that the messaging of the Southern Strategy which was designed to win over Southern white voters has now permeated the mainstream. The current political landscape is dominated by identity politics. This has resulted in a decrease in moderate Republicans and fiscal conservatism has become the prevailing ideology while trying to conceal the true objectives. The groundswell of support from primary voters is carrying this party’s agenda forward, and those who align with this ideology are voicing their approval loudly. Those who oppose this movement within the party are keeping mum for fear of being voted out in future primaries. We saw the lengths they were willing to go to when the aforementioned loss was so devastating to them that they not only spread misinformation but also resorted to deception and violence in an attempt to storm the Capitol and disrupt Congress’ constitutional duty to certify Biden’s election.

Fortunately, Trump and his divisive rhetoric did not win in the end. Biden not only won the electoral college, but he also won the popular vote by over 7 million votes. This fight is far from over, with the midterm elections this year and the presidential election in 2024. Trumpism, identity politics, and the southern strategy are synonymous and still very much alive, even without Trump himself.

In conclusion, the consequences of the Republican platform are immeasurable. The ongoing campaign to spread misinformation amongst African Americans is designed to create apathy and confusion. This is precisely what they aim to achieve–create enough chaos as well as passing legislation to disenfranchise voters to guarantee their party’s victory. Their goal is to make America like it was before–great again. Which ultimately means returning us to our former position.

No matter how complex the Republican agenda becomes, we can see through it. We must be constantly vigilant in scrutinizing information designed to alarm us and prevent us from participating in the political process. While we should be concerned with what the current Administration and this Democratic Congress are doing or not doing, we must not lose sight of what the Republican agenda will do if they regain power.

It is imperative that we all turn out to vote this November. Why do you ask? Well, if we want to maintain control of both houses in Congress and also increase numbers in the Senate by having three more Democratic members, that’s why. Additionally, doing so would allow us to codify abortion rights for women and pass the John Lewis Voting Act – which would help restore the Voting Rights Act’s requirement that states pre-clear any changes made to their voting laws with the federal government. The act was reintroduced in the 117th Congress and is named after the late Georgia Representative and voting rights activist John Lewis. Another important piece of legislation we should demand is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, it is a bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement, empower our communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives. These are only a few examples of the legislation we could hope to achieve but by no means a comprehensive list.

While we are focusing on Federal legislation, we cannot lose sight of what is taking place in our local and state politics. Remember that all politics is local. The Republican Party’s strategy for the last 50 years has been to control the politics in states. That strategy has proven successful for them. We are most effective where we live and must push back collectively on these repressive policies.

The significance of your donation cannot be overestimated. Your donation is what makes it possible for us to conduct the necessary research to provide reliable information and enact real change.

Thank you for your support.

The post The Dismantling of Civil Rights in America. 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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The post Ga Republican State Reps Kill Bill that will limit how long trains stay on tracks 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.

Under Lithonia’s current Mayor, annexation has become a hot topic, with towns like South Fulton and Stonecrest becoming new cities in 2016. The new city of Stonecrest was once unincorporated Lithonia that borders the city of Lithonia to its south and east. Prior to Stonecrest’s annexation, unincorporated Lithonia and the city of Lithonia made up of two zip codes, 30038 and 30058. 2010 Census Bureau shows that these two zip codes are ranked 2nd and 3rd in Black medium-income nationwide behind Prince Georges County in Maryland. Stonecrest now takes up all of zip code 30038 and a small portion of 30058. Under Georgia’s tax structure the county in which the unincorporated areas are responsible for collecting taxes among other revenue streams and providing services such as police departments, public works, and the governing body. Another area north and west of the city of Lithonia is planning to annex the remaking area surrounding the city into the City of Green Haven.  This move would leave the city of Lithonia landlocked with no room for growth. That potential growth would have added a significant revenue stream to the city. Lithonia has been a non-player in the arena of annexation until now.

 Councilwoman Shameka Reynolds grew up in Lithonia and has had enough of seeing her city standing on the outside of growth. She understands the power of annexation and how it can benefit her fellow Lithonia residents. Unlike Stonecrest and the proposed Green Haven, Lithonia wouldn’t have to spend valuable tax dollars building a City Hall, police department, and public works since we already have these services. Lithonia would only have to expand its city services to cover the annexed areas. Its expansion would make most of the new revenue available to create a better standard of living for all its residents. We don’t need to gentrify as Shameka Reynolds’ opponent intends to, we need to follow Shameka’s lead in creating other avenues of revenue for the city. Annexation will be the beginning. Last night at Lithonia’s City Council meeting, mayoral candidate Shameka Reynolds took the first step in the annexation process. The first step in annexation is to hire a company to complete a feasibility study to see if annexation would make financial sense for the city. Councilwoman Shameka Reynolds proposed the first step towards Lithonia annexation to initiate the search for the right company. The city council approved this Request for Proposal (RFP) with a unanimous 4-0 vote.

This is what homegrown leadership is all about. Moving the city forward while protecting its citizens.

Kazemde Ajamu

The post Mayoral Candidate Shameka Reynolds Makes First Step towards Lithonia Annexation appeared first on Urban Politician.