Dems must hold Adams accountable for racial comments
BROOKLYNPAPER.COM
COURIER L 46 IFE, JAN. 31-FEB. 6, 2020
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I worked for the two immediate
predecessors to Borough
President Eric Adams, and
can’t imagine either Marty
Markowitz or Howard Golden
saying that some newly arrived
Brooklynites and New
Yorkers should “go back” to
their state, as Adams did last
week.
In 1989, Borough Presidents
lost their real powers
when the New York City
Board of Estimate was abolished.
The Supreme Court
declared in Board of Estimate
of the City of New York
v. Morris that it violated
the “one man, one vote”
doctrine. The Court reasoned
that because Brooklyn,
the most populous borough,
had the same one vote
on the governmental body
as the much smaller Staten
Island it was unconstitutional.
Since this time, the main
job of a Borough President
is to be an advocate and
cheerleader for the entire
borough. Instead, with his
remarks last week at Rev.
Al Sharpton’s Nation Action
Network, Adams made the
deliberate decision to divide
Kings County by race.
Clearly trying to boost
his Democratic mayoral
primary campaign, Adams
said “go back to Iowa…New
York City belongs to the people
that was here and made
New York City what it is…
you were here before others
came and decided they
wanted to be part of this
city.”
Adding his most extreme
language to pit us
against each other, Adams
said those that came
here from places like Iowa
are “hijacking your apartments
and displacing your
living arrangements, they
displace your conversation
and say the things that are
important to you are no longer
important.” The crowd
cheered.
Perhaps, it is not just
President Trump and Republicans
responsible for all
of the divisiveness today.
Let’s call it like it is, the
reason Adams chose Iowa
is because it is 90.7% white,
according to the U.S. Census
Bureau. Adams is pandering
to the non-white base
of the Democratic primary
electorate in the hopes that
they coalesce around his
campaign and propel him to
victory in a crowded field.
Now, just imagine the
universal howls of protests
from Democrats if a
white GOP elected official
said something analogous?
To their credit a few have
spoke up against the racial
divide and conquer politics
of Adams.
For example, City Council
Speaker Corey Johnson
said, “The young person
who moved here from Ohio
or Iowa we welcome them
to New York City.” Also,
Queens Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz called the
remarks “disturbing” and
said following Adams’ logic
if she “wanted to move in to,
let’s say, Bed-Stuy…I can’t
because of the color of my
skin.” Koslowitz is white.
However, the silence from
most local Democrats is
deafening.
Many would agree that
former Brooklyn beep
Marty Markowitz fulfilled
the modern advocate and
cheerleader role of a borough
president perfectly, as
epitomized by the building
of the Barclay’s Center and
the arrival of the Brooklyn
Nets.
It is easy to forget that
when Markowitz began
fighting for the Barclay’s
Center and bringing the
Nets to Kings County when
he first took office many
called his vision a pipe
dream, especially considering
he lacked any real authority.
As his Senior Advisor for
Community Relations and
Legislative Affairs, I had a
front row seat to Markowitz
almost single-handily making
this a reality. Through
perseverance, prodding,
promoting, and enthusiasm,
as only Markowitz could do,
he nudged all of the necessary
players along.
Signifi cantly, in addition
to all of the economic benefi
ts, one of Markowitz’s key
pitches for the Barclay’s Center
was how it would bring
all Brooklynites together, regardless
of race, to cheer on
the Nets or enjoy concerts
and other events at the venue.
This is the right attitude for a
Borough President.
Bob Capano has worked
for Brooklyn Republican and
Democrat elected officials,
and has been an adjunct political
science professor for
over 15 years. Follow him on
twitter @bobcapano
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Bob Capano
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