Message from
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
BY AL D’ANGELO
I’m getting a little tired of
the word racism being thrown
around for political purposes
or to intimidate people into silence.
There is a major difference
between racism and insensitivity.
The defi nition of
racism is: “Discrimination, or
antagonism directed against
someone of a different race
based on the belief that one’s
own race is superior”. Insensitivity
is: Lack of concern for
other’s feelings.
Comedians have made a
living using stereo types to
illicit laughs from their audiences;
many using the stereo
types about their own
race for that purpose. A perfect
example was the comedian
Don Rickles. Many of
our younger readers probably
never heard of him. Just
google his name and you
won’t be disappointed. Don
didn’t have a prejudice bone
in his body, he was an equal
opportunity abuser.
Wearing black face at a
party may be insensitive,
not necessarily racist, referencing
Italians to the Mafi a
is insensitive but not necessarily
racist. There is nothing
wrong with having pride
in one’s heritage, in fact it
should be encouraged. There
is nothing wrong with ethnic
communities. People, especially
immigrants, felt more
comfortable living in areas
which share the same type
foods and customs they were
familiar with.
The problem arises when
we exclude people because
they are different and do not
share our customs. We fear
what we don’t understand.
Once we learn about other
races and religions, we become
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more understanding
and inclusive. Prejudice is
learned - not inherent - you
can’t legislate away prejudice,
only prejudicial acts, but we
can teach away racism which
should start in the home and
continue in our schools and
in our government.
Politicians have played
the race card repeatedly
to divide and that’s criminal
because it polarizes the
country and forces people to
take sides. I am sure we have
all said something that was
insensitive one time or another,
but that doesn’t make
us racists and the same holds
true for politicians.
Show me where his or her
policies have been discriminatory
to a segment of the
population then we can talk.
In the meantime, be warry of
people who indiscriminately
use racism as a political tool.
There is no doubt that discrimination
exists and must
be seriously addressed, but
we marginalize its importance
when we use the term
for political gain.
Our community is made
up of different religions and
races which have different
customs, traditions, foods
and houses of worship but
we all have similar values
we love our families love
our children and love our
country. How about we start
looking for decency and respect
from our elected and
shy away from those who use
hate and fear to intimidate us
into voting a certain way.
If you’re looking for perfection,
you’ll never vote
again. A true leader should
put the people before party or
special interest. I for one am
tired of the negativity.
I have a novel idea, let’s
talk about issues and what
can be done to make the
country better for all people.
It seems character assassination
and ‘win by any means
necessary’, is the rule of the
day. This premise must be rejected
by the American people.
We’re better than that.
As you may already be aware, the
Cycle 9 of the NYC Council Participatory
Budgeting (PB) has officially
begun. I am dedicating $1 million
from my FY20 Capital budget to discretionarily
improve our 13th Council
District. I am doing this to allow
you, the voter, to decide directly
where you want your money going.
Possible destinations for improvement
include our cherished libraries,
park, public housing, schools
and public spaces. Who better to
know what areas of our district have
the most need, than you?
But in order for us to know what
should be up for vote on the Participatory
Budget, we need to start a dialogue
with each other. Civic engagement
is a keen interest of mine, and
so any opportunity to get the community
involved and empowered, is
one I am eager to take. This is your
district, and as such, you should be
given every opportunity possible
to take ownership of your district.
This is one such opportunity.
I am calling on all residents,
neighbors and community leaders
of the 13th Council District to join
us as at neighborhood assemblies,
where we collect ideas, brainstorm
and recruit Budget Delegates. While
you are all encouraged submit your
ideas either to http://ideas.pbnyc.
org/place/new or at our district office
at 1478 Williamsbridge Road,
these upcoming neighborhood assemblies
are the best forum for us
to really delve into our community’s
needs and determine where improvement
is needed the most.
We have three upcoming neighborhood
assemblies this October.
Our first will be held at the 45th Precinct
Community Council at 2877
Barclay Avenue, on Thursday, October
3 at 7:30 p.m. The second of our
neighborhood assemblies will be
held on the following day, Friday, October
4 at 7 p.m., at Bronx House located
at 990 Pelham Parkway South.
Our final upcoming neighborhood
assembly will be held on Tuesday,
October 8 at 7 p.m., at Villa Barone
Manor, located at 737 Throgs Neck
Expressway. It is my sincere hope
that you are able to able to attend at
least one of these neighborhood assemblies,
not just to voice your own
needs and ideas, but to also hear
what your fellow neighbors and community
leaders have to say as well.
Community engagement is not a solitary
practice – it is going to take all
of us.
To get more information about
my office and to RSVP, contact me
at (718) 931-1721 and please see the attached
flyer about the neighborhood
assemblies. To learn more about the
New York City Council Participatory
Budgeting process, I encourage
you to visit www.pbnyc.org, follow @
PB_NYC, email pbnyc@council.nyc.
gov, or even text “PB” to (212) 676-
8384. Let’s improve our community
together, beginning with us getting
together.
/ideas.pbnyc
/www.pbnyc.org
link
/ideas.pbnyc
/www.pbnyc.org
link
