By Nelson A. King
Community leader and Black
Lives Matter Brooklyn President,
Anthony Beckford, the
son of Jamaican immigrants,
has officially announced his
candidacy for City Council in
the 45th District.
The district, which is currently
represented by Councilwoman
Farah N. Louis, the
daughter of Haitian immigrants,
includes the Brooklyn
neighborhoods of Flatbush,
East Flatbush, Midwood,
Marine Park, Flatlands and
Kensington.
In making his announcement,
Beckford was joined by
his eight-year-old daughter,
Harmonee, fellow community
members, community advocates,
as well as members from
December 12th Movement,
Zafem Entertainment, the
NYC Democratic Socialists of
America and Black Lives Matter
Brooklyn.
City Council Race 2021
Featured speakers included
Bedford’s Campaign Manager,
Sakia Fletcher; Sima
Karetnaya, president of Public
Health Advisory of the Borough
of Brooklyn, Director of
the American Jewish Coalition
and New York State Multicultural
Peace Advisor; as well as
community organizer Jamell
Henderson.
“I am honored to have
received the support that I did
at my campaign announcement,”
Beckford told Caribbean
Life. “It showed me that the
people are truly ready for a new
council member that will actually
lead and provide adequate
solutions and representation.
“I am the only true Progressive
Democratic Candidate in
my race and the only candidate
to pledge to not take real
estate or fossil fuel money,”
he added. “The issues that are
highlighted in my platform are
the issues that we directly face
Caribbean Life, D 6 ECEMBER 18-24, 2020
in my district and throughout
New York.
“I am running to become the
next City Council Member of
the 45th district, but I will also
be the People’s Council Member
representing all New Yorkers
through my legislation.”
In his first 60 days in office,
Beckford said he plans to introduce
housing justice legislation,
“which will stop the privatization
of NYCHA (New York
City Housing Authority) and
secure funding from the state
and federal governments to
fully fund and fix NYCHA.”
He also plans to provide 35
percent rent rollbacks for tenants,
provide property tax rollbacks
for small homeowners,
provide housing vouchers for
the homeless and create 100
percent affordable low-income
housing.
In addition, Beckford said he
is prepared to introduce criminal
justice legislation that will
City Council Candidate Anthony Beckford of the 45th District
engaging with the community during his 2021 City
Council announcement. Sakia Fletcher
replace the Civil Complaint
Review Board with an Elected
Civilian Review Board; use a
percentage of an officer’s pension
to payout on civil lawsuits;
ban all gang paraphernalia on
uniforms, such as the punisher
logo; mandate mental health
evaluations of all officers; take
$2.5 billion from the NYPD
budget that was once used to
fund schools and programs,
and redistribute it back into
communities for much needed
social programs and services.
On education, Beckford said
he will work with his colleagues
to bring adequate funding for
schools, and provide free afterschool
and summer programs,
and free childcare and vocational
training.
Black Lives Matter Brooklyn prez
announces candidacy for City Council
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