Rev. Jackson, left, his wife Kim, Congresswoman Clarke and Rev. Dr. Ian
Straker. Darlene Pantophlet
Caribbean Life, NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021 3
By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn Democratic Party
Executive Committee voted Monday
night to adopt three amendments to
the Party Rules, and nominated community
activist Kenesha Traynham-
Cooper to fill the vacancy of former
District Leader Annette M. Robinson
in the 56th Assembly District, which
encompasses the Bedford-Stuyvesant
and Crown Heights sections of
Brooklyn.
Henry Butler, Male District Leader
from the 56th AD, was elected vice
chair of the executive committee.
The party said the rule amendments
allow it to have “more timely
and meaningful virtual public forums
without the need for the lengthy procedures
of an organizational meeting.”
“Committees are an essential part
of the democratic legislative process
and are used by the US Congress and
the Senate,” the party said.
“With over 1.2 million party members,
it’s a practical move to utilize
our party’s long-standing Committee
on Resolutions to ensure that resolutions
are passed in a timely and efficient
manner,” it added.
Party Chair Haitian American
Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte-
Hermelyn, said, “We’ve streamlined
and strengthened the democratic
adoption of new resolutions by having
the Committee on Resolutions
vet them first.
“We congratulate our new District
Leader Kenesha Traynham-Coope
and Vice Chair Henry Butler, and
thank Annette M. Robinson for her
years of dedicated public service as a
vice chair and district leader,” added
the daughter of Haitian immigrants,
who represents the 42nd Assembly
District in Brooklyn.
By Nelson A. King
New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane D. Williams and Council
Member Brad Lander last Thursday
called on Mayor Bill de Blasio and
Commissioner Dermot Shea to halt
the issuing of easier-to-fire weapons
to new New York Police Department
(NYPD) recruits until several concerns
are addressed.
Use of the new firearms was first
reported in August.
In their letter, the leaders rejected
the notion that these new weapons are
either necessary or an improvement,
saying “Guns with triggers that require
only five pounds of pressure to fire are
unlikely to enhance public safety in
our city.
“In a year where our city budget
struggled, the decision to take on the
cost of these weapons is a concern,”
they added.
They questioned both the cost of
the new guns and the decision-making
process to authorize them, “a process
which did not include community
input or involvement.”
Williams and Lander also highlighted
the potential risks associated with
the weapons, arguing that “Our offices
are not aware of any complaints that
the weapons currently used by NYPD
officers are, or have been, insufficient.
“We are aware there are too many
instances when NYPD officers resorted
to pulling the trigger and leading to
innocent people losing their lives,” they
wrote. “Guns that fire more quickly
would not have prevented deaths or
increased the safety of either officers or
communities.”
By Nelson A. King
Parishioners worshipped online and
in-person, as Fenimore Street United
Methodist Church (FUMC) in Brooklyn
on Oct. 24 celebrated its 132nd anniversary
with much fanfare during its
Sunday Worship Service.
“The 132nd Anniversary Service
for Fenimore Street United Methodist
Church opened with the bold hymn,
‘Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart’”, Shanae
Als – a Barbadian American member of
the church, at the corner of Fenimore
Steet and Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn,
and secretary of the church’s United
Methodist Women (UMW) – told Caribbean
Life.
“With attendance available both in
person and online, the in-person worship
experience was dynamic, heartfelt,
and was remnant of the pre-COVID
worship services,” added the former
UMW president.
“The church sanctuary was well
attended (132 parishioners), and the
theme, ‘His Amazing Grace’, was appropriate
for the celebratory occasion and
a necessary sentiment, as we deal with
the effects of a pandemic and moving
back to a new state of normalcy,” Als
continued.
The Worship Service – organized by
the church’s Anniversary Committee,
headed by Trinidadian retired registered
nurse Marlene Ferguson – featured,
among other things, lofty singing,
drumming, liturgical dancing and
speeches.
Brooklyn Democratic Congresswoman
Yvette D. Clarke and the Rev. Dr.
Ian Straker – the daughter and son
of Jamaican immigrants, respectively,
who were raised in the community –
were in attendance and addressed the
celebration.
In his sermon, entitled “Enduring
Grace,” the Rev. Roger Jackson, who
recently took over the pastorship of the
church, said that “enduring grace provides
for and will sustain ministries,”
according to Als.
“If it was not for grace, we would not
survive what we are going through,”
said Rev. Jackson, an African American,
who succeeded another African American,
the Rev. Dr. Maxine Nixon, who
served FUMC for 19 years. Rev. Nixon,
FUMC’s first female pastor, retired in
June.
“No matter the struggle, nothing
should be able to shake the firm
foundation on which we stand,” added
Rev. Jackson, who, prior to coming to
FUMC, served St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church of Vanderveer Park; St.
James United Methodist Church in
Lynbrook, NY; First United Methodist
Church of Hollis, Queens; and First
Roosevelt United Methodist Church. He
also served as a volunteer preacher for
Sunday Services at the Far Rockaway
Mission Center.
“We live in the assurance of God’s
grace,” Rev. Jackson preached. “We can
struggle with God over how we feel
about what is going on in our bodies
and lives; struggles draw us closer to
God. Grace becomes amazing when we,
as disciples, come to realization that we
are not in control.
Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, who
was nominated as female District
Leader in the 56th AD on Nov. 8.
Brooklyn Democratic Party
Brooklyn Methodist church
celebrates 132nd anniversary
Williams, Lander call for NYPD to halt use of easier-to-fire guns
Cooper
nominated
female
district leader