WHY VOTE?

Editorial:
By Khalid Bey

By the evening on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, another Mayor's race would have come and gone. Though tremendous efforts have been made by organizations like GO Vote, the Minority Contractors Association of CNY, and others to unify the African American vote, the outcome of the 2009 local elections may prove as disappointing for our communities, as have elections in previous years.

Low voter turnout has been a major problem in the African American community, but an even greater problem is a lack of voter unity. In predominantly African American neighborhoods, our problems are similar: dilapidated and or vacant housing, broken sidewalks and streets; vacant lots, weak entrepreneurial communities, very few job opportunities, and zero economic growth. Yet, when elections roll around, we scatter our votes across an array of candidates, as if our neighborhood issues differ.

Our community's intent is not similar to that of a corporation, looking to elect "their candidate" to assure the eventual passing of legislation to acquire tax credits or some other benefit. Our intent is also not similar to unions that may look to support a candidate who is sympathetic to issues related to unfair management policies in their work environment(s). Each of the aforementioned scenarios is unique to the corporate and labor worlds. What is needed in our community are the bare necessities guaranteed to every community to help sustain its general well being.

How is it that neighborhoods East, far West, far North and far South of Downtown remain affluent, yet neighborhoods nearer to the center of the city continually struggle?

The answer is a simple one: WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATION.

Each year, we voters waste our votes electing individuals whose intent is not complimentary to ours. They come into our neighborhoods, loaded with empty promises to assure us that they have the "cure all" for our socio-economic ills. Once elected, our neighborhoods are buried and left to starve yet again, over-shadowed by someone else's special interest; but can you really blame the Councilman from Tip Hill, for properly representing his constituents? Of course not. The question is "WHO'S SPEAKING FOR US"?

Let us consider the following:

Take the U. S. Census for example. For years I did not trust the Census, because I thought it was some covert operation perpetrated by the federal government to monitor my life. That's not true at all; in fact, the Census count is done every 10 years to determine the number of people occupying a particular census tract. There are two reasons why this would be valuable for our community: 1) The 2010 Census count will determine how the district lines are drawn in 2011, which affects our voting power; and 2) The count determines how many federal dollars will come to our perspective areas.
According to Metro Edge's 2005 report, there are 6, 569 people living in the Salina Street Trade Area. The federal government provides $1900 per person occupying a census tract, per year. Multiply 6, 569 people by $1900 and you get approximately $12.5 million dollars that would be allotted for the Salina Street Trade Area, annually. This is interesting, considering that there have been absolutely no noticeable improvements made to the Salina Street Trade Area in years. I think it's time that we demand our local government to "show us the money".

When the city makes its report(s) to the Federal Government and other money lenders, it uses statistics from African American and other minority communities. If the Federal Government provides dollars for the City's general upkeep, according to the City's professed needs, why then isn't the whole city taken care of?

Where is the money allotted to the Salina Street Trade Area going? What are our elected representatives doing?

More than likely, the dollars that are supposed to go towards the upkeep of our neighborhoods end up in someone else's neighborhood, because there is no one from OUR neighborhood there to speak on our behalf. Our current representatives have done a horrible job and should be replaced.

We, African Americans have to stop putting our best interest aside, for the sake of maintaining friendships with individuals who would not do the same for us.

When will we learn?

What our people must understand is this: Our socio-economic condition will never improve, as long as we are accepting pats on the head as payment. Our neighborhoods are suffering, because WE have allowed them to suffer.

It's time for us to stand up and take responsibility. When in Rome, do as the Romans, and choose progress over friendship. Be smart..... GO Vote "for our community'' in this coming Tuesday's election.