Hot on the heels of last week’s community walk to stop the concentration of social service agencies in a few block radius, 43rd Assembly district candidate Geoffrey Davis is taking to the streets again on Saturday with a Love Yourself Stop The Violence march starting at 1 p.m. on Parkside and Bedford Avenues.
The Flatbush neighborhood has seen a spate of violence lately including a vicious fight among teenagers in the McDonalds on Flatbush, the shooting death of a teen across the street and several non-fatal shootings.
“We’re doing this march to speak out collectively as a community against violence. Not for profit organizations are joining in and handing out literature so young people can have a place to go to express themselves,” said Davis. “We’re saying to the young people love yourself. Respect yourself and love your community. The message of love yourself simply means when you lash out at someone else you’re actually lashing out at yourself because that person is your brother or sister.”
Love Yourself is also the name of the political party that Davis is running under as the Democratic Party is not fielding a candidate in the May 5 special election. Davis founded the Love Yourself Stop the Violence Foundation 23 years ago with his brother, the late City Councilman James Davis.
Meanwhile, one of Davis’ three opponents, Shirley Patterson, is also active in the community and tomorrow will tour the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) William Reid Apartments in East Flatbush with Sen. Jess Hamilton.
Patterson and Hamilton will address the need for the New York State budget to accommodate significant capital requirements of NYCHA. Governor Cuomo’s budget currently only slates a $25 million commitment to NYCHA’s capital repair fund, falling far short of the $120 million per year over the next ten years necessary to accommodate the needs of NYCHA tenants.
Deplorable conditions at the development include mold throughout apartments, peeling paint, broken elevators, and extended periods without heat and hot water during the frigid winter months.
The press conference is slated for 11:30 a.m., tomorrow, March 27 in the Reid Apartments lobby, 728 East New York Avenue.
Also in the race is Diana Richardson and Menachem Raitport.
The assembly seat opened up six weeks ago when former Assemblymember Karim Camara resigned to work in the Cuomo administration.
