Holding the Democratic Debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is all well and good, but if the two candidates want to keep it real, a Brownsville Community Center should be the locale.
So said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who was born in Brownsville, one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods.
“I am calling on the Clinton and Sanders campaigns to agree on moving their debate in Brooklyn to Brownsville. This is a neighborhood in crisis, and we need to ask for more than politicians driving by in their motorcades or working a handshake line. Just as leaders in Michigan rightly directed the conversation to Flint in their hour of need, I am urging that we pivot the physical venue to a site like the Brownsville Recreation Center and subsequently focus the discussion matter to solutions for issues impacting historically disenfranchised communities of color,” said Adams.
“We must leave our comfort zones and speak plainly about the challenges facing urban America with the residents of urban America. There will be nothing meaningful gained from speaking past each other in platitudes among political insiders, all within a sterilized environment.”
Adams said while he is pleased that the debate is being held in Brooklyn, and he recognizes both Clinton, who’s national campaign headquarters is in the borough, and Sanders, who was born and raised in Brooklyn have deep roots in the County of Kings, moving the debate to Brownsville would shine a light on disenfranchised communities.
“Few thought that the New York primary would be as consequential as it is shaping up to be. As such, with this opportunity of intense national scrutiny, it is critical that we seize the moment and focus our country’s attention on the pockets of Brooklyn where the popularity of our brand has yet to translate into prosperity for its residents,” said Adams.
“We are all very proud of Brooklyn Navy Yard, which has been an extraordinary success, and at another time in our history it would be a great host for this dialogue. However, at this vital juncture, we must push to bring communities that have historically been ignored and left in the dark into the spotlight of this campaign season,” he added.
Adams, it should be noted, has also used his administration to consistently shine light on both Brownsville and East New York. Among the initiatives Adams has helped bring to Brownsville include a pop-up street market during the Christmas season and most recently, along with State Sen. Jesse Hamilton and Assembly Member Latrice Walker, a high tech “Campus” to NYCHA’s Howard Houses in the neighborhood.
And Adams said he intends to watch the debate with the people of Brownsville and to take a straw poll of their views following its conclusion.
“They represent the hopes and fears, the endless struggles and undying potential, which live in overlooked communities across our borough, city, state, and nation. Let us not waste this chance to make an impact for them,” he said.
