Editor’s Note: This op-ed first appeared in EastNewYork.com and comes through a strong ongoing professional relationship between that site and KCP. It also comes as Assemblymember Charles Barron reportedly filed official paperwork with the city’s Campaign Finance Board to run to succeed his wife, term-limited City Councilwoman Inez Barron in next year’s city council race.
By Chanell Turner
One of the most fundamental and foundational aspects of state and local government is democracy and the “changing of the political guard.” Additionally, local government is typically the place where changemakers start their journey up the political ladder—and hopefully help bring new ideas and policies to benefit the immediate community.
Unfortunately, this has not been the story for the people of East New York. Both Charles and Inez Barron have used seat switching to gain extended control of policies impacting the neighborhoods that make up the East New York community. And the pair seem prepared to continue this trend of legacy politics in the upcoming 2021 political season. Why is this a concern? Read on for their troubled history and the negative impact this could have on the community moving forward.
A 20-Year Lock Out
In 2001, the people of East New York elected former Black Panther member Charles Barron to the New York City Council. He served two full terms totaling eight years, and a term limit extension in 2009 saw him stay in the seat for an additional four years. Once he termed out of the role, Barron was then elected to the New York State Assembly. At the outset, this seems normal. Moving from one political position to the next is standard in politics, but the story doesn’t end there.
His wife, Inez Barron, was elected to the New York Assembly in 2008, and once she termed out, she ran for his former seat in City Council and won. Again, this might not seem like an abnormal event, as there are quite a few political husband and wife teams. Nevertheless, this strategy seems to take a more problematic turn as the duo seems to be planning to do the same thing for the upcoming political season. However, the more significant issue is that these two have not seemed to change the East New York community for the better in their collective 30-year history in politics.
A Trend of Divisiveness
Community leaders and politicians may not agree on everything, but the goal is to have the people’s best interests at heart. One of the best ways to do this is through unity. Unfortunately, throughout the years, Charles and Inez Barron have seemed to embrace an abrasiveness and divisiveness when it comes to supporting or joining together with other Black leaders. Recently, Charles Barron called Tish James, the first black person ever to be elected as New York’s Attorney General, a “puppet.”
Nikki Lucas, a candidate running for Inez Barron’s 42nd City Council District seat, interpreted this swipe as an “insult to all black women.” This doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident, as Charles has been cited as disrespecting former President Barack Obama and Congressmen Hakeem Jeffries. While there is nothing wrong with not seeing eye-to-eye and even offering a different viewpoint, these events reveal an unwillingness of Charles Barron to unite with other influential Black politicians to help construct and pass legislation to support the people of East New York.
Preparing East New York for Gentrification?
It’s hard to live in any lower-income neighborhood that is adjacent to or within a major city without being faced with the prospect of gentrification. According to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, New York had one of the highest rates of gentrification and displaced black Americans between 2000 and 2013. Higher rents and property taxes—the hallmarks of gentrification—continue to price many Black and Latino people out of their neighborhoods.
In February of this year, it was revealed that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing in the East New York City area was sold to private developers for $1.5 billion. Charles and Inez Barron were suspected to have known about this development and failed to inform their constituents before the deal moved forward. This move could send apartment rents and property taxes to levels challenging for current residents to pay. In a bid to cover their bases, the Barrons chose to hold an emergency town hall after the deal was in its final stages (and an Op-Ed criticizing their approach to the issue emerged). Additionally, much of the housing has been mismanaged and received poor maintenance.
It seems that this husband and wife team has dropped the ball in protecting their current residents from facing the detrimental effects of gentrification.
A Dangerous Political Game
While both seem to have a community activism background, the Barron’s actions have not promoted community progress, transparency, technology, arts or business ownership. In three of the most pivotal ways: questionable political tactics, promoting black political unity, and avoiding black and Latino housing displacement, the Barrons have not developed significant and positive changes. They have even failed to cultivate and put forth new Black political talent to take on positions they have held.
It’s time for some new political ideas, ideals, and identities, and an end to the seat switching tactics of Charles and Inez Barron. The Barron’s seem to be stuck in the old days and unfortunately, East New York has been stuck with them. No matter how they try to spin it the community loses.
