The man who came to Howard Beach toting signs in 2007 accusing then Councilman Joe Addabbo of being a racist pig as well as stating that racism was not only alive in the Councilman but thriving throughout the community– could be the next Congressional representative for Howard Beach.
In a strange twist of redistricting, the confusing landscape surrounding congressional district reapportionment has seen that which was the 10th congressional district — entirely comprised of Brooklyn—become the 8th congressional district.
In its new digs, the 8th District– formerly located in Manhattan—almost mirrors the former 10th district—it remains approximately 97% Brooklyn but now has seen the addition of an area of Queens that will account for about 3% of the total district.
The Queens sections of Howard Beach and a small piece of Ozone Park will now be part of the predominantly Brooklyn district.
Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., who has represented the 10th district for 15 terms in the House, has decided not to run for the 16th term. Although no official announcement has been made, reliable Washington sources say Towns, 77, will not return.
It was on the night before the deadline for petition filing to qualify for the June 26th primary that Towns’ decision allegedly came to pass, despite the fact that the senior Rep. had hired an extremely experienced political operative to run the media for a campaign and had aides laying the groundwork for another run.
Nonetheless, with the exit of Towns two other Democrats have declared they are running in a primary for the newly reconfigured district: Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and City Council Member Charles Barron, a former Black Panther.
Therein lies what could be a potenitally explosive problem for the Queens portion of the district, especially Howard Beach. As preposterous as we see the incorporation of the two demographically opposed portions of the new 8th Congressional, we see as equally preposterous, the fact that a man with so much obvious contempt and ill thoughts against this community could have the chance to represent it in Washington.
The primary for the race that will determine the Representative elected to the house to represent the 8th district will happen in a little over two months on June 26. We urge you to visit Youtube.com or just Google Charles Barron. We have no doubt you will see the need to support any other candidate in this race.
Howard Beach has been branded for far too long with unrealistic ties to racist behavior. Murderers have been sentenced to far less time in prison then this entire community has been sentenced for the actions of a few—more than two and a half decades ago.
So many community organizations have devoted their time and resources to proving the true character of this community where everyone lives, works, socializes and lives peacefully among each other. To think about Charles Barron as a potential representative for any part of this community is a dangerous consideration. One that
