Part II of II
Dave what’s up! Governor, I only met you once so I really don’t know you (although I feel somehow that I know you better than Hillary knows those Bosnian snipers). But when I talked to you last Thursday, I told you it was my understanding that you once tried to get an anti-racial profiling law in the state before you became Lt. Governor and part of the stipulation of your eventual appointment was that you forget about that measure. It’s not hard to figure out why, all the white movers and shakers cringed at just the thought of such a bill, especially in a city where black men are famous for being shot at 40-50 rounds. To them a law like that would make us seem... bulletproof.
Well Mr. Patterson, you are the highest ranking political official in New York State. But it seems only blacks work their way up the ranks dragging the same fears and mental constraints they may have needed when they were at a lower station. On this one your job is easy. We already have just such a racial-profiling bill-in-waiting authored in Buffalo called "Marvin’s Law," S4389 and it’s waiting for someone of your influence to give it that major push and/or persuade Hillary to do what she has to do in ordered to get it passed (its not like she won’t really have the time to do it). Currently Marvin’s Law is in the hands of 60th District Senator Antoine Thompson and has officially been in senate during his term since 4/13/07 (having been passed down to him by Mayor Byron Brown). It’s going to need the majority of 62 votes to give it some momentum.
When I told you this your reply to me was "well, what I do now, I’m in a different place, I don’t talk about legislation before it passes. But obviously you can look up my record to see where I stood on this before, so obviously you know how I feel about it." Mr. Patterson, a quick glance at your gubernatorial duties shows the definition of Governor as defined by Websters as (and you can correct me if there if something new they left out): "One who governs as the elected chief official of any state in the United States," or the definition that more applies to your current status: "an official appointed to exercise political authority over a territory (or state)." As you can see Mr. Patterson, any which way you cut it. U-Da-Man! (ahem) You no longer have to look over your shoulder, there is no other single political individual in New York that you have to answer to.
Aside from Senator Thompson S4389 was introduced by 17 other senators, read twice, and ordered printed and when printed, to be committed to the Committee on Finance. Which brings us back to Ms. Clinton. Although I pointed out to you the conspicuously unknown discrepancies between her and Obama’s senate record, I also asked you about the viability of you continuing to back her over Obama in her run for President, you stated that when you endorse someone, you don’t change your mind based on what they’re doing and: "If it wasn’t for Hillary Clinton, I don’t think I would have become Minority Leader nor do I think we could have won the US Senate. Now Barack is a friend of mine, I explained it to him, he called me up to congratulate me when I became Governor. He and I are fine." To be honest Governor this is understandable. What is politics without loyalty (yeah I know, it’s still politics)?
But now that you’ve proved your political fidelity, there are 18 little State Senators who need their chief Senator’s big mouth and pushiness to protect the right of a group of people other than just 9/11 victims and their families. Not victims of al Qaeda, but victims of badge-wearing insurgents lurking amongst New York State’s police forces. These are mostly African American victims Hil, it takes some signatures. Many white politicians-Like Elliot Spitzer-don’t think blacks notice when they claim to fight all corruption on one hand, but go with the flow when it comes to corruption against blacks. It’s as if they are saying that racial-profiling and police brutality and harassment etc. aren’t really corruption. As if our concerns can be back-doored in exchange for the rare crackdowns in white collar crime, gambling, and even prostitution.
A lot of police abuse would never take place if it weren’t initiated by racial profiling, a law prohibiting this would save lives. Another of Barack’s notable Bills was his racial profiling Bill that also met with immediate opposition from the usual suspects, republicans and police. Barack authored it in ‘02 and it passed back in ‘04.To be fair Hillary was one of 12 Dems to sign the latest installment of a national racial profiling Bill called "End Racial Profiling Act of 2007," S.2481 and H.R.4611.
Both of you know Barack. Do either of you think it was easy for him to pass IL’s racial profiling bill? Do you think the Fraternal Order of Police and the vast conspiratorial republicans embraced this bill with open arms. As you know, he was just a State Senator at the time, but he passed it using the same tactic that many whites use; persistence. Eventually he kept trying ‘til he won them over and the bill was signed in ‘04. Taking no interest in passing this type of legislation in an era where much of the country is prepared to elect a black president for the first time ever, gives police broad license to stick out as the Last Hatemongers.
Speaking of being in a "different place," on the night of 2/6/08 I too was in a different place; sitting in a downtown jail, the result of being arrested while in the act of searching for a man who was beaten up by members of Buffalo Police while exiting out of a convenient store. The man was obviously a target of some independent cop-vendetta stemming from an incident where he was beaten at his home and nearly strangled to death a year-and-a-half ago. S4389 covers not only pulling over black motorists without probable cause, but violating the rights of blacks while in the comfort of their home. It may be among the most broad and comprehensive measure in the US. Governor Patterson, we need you in the immediate term to exert whatever influence you have with Senator Clinton and get her to working on this important and long overdue legislation. I look forward to hearing from both of you. Thank you for your time.
