Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five takes lead in New York City Council Primary

By: Adonis Armstrong

In a closely contested primary race yesterday June 27th, Yusef Salaam emerged as one of the top three candidates, securing a leading position with 5,403 votes, as reported by the New York Post. Despite the official results still pending, Salaam took the opportunity to address his supporters and express his gratitude. “Harlem has spoken,” the politician shared.

The Associated Press reports that following his win, Salaam, is projected to secure a future victory in the general election, as the district is considered unlikely to vote for a Republican candidate. “What has happened in this campaign has restored my faith in knowing that I was born for this,” he stated in a speech yesterday June 27th.

While delivering his speech, Salaam openly shared his personal journey to politics as a member of the Exonerated Five. “Having to be kidnapped from my home as a 15-year-old child, to be lodged in the belly of the beast… I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams. I was gifted because I was able to see it for what it really was, a system that was trying to make me believe that I was my ancestor’s worst nightmare,” he also added, , “I am here because Harlem, you believed in me.”

While the three candidates shared a common focus on advocating for affordable housing, addressing gentrification, and alleviating poverty in Harlem, Salaam leveraged his celebrity status and connected with communities that view the Central Park Five, or better known as the Exonerated Five, as powerful symbols of the injustices experienced by the district's predominantly Black and Latino residents, who constitute around three-fourths of the population.

The race winner has not been announced by The Associated Press, and the final outcome of the election may take days to determine due to New York's ranked choice voting rules, which come into effect when no candidate secures more than 50% of the total vote. It remains uncertain whether Salaam will maintain his position above the required threshold, as of early Wednesday, with approximately 95% of the votes counted, Salaam had a slightly less than 51% of the vote, while Dickens was significantly behind in second place.

I’m rooting for you Mr. Salaam what’s yours will be yours.

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Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five Runs as Candidate for New York City Council Seat

By: Adonis Armstrong

Yusef Salaam, known for his unjust incarceration as one of the Central Park Five, is now seeking office, aiming to be part of the very power structure in the city that played a role in his wrongful conviction. His story may ring a bell for those familiar with the critically acclaimed drama series When They See Us.

According to The Associated Press, Yusef Salaam, aged 49, has announced his campaign for a seat on the New York City Council, marking a notable step in his journey. Salaam is already widely recognized in the state due to an incident that had a profound impact on the trajectory of his life.

During the year 1989, a young Salaam, along with four other Black teenagers, referred to as the Central Park Five, were apprehended by the police. They faced wrongful accusations and were unjustly convicted of the rape and assault of a white woman in Central Park on April 19 of that same year. “I’ve often said that those who have been close to the pain should have a seat at the table,” he expressed during an interview conducted at his campaign office. At the age of 15, Salaam experienced his arrest, serving nearly seven years in confinement. Similarly, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, the other four individuals, endured periods ranging from five to 12 years in prison. However, in 2002, their convictions were overturned by a judge following a comprehensive review of the case.

According to AP News, DNA evidence connected a man, recently disclosed as a serial rapist, to the assault that took place in 1989. As a result of the ordeal they endured, the city reached a settlement of $41 million with the Exonerated Five. Salaam, now one of three candidates, is participating in a closely contested Democratic primary on June 27th, vying for the opportunity to represent the Harlem district, as reported by the outlet.

Expressing enthusiasm, Salaam shared his eagerness to tackle significant challenges prevalent in Harlem, such as poverty, the plight of homeless children, and issues related to rent. “When people look at me, and they know my story, they resonate with it,” Salaam stated. “But now, here we are 34 years later, and I’m able to use that platform that I have and repurpose the pain, help people as we climb out of despair.”

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Brooklyn Neighborhood's Innovative Experiment in Transforming Law Enforcement Dynamics

Dushoun Almond, known as Bigga, a member of the Brooklyn In Violence Out, in Brownsville, New York on April 26, 2023. (Credit: Amir Hamja / The New York Times)

By: Adonis Armstrong

In an effort to transform the dynamics of law enforcement in New York, a neighborhood in Brooklyn is beginning an innovative experiment.

The New York Times published an article on Sunday June 4th providing insights into a recent project. In April, residents of Brownsville took part in Brownsville In Violence Out, an initiative where community members, rather than the police, respond to minor street crimes.

Based on the report, individuals involved in Brownsville In Violence Out take turns serving as patrols for a period of five days on two specific blocks multiple times a year. Rather than having law enforcement authorities respond to lower-level incidents, these cases are redirected to the local community members. The police closely observe the residents' actions and only intervene in the event of a significant incident or when an arrest is required, as the civilians lack the authority to make arrests themselves.

In a specific incident, it was reported that a group of teenagers was observed running up Pitkin Avenue in Brownsville, shouting and pursuing a girl. The New York Times shared that five undercover police officers were present, witnessing the situation unfold. Across the street, a group of six men dressed in purple and gray sweatshirts and jeans stood. One of the officers commented, "They got it." As soon as the teenagers noticed the men, they began to slow down. The members of B.I.V.O. (Brownsville In Violence Out) gestured for the teenagers to change their course, and they dispersed as the girl they had initially chased proceeded down a side street.

According to The New York Times, the ongoing endeavor has yielded positive outcomes, including voluntary surrender of illegal firearms, prevention of shoplifting incidents, and the prevention of a bodega robbery. This enterprise is carried out under the umbrella of the Brownsville Safety Alliance, a collective comprising local and city organizations, law enforcement officials, and representatives from the Kings County District Attorney's Office. The primary objective of this alliance is to decrease the involvement of individuals with the criminal justice system, fostering a safer community.

Over the course of the next three years, the city has allocated $2.1 million in funding to facilitate the collaboration between local groups and the alliance, enabling them to work together as a cohesive unit throughout the year.

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Landmark Status Granted to Former Segregated School in New York City

Extensive repairs will be required for the building located at 128 West 17th Street due to significant water damage. (Credit: Clark Hodgin / New York Times)

By: Adonis Armstrong

Throughout New York City, remnants of history can be discovered, with traces of the past scattered across the city. On May 23rd, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission reached a unanimous decision to eternally enshrine a particular building in the archives of history. They decided to protect a school constructed for Black children during the era of slavery, recognizing its profound historical importance as a significant landmark.

As reported by The New York Times, the construction of Colored School No. 4 took place in 1849. By 1860, it had evolved into one of Manhattan's eight public primary schools dedicated to the education of Black students. This Chelsea-based establishment remained exclusively committed to serving Black children until 1894 when the city decided to close segregated public educational institutions.

The attempt to secure landmark status for the venerable structure traces its roots back several years. As early as 2018, historian Eric K. Washington advocated for the city's acknowledgement of its historical importance, but was unsuccessful. However, following a successful petition organized last year, the city could no longer disregard the building's undeniable place in history.

“We stand on the shoulders of the young men and women that attended this school, and while they may be gone, I am honored to ensure they will never be forgotten,” According to The New York Times, Mayor Eric Adams expressed in a statement. To revive the yellow-brick building to its former richness, the city has allocated a generous funding of $6 million, as reported. The restoration project is anticipated to reach its completion by 2027.

Colored School No. 4 is not the sole former segregated institution to receive landmark designation throughout the five boroughs. For instance, Colored School No. 3 in Brooklyn has held this distinction since 1998. By extending a similar honor to the Manhattan building, “the importance of preserving the sites that tell the complete, sometimes challenging, story of our city,” As stated by Sarah Carroll, the chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The group holds the belief that it symbolizes "a difficult, and often overlooked, period in our city’s history" and should be regarded as such.

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