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June 26, 2012
Jeffries vs. Barron: Head-to-Head On the Issues
Comparing the positions of both Democratic candidates for the newly created 8th Congressional District in Central Brooklyn.
Bed-Stuy Patch
by Paul Leonard
It's decision time.
With voting set to begin Tuesday in this year's first-of-a-kind early summer primary, registered Democrats in the 8th Congressional District will make a choice between Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron.
...To help voters decide, here is a head-to-head matchup of the respective candidates' views on important issues based on a mix of Patch's own reporting, the reporting of others, or statements in the public record.
...Atlantic Yards
Barron
Fiercely opposed. As a Congressional candidate, Barron has emerged as one of the most forceful critics of the soon-to-be-opened Barclays Center and the rest of the Atlantic Yards redevelopment project—calling on residents to boycott Brooklyn Nets games and arena concerts such as Jay-Z's planned series of shows in September.
Jeffries
Highly critical. Compared to Barron, Jeffries' position on Atlantic Yards redevelopment has been more nuanced, with the Fort Greene Democrat calling for more oversight in the form of an Atlantic Yards Governance Act that would create an independent board to keep the best interests of the community in mind.
NoLandGrab: One man's "nuance" is another man's fence-sitting.
Related coverage...
People of Color Organize!, On the Smears Against Charles Barron: A Letter to MoveOn
Joan P. Gibbs takes issue with MoveOn's support for Jeffries.
I write to express my opposition to your recent email concerning the congressional race in the eighth congressional district in Brooklyn, New York and to tell you why I will voting for Charles Barron on June 26, and, hopefully, in November, notwithstanding my disagreements with his statements and actions referenced in your email.
...I am voting for Charles Barron on June 26 because he has been one of the most consistent champions for affordable housing, jobs, health care, public education (from pre-school to graduate school) as well as well as an outspoken critic of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, Charles is one of a few elected officials York City who has consistently opposed the Atlantic Yards project, another issue of great importance to many, including myself, in the eighth congressional district.
Over the years, I have attended many marches rallies on the aforementioned issues where I have seen or heard Barron speak. I have nothing against Hakeen Jeffries, his major opponent. However, I have rarely seen or heard him at these marches and rallies. I recently saw Jefferies at the “Silent Anti-Stop and Frisk March’; however he was not at the rally against Atlantic Yards the week before. In short, on balance, I believe that Charles is the candidate who most passionately represent and fight for the issues and concerns of the residents of the eighth congressional district.
Posted by eric at June 26, 2012 9:28 AM