1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, you don't. Let's just keep a real straight shright 2 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: with no Jason, I'm gonna get a little bit rougher. 3 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: I'm here for it. Those who really believe in the 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: American process, all of us straight shut, no Chason. What's 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: your girl? Teslam figure Row on the Black Effect podcasting 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: that word net work. What's happening? Straight shoot us? This 7 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: is your girl, Tesla figure roll here for another episode 8 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: of My Friend that we brought back again for a 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: second time to pre do it all. Kelly, future Councilman 10 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: of Westward of Newark, New Jersey, west Side. I kind 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: of want to say west Side even know typically from 12 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: the East. You know, we got the East West thought 13 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: I gotta get it in where I can. But thank 14 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: you so much on me for joining us again a 15 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: second time to talk about your race. How are you, man, 16 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm good, says thank you man. You look amazing and 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: just thank you man, thank you for having me on it. 18 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: And I'm really happy that how the show was taken 19 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: off for you and that's just because you solid you know, 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: you keep and I like that. Thank you so much. 21 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: It's hard to be in this business, as you know, 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 1: because so many people look at it as a business. Uh. 23 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: To me, it's always been a purpose. UM. You and 24 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: I talked about that when you joined us early on, 25 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: you know, in the show Your Purpose, and we talked 26 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: a lot about, you know, the words that Pop gave you. 27 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: What I saw in you. He saw you being a 28 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: community leader before you ever saw it. And here you 29 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 1: are again, Yeah, here you are again running for hip hop, 30 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: for the culture. I mean, actually being taken serious as 31 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: a serious candidate. UM. Last time we talked, we talked 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: about how important it is that we represent, you know, 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: the communities that we live in, that we serve, that 34 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: we love of and really having a a voice at 35 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: the table that understands, you know, the needs of the community. Uh. 36 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: And that's been missing when we look at Generation X, 37 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: when we look at millennial generation or the ex lineal, 38 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: which is the combination of the two. That's kind of 39 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: where I fall. And when we talk about hip hop, 40 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 1: we talk about the voice of the streets, whether it's 41 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: East coast, West coast, the South, whatever it is, it's 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: always been a mirror, a reflection of what we're dealing 43 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: with in urban communities. And so why not have hip 44 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: hop at the table. It's more than just supporting a 45 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: candidate or performing for a candidate. Why not have hip 46 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: hop at the table actually shaping policy. But what's also 47 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: more important, what I love about your background is you're 48 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: not just at the table to be hip hop. You 49 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: actually know what the hell you're talking about and what 50 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: you're doing. So tell us why. I know when you 51 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: were here before you were talking about running again, you've 52 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: now done that. Your racist set for May two thousand 53 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: twenty two. You up there early like the way earlier 54 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: racist used to be three months ahead, six months ahead. 55 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: Now people are getting out a year or two years ahead. 56 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: So tell us where you are. What happened from the 57 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,119 Speaker 1: time that we last spoke last year on you really 58 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: saying Okay, I'm gonna do this, I'm putting my name 59 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: on the battot, I'm going for this again. What brought 60 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 1: you to that decision? Um? A few things, you know, Uh, 61 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: watching the community in the culture of hip hop, and 62 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: and seeing star Face go forward and Willie D having 63 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: aspirations and even Luke in Miami having aspiration. It felt good, 64 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: like you know, I wasn't looking for any credit for 65 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: the thing, but I felt like I played my my 66 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,839 Speaker 1: race last time played a part in it. And that's 67 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: what it's about, right, It's it's about being seen and 68 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: being and I think that it by me only the 69 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: first time. I believe that people were unsure, why is 70 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: he doing it? Is he just trying to get cloud 71 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: or cloud chase as we say in that PLoP And 72 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, with my nonprofit organization to eleven community impact, 73 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: I believe that they started to see that I was 74 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: really doing the work. And that was part of my 75 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: plan too, with any issues that I see in my community. 76 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: I've been doing this work for probably over twenty years, 77 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: but people only remember the last eight, you know. And 78 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: and that's part of it though, by not you know, 79 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: not talking about the issues and doing lips service on it, 80 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: but actually attacking it. And and whether you're you're you 81 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: fulfill or sovereid solution, at least you're attacking it and 82 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: you're bringing eyes and awareness to whatever the issues are 83 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: without just speaking about it, but with your actions. And 84 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: that's what I started to do. And and there's those 85 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: receipts started to add up, you know, as those receives 86 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: started to add up, computers and the devices for all 87 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: program of the dock on the block where we have 88 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: the big health stands coming to the number blocks, and 89 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: if you live if you're from New York, New Jersey, 90 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: or know anything about New Jersey, those number blocks are 91 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: not so friendly blocks, you know, and and bringing health 92 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: awareness there and and just all of those type of 93 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: things that really impact the community. And the community started 94 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: to speak up and say, man, we want you to 95 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: be a voice. And it reminded me of how we 96 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: are voices of hip hop, you know, the voices of 97 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: hip hop. We speak for those unbirds in our areas 98 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: and those voices in our areas, and that's the same thing. 99 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: So my community war chest started to grow, started to 100 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: build real heavy, and I started to say I started 101 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: to learn from my my I won't say mistakes, but 102 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: my shortcomings last election when I ran at large, I 103 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: noticed that community and activism is very very important, and 104 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: and being a public servant and not really being a politician, 105 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: but just from actually doing the work. I started to 106 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: know that that community and that activism only get you 107 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: from a certain point, you know, and then you really 108 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: need political power to really make that impact that is 109 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: necessary in the community. And a lot of times when 110 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: you when you go after that political political power to 111 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: push your um community instead of then that's when the 112 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: line start to be drawn. There's good, there's bad. You 113 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: might take this person off to get this, I might 114 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: have to do something small over here that you might 115 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: not totally be an agreeience with to get the big 116 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: thing that you for in the community. And that's where 117 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: it becomes political. That's where the politics comes into play. 118 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: And you know, a lot of the you know, your 119 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: constituents are the residents in the neighborhood. They don't understand 120 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: that they just want what they want, when they wanted, 121 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: how they wanted. And if it's something that looks like 122 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: it goes against what they want and then automatically against you. 123 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: And and and that's the you know, that's the hard 124 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: part of trying to find the balance between community, public 125 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: service and politics because we know how we grew up 126 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: to as we look at politicians like politic sans and 127 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: all of the little words and all of that. But 128 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: but really I'm starting to learn that there is an 129 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: importance if you would not if you unite the right 130 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: way with the right people. And and this time this 131 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: time around, from the workout done, it has put me 132 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: on what we call the politics the line line a 133 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: or it has put me with the machine, or has 134 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: put me with the administration, which is the current incumb administration, 135 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: Our may Raz Baraka. They they saw see fit to 136 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: put me on the team. Now put it from the 137 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: team now also invites all of his enemies or people 138 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: who don't like them, and it takes me out of 139 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: the safe zone. So by taking me out of the 140 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: safe zone, I'm cool with that though, if we're gonna 141 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: really make a difference, you know what I mean, because 142 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: I can stand up for what I believe in and 143 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: stand up for my community to be and allow them 144 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: to see the receipts and not just talk about certain things, 145 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: you know. So it's it's just been a different go 146 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: at it. And it feels a little heavier this time. 147 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: And people would say, well, you're on the machine, you 148 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: know what to do with the ticket, so why does 149 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: it feel heavier. The independence actually was was just like 150 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: the word it was almost free. Was independent. You know, 151 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: I didn't have all might have had eyes on me 152 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: because I come from the hip hop, but it didn't 153 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: have the heaviness of ye that's there you go. And 154 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: now this time it's like all guns, ain't that me? 155 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: All eyes on me, and I understand that it's heavy 156 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: because I'm the one that they're looking at, and you know, 157 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: I don't wanna. I don't wanna, you know, make anybody 158 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: think that that it's not the right choice. I want 159 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: to do the right thing, and that's all I can 160 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: do is do the work. You know. I just had 161 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: to outwork and shoot a community that all of the 162 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: things that I've been doing up until now, I haven't stopped. 163 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: When I lost, we didn't get to seat, but it 164 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,359 Speaker 1: wasn't a loss for me. You know, to do relationships 165 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 1: last time, so it wasn't a loss, you know, it 166 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: was a learning experience that now I feel like the 167 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: community is starting to understand who I am because attached 168 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: to my nonprofit organization last time, I wasn't the type 169 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 1: of person that said, oh, this is do it off 170 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: lords and underground. I just gave your family this, but 171 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: this is do it off from It was just my organization, 172 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: so it wasn't necessarily my name. But in politics, you 173 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: have to let them know what you're doing. You have 174 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: to let them. So now that's why I said, even 175 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: though I've been doing this work probably for thirty years plus, 176 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: now people are starting to say, oh, well to eleven 177 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: is you? Oh that was you, and that only is 178 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: going back really to eleven years to be twelve years 179 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: in February. So now some people think that I'm just 180 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: coming out because I'm wanting for politics. But the people 181 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: who really know, the people who are recipients of those services, 182 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: they really know, and you can't deny the work. I'm 183 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: glad to hear that you're making that connection because there's 184 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: always this assumption. Well I don't want to say assumption, 185 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: but with black folks, we tend to think that talking 186 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: about our receipts is not being humble or being pride 187 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: for being igno. It's just the receipt. If I if 188 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: I go and I purchased something, I get a receipt 189 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: the shows that I made that purchase. That investment into 190 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: the community matters. It matters because other people are not 191 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: making that investment. And I tell Canadas all the time 192 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: that I work with monthly, that you need to be 193 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: talking about what you do. You need to talk about 194 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: what you do and what you've done is far more 195 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: important of what you're finning to do. So let me 196 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: say it again, what you've already finished, it's more important. 197 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: What you've fin to do. Too many politicians get in 198 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this, and i'm gonna do that, 199 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: and I've been to do that, and i'm gonna do this, 200 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: and i'm gonna what have you done? So all of 201 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 1: those things that you're talking about are important. A couple 202 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: of things that I'm just you know that that made 203 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: me want you popped up in my head when you 204 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: were talking, and then too, Yes you've done it twenty years. 205 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: Yes you've done it eleven years. But the most important 206 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: thing is what have you done for them later? And 207 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: because you stayed in the grind, which is where candidates 208 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: fail in my opinion, because you stayed in the grind 209 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: and still doing something that is what the voter remembers 210 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: the most last week, two weeks ago, last month, last year. Okay, 211 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: I remember I saw him at the store, or you know, 212 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: I remember when he gave out this, or I remember 213 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: having access to him. That's one of the things that 214 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: we really fail. I'm looking at some national races and 215 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: a part of some teams that are doing some oputopsies 216 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: on you know, where we feil as candidates, particularly black candidates, 217 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: And there's this idea that you don't have to do 218 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: the work. And so I love your campaign because you 219 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: are a national person, you have a national name, but 220 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: have stayed committed to your local community. And that is 221 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: where a lot of national folks fail. When we look 222 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: at Willie d or when we look at let's look 223 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 1: at trade to truth. For example, if he were were 224 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: yeah and he was ever to run, you're talking about 225 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: somebody that's putting in work right now in their community. 226 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: If Phila Mike were ever to run, you're talking about 227 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: somebody's putting in work right now in his community as 228 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: in yesterday, not last year, the year before that. And 229 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: it shows a clear vision that if I can do 230 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 1: it when I ran my staff Infirnment or Landoff, I 231 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: can take three people as a single mom with an 232 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: infant going through a divorce in a recession and put 233 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: people in the community to work, then I know your 234 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: elected officials should be able to do better. Even if 235 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: they can't do it with the government purse strings, they 236 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: should be able to pick up the phone and make 237 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: a phone call to bring influence into the community. So 238 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: by you being able to master that, like you said, 239 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: the strategy of it all the political side of the 240 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: relationships that you have, whether it's national, whether it is local, 241 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: whether it's the mayor who you had to earn that 242 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: respect because you were very clear last time that you 243 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: were the underdog, you know, the last time you ran, 244 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: so that respect had to be earned, it certainly wasn't given. 245 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: And then still having the humility to to actually do 246 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: the grind work. That is the part. The part that 247 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: I say that I think is it's missing in candidates. 248 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: And I'm glad that you recognize, you know that those 249 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: both things are are are are equally important. So when 250 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,319 Speaker 1: you said, okay, so now now I'm a part of 251 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: the machine, have you heard negative feedback of okay, well 252 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna sell out or now you're gonna be somebody 253 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: different or have you managed managed that? It's it's crazy 254 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: because I'm I'm from the westward of North New Jersey myself. 255 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: For I Digga red Man the artifacts. We have a 256 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: big hip hop community that has a success that's from there. 257 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: So I guess it safe to stay that I am 258 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: up the streets as they as they say, now you know, 259 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:48,119 Speaker 1: go back to the streets. You know, I'm from this community. 260 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: So when I'm out there, I have a team that 261 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: walks with me. We walk Mondays through Thursdays when we 262 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: do meetings and stuff like that on the weekend, seniors 263 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: and posts and all that type of the people of 264 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: the community. But Monday through Thursday, you can catch me 265 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: in the West Fall. I'm walking the streets, and I'm 266 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: not picking the nice areas, just the nice areas where 267 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: we're in the neighborhoods. But I'm some of these neighborhoods. 268 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: So when I see the people, I see some people 269 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: and I give you a quick story about one of 270 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: the guys who felt like he had to tell me 271 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: that he wasn't They weren't happy, the streets, weren't happy 272 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: that I was connected to the administration. So I see 273 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: him in the in the neighborhood and he says, do it. 274 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: What's up? Man? We support you, but we're not sure 275 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: we're really rocking with your team. But why you don't 276 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: rock with the team? Well, we support Mayor Barrocker in you, 277 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: but we're not sure about the team. Well, Mayor Barrocker 278 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: is the team, this team Barrocker. So you're kind of 279 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: contradicting itself. You support me, support the mayor, then then 280 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: I'm not saying your agreement everything, but you support the 281 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: team if you support at least those two And I 282 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: just started ask him questions and he couldn't answer my questions. 283 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: That the reason why I couldn't answer my questions is 284 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: because the questions that was posed, it's like, really, what 285 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: are you doing in the community? And I had I 286 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: had those questions, you know, I had answers to those questions. 287 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: Everything that he wanted to to argue about, I was 288 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: already doing the work, so he couldn't really argue about it, 289 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: you know. So it was just them looking at me 290 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: as independent and now utilizing the team. They just wanted 291 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: to not like that for some reason, for whatever reason 292 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: they had against the machine, maybe they applied for something 293 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: that they didn't get. And that's another thing. You have 294 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: these people in the community who apply for things and 295 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: because they know somebody that's on the administration or in power, 296 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: they feel like that they can just skip over the process, 297 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: you know, the process. But the process, what I told him, 298 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: it's preparation for you to receive it. And if you 299 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: skip over the process, you won't be prepared if somebody 300 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: just gave it to you. So this is how I'm 301 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: talking to them in the neighborhoods, and they get it 302 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: because they can't front them. They can't flunt and say 303 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: that I haven't been out there. They can't flunt on 304 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: me and say that I haven't been doing the work. 305 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: So when they when they talk, that gibberish is null 306 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: and voidant understanding, like there and their face, you know, 307 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: so it's not it's not that he says, she said, 308 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: you know, I had to receive. So anytime they are 309 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: talking that test, I just pulled out the BC. Okay, yeah, 310 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: that shuts all that down. I want to talk about 311 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: what you what you're going to do when elected. But 312 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: before I get to that explained because a lot of 313 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: different people listen from all over and I want to 314 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: be clear when you reference the team because most city 315 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: races and and it sounds like you're running as a 316 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: ticket Is that correct? Yes, okay, be because most just 317 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: so that those who are listening the ticket races typically 318 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 1: like in Florida, for example, they'll do a ticket race 319 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: on a state on your state legislators. They'll have a 320 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: ticket of hey this is everybody. You know, we're running 321 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: as a blog. We can bind our resources, we help 322 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: each other. But this is the first time that I'm 323 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: hearing of a city level race that's running as a team. 324 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: If you will explain what that means when you say 325 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: the team, because he's an incumbent, So how when you 326 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: say team team, you know for your mayor, what does 327 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: that look like? Are you guys running as a block 328 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: in two where he's already picked out who he wants 329 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: to serve in his administration or just break that down 330 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: a little bit so people can understand. So in the 331 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 1: city like newth New Jersey, I leave, Chicago might do 332 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: it as well. And of course the federal government doesn't 333 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: a lot. So the team you have, the head of 334 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: the team is usually the mayor or the governor defended 335 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: if the racist is the election is happy in the 336 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 1: same duration of time. So the our mayor is running 337 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: for re election in May of two thousand and twenty two. 338 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: So with his election, you have nine council members. We 339 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: have four at large members, and then you have five 340 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: war councils. So in North New Jersey we have five wards. 341 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: You know, we have the west ward, we have the 342 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: east ward, northward, southward, in the central ward. So I 343 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: am running for leadership in the west ward in the 344 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: west wards where I grew up. So the mayor will 345 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: generally take if he's the incombent man, he's most likely 346 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: gonna get line A what's called. And then whether he 347 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: picks to be on his team, most likely will get 348 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: line A with them, so that you will vote. And 349 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: usually seniors a lot of people who are voters. When 350 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: they like one person, they usually vote all the way across, right, 351 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: So it's someone's like to vote now. Now. I will 352 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: say this. When I ran at large and I was independent, 353 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: I was warning voters, don't vote a cross. And I 354 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: want to be straight up and I want to be 355 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: transparent and say vote who you've done a research on, vote, 356 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: has the receipts of the work. Vote with people who 357 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: are the same concerns and and and I'm looking for 358 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: solutions to save those issues that are that face you 359 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: in your neighborhoods. I don't care what what line it are, 360 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: and I might have to see you get a little bad. 361 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: Yeah no, but that's true because that's the same message 362 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: that we were saying, because not even just for seniors, 363 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: but when we look at presidential elections, people vote straight 364 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: Democratic ticket, just all Democrats, straight down the line. So 365 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: basically what you're saying is you guys run your city 366 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: races as a team together. That's different. I've never heard 367 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: of that before. That's why why I wanted to, um, well, 368 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: I've heard of it, but not on the city level. 369 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: So that's why I kind of want y'all do. Y'all 370 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: do crews in New in East Coast like for everything, 371 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: even in the streets, y'all run. But talking about that, 372 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: I was talking about that side old hip hop side note, 373 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: but I was talking about that. I was watching a 374 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,399 Speaker 1: raising Kanaan and a lot of my friends from l A. 375 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: It was like, yeah, you know, this is accurate, But 376 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: in that l A, we don't have crews like that, 377 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: you know, running work like that. It's not a crew 378 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: is you know? He's yeah, and so that's interesting. So 379 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: basically that's how you guys are doing it as a crew. 380 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: You're running a whole crew, a whole tep. Okay, that's cool. 381 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: That's very different. And yeah, you get the enemies that 382 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: come with him as well. So first, tell me what 383 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: it is you're going to do when elected, and then 384 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: how do you separate your message then from your crew. 385 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna refer to it as your crew. To make 386 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: sure that you're individualizing you as a person and not saying, Okay, 387 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: every time the mayor votes this way, I'm gonna automatically vote, 388 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: you know, for for him. I'm still my own, you know, 389 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: individual man. So how do you balance that type of messaging. 390 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: And that's a great question because a lot of the 391 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: constituents and the residents have the same question because they 392 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: typically used to if the man votes that way and 393 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: you have to vote that way, the man is going 394 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: in a different direction. Now. That's why you see new 395 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 1: people that's on his tickets, so to speak. You see 396 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: new people that's on his team. Because even myself, I've 397 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: been my own person. The mayor has voiced this and 398 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: said that that's why we want to is because he 399 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 1: didn't take the elevator, he took the stairs, and he 400 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: is his own person. He brings new energy. I had 401 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: an event last night and he said the same thing repeated. 402 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: You know, he's a person that's not just gonna yes me, 403 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: but he's gonna bring ideas to think about to the table. 404 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: Like I said, it's five wars in North through Jersey, 405 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: so each one of those wars has this its own 406 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: individual problems. It's five wars, but just in my war, 407 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: which is the West WARLD, we have five parts of 408 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: that war. So you have black, a Latino wards, you 409 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: have Haitians and Africans, you have just regular working black 410 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: foolk who were trying to get by. You have homeowners 411 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: as well. I believe they own two of the homes 412 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: here in northern New Jersey. So that's your higher up, 413 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: middle class elitists almost you know area. So you have 414 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: different you know, different issues, different problems, and the way 415 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: that you deal with one issue, and one side of 416 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: the board is different, a totally different way and the 417 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 1: other side of the war. So that's where the leadership 418 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: comes in. That's what my representation for the people in 419 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: the in the city comes to the table where I 420 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: can bring the same mayor. You know Rosville Avenue which 421 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 1: is our Latino section. We can't just do this over there. 422 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: We can't just play basketball and football. We need to 423 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: have some soccer over there, and we need to have 424 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: somebody who who can speak Spanish in these sections. And 425 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: it's different than Upper Westwood with which is more home ownership, 426 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: and they might want just the lights turned up and 427 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 1: make sure that the garbage is not left on the 428 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: on the ground when doing garbage picked up. But that's 429 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: different than the Fairmouth side who was dealing with bad 430 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: crime and drug dealing. And you know, so you have 431 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: to navigate what is going on in your neighborhoods to 432 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: be able to directly approach and attack the problems. And 433 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: the mayor who was sitting in the city hall and 434 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: he's dealing with seeing what the legislation is coming from 435 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: the council and having the vote on it, he doesn't 436 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: know what these direct problems is. He doesn't know that 437 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: in the tent has a Roman problem on sixteen Avenue 438 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: in in fourteen Street, real bad. So you know, we 439 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: are the ones who are there and I bring the 440 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: problems to the table and say, look, council, look mayor, 441 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: this is what's happening, and I need to vote on this, 442 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: or you know, we need to create legislation, or or 443 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 1: sometimes it's not even about creating legislation, it's just kind 444 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: of um reimagining of the legislation that's already in place. 445 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: Because then you start to realize the people that came 446 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: before you, some of these people they're older now, they 447 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: might have at large positions or they might you know, 448 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 1: have some other positions in the state and they're sitting back. 449 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: In fact, he realized that eight years ago, twelve years ago, 450 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: they brought up that legislation for photo ops and they 451 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: never were active about it. And then you know, we 452 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: have didn't let the community know, Yeah, no, we're gonna, 453 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna bring people in and and discover 454 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: what's going on with the legislation that already exists. And 455 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: then if that's not accurate, off, it's not up to 456 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: date with the times because things have to be up 457 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: to date. You can't you can't ask these young people 458 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: that that you to stop doing something without you know, 459 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: spurring things that that spur new job creations and new 460 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: job employment. And what I mean by that is maybe 461 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: fifteen twenty years ago, you can just put a new 462 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: basketball court in the area and everybody's like, okay, cool. 463 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: But now you can't just do that. You need to 464 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: put computer centers and teaching them about WiFi and I 465 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: p s and teaching them about investing and and finance 466 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: literacy and stuff like that. It's a little different because 467 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: of how the times are. So you have to stay 468 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: in tune with the times. And it's staying in tune 469 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: with the times. You're staying in tune with your community. 470 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: You're staying in tune with those people. Now I can 471 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: bring that and represent my ward to bring that back 472 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: to city Hall and say no, no, no, that's the 473 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: old way. You guys are not even up on the 474 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: number blocks. I'm there. This is what's happening, and I 475 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: can do it alone or tays. I gotta do it 476 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: with the people. I don't care if you don't put 477 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 1: me in that's you know. I mean, I already claimed it. 478 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: But if you don't put me in that seat, I 479 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: don't care who him or whoever you put in that seat. 480 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: If they don't connect with the people, if they're not 481 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 1: directly in tune with the people and having them be 482 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 1: a part of it, it's not gonna work. Whatever it is. Yeah, 483 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: and that's why so many candadates lose. I love I 484 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 1: love that set. It's one reason why I love local politics, 485 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,239 Speaker 1: especially at the executive level, because things get done faster. Uh, 486 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: it's smaller. You're able to partih out the diversity that 487 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: you're talking about that political parties just do. Not the 488 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: Democrat Party, you know, just want to clarity as a reminder. 489 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: I know, you know, but I always let her mind 490 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: people I'm independent. But one of the things that the 491 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: Democrat Party does to me that fails is they pride 492 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,959 Speaker 1: themselves on being big tent, but they still never partial 493 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: out all those different elements. You can't have everybody under 494 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: one big tent and think that everybody's concerns are the same, 495 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: that everybody has the same problems, the same issues, And 496 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: that's where they really really fail. It's sad that the 497 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: Republican Party is pretty one dimensional, you know, one type. 498 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: It almost you know, there are there is some diversity, 499 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: but overall they share the same you know, fundamental values 500 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: and there's not a lot of diversity in ethnicity, raised gender, 501 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: you know, on the Republican side. Here the Democrats side, 502 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: you have so many different constituencies and it's it's they're 503 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: not represented equally. They don't have the same voice. They're 504 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: told to Okay, let's just all kind of have the 505 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: same problem. And as long as we all make fifteen 506 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: an hour, it's gonna solve everybody's problem. And as long 507 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: as we all have healthcare are you know, Medicare for all, 508 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: it's gonna solve everybody's problem and it's long, and that's 509 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: just not the case. Uh. It is looked at as 510 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: a negative to have different communities that have different needs, 511 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: when it is a positive if you have a representative 512 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: that actually knows this is what we need. And what 513 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 1: is so unfortunate when it comes to black representatives is 514 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,360 Speaker 1: they're afraid, you know, to have that conversation on who 515 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,159 Speaker 1: they represent in their community because they're so wanting to 516 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: fit in with the other commissioners of the other council, 517 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 1: people that represent an entirely different demographic that they don't 518 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: speak up for those issues. So I love that you're 519 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: talking about that now and upfront. What are some of 520 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: the things that you know you want to either change 521 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 1: right away about it what's existing or what you want 522 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: to do new that you've been talking about on the stomp. 523 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: I want to make our corridor is more inviting, revitalization 524 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: of our war. In all honesty, I believe I'm getting 525 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 1: the hardest war to deal with. Demographically, it's geographically, it's 526 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: it's a weird shape because of the reasoning of the 527 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: certain parts of the city. We're gonna resone this part 528 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:04,880 Speaker 1: and put it here so when people google New York, 529 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: this is the night section and they won't see this 530 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: crime here. They're gonna you know. So it's the reasoning 531 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:15,120 Speaker 1: that makes the award kind of weirdly geographically shape. When 532 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: it comes to districts, we have thirty seven districts in 533 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: in in the war. That's five that makes the five 534 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 1: parts of the war. So you know, we don't have 535 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: one franchise restaurant where somebody can say and and it's 536 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: not giving anybody any props or unless they're gonna advertise 537 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: with you. But you know, I mean, uh, let's say Fridays, 538 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: you don't have a Fridays, don't give me one. We 539 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: have great mom and pop restaurants and smoute to all 540 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: of the entrepreneurs and the business owners who owned those 541 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: those restaurants, But they're not franchise welcoming restaurants that somebody 542 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: can google and said, you know what, let's go four 543 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: mill at Fridays. Let's let's go for a mill at 544 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: this franchise. Let's have our meeting up in the Westmore. 545 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: It's not inviting. It's only we're known for number blocks. 546 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: And when you say number blocks, people go on that 547 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: I'm not going with fift team, fIF team, you know 548 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: what I mean, because of the the you know, of 549 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: the illusion that they have, of the negativity that happens. 550 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: So I want to make it more inviting. But it's 551 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: not gonna take me alone. It's gonna take business owners 552 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: on the to to understand that it's gonna be work 553 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: before you get better. Because what we're gonna do, is 554 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: what I wanna do, is it's hold them accountable. Hold 555 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: them accountable to keeping the front of it clean the 556 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: way that you advertise with the signs and everything outside. 557 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: Make it inviting. Don't allow lawling men in front of 558 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: your building, you know, or in front of your storefront. 559 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: Don't allow this. So if we can do that, it's 560 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: gonna take more work from the administration, which is good 561 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: that now part of the administration because when I was 562 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: running before, I couldn't do that while I was running, 563 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: But now I can do it while I was running. 564 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: I need sanitation up here. I need them to deal 565 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: with this situation. I need code enforcement to come and 566 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: hold these homeowners who actually have residents on top of 567 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: their businesses, on top of their store. First, I need 568 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: you to hold them accountable. I can't have you making 569 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: millions of dollars off of our poor community, and then 570 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: the residents who went to the homes from you are 571 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 1: in shambles. How is the business community received that message? Um, 572 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: some of them are good, so good, but we're not 573 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: so good. So we do this thing. We do this 574 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: thing called educate the block. When we do educate the block, 575 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: we made public safety out, which is fired and police. 576 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: We bring those people out me knock on doors to 577 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: see where some of the issues are. But at the 578 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: same time, code enforcement it comes out too. They're checking 579 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: licenses and stores, they're checking dates of things that are 580 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 1: happening on the food and stores. I gave you an example. 581 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: We did a code enforcement in the West World around 582 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 1: one area it and the reason why we did educate 583 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: the block there was because we heard that out of 584 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: towners and when I say out of town as I'm 585 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: talking about people from neighboring cities like Orange and East 586 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 1: Starrange or coming, and they were the ones started started 587 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: confusion and problems in front of the store front will 588 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 1: cause problems for the neighbors who live in this area. 589 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: So we brought all of these the fire police out 590 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: in cod enforcement and went into the store, and the 591 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: store had all outdated can goods, outdated bread. And so 592 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: my thing is, you're actually feeding this stuff to our neighborhoods. 593 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: So and answering your question that that business owner is 594 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,959 Speaker 1: not gonna like it because we shut them down, right, 595 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: but the other business owners will appreciate it because it shows, Hey, 596 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: I've done my part, so you know, I bring the 597 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: business to me right, And that's just it, Like I wanna, 598 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,719 Speaker 1: I wanna let everybody know. I'm not gonna be somebody 599 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 1: who's done slinging, but I'm gonna be the person who's 600 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: gonna hold you accountable. And we should have want that 601 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: if we love our city. I just believe when people 602 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,239 Speaker 1: love the city, they can change it. And we can 603 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: only do it together, you know. We if we're talking 604 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: about um making sure that our our community eats right 605 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: in the community through speciables and not just things that 606 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: are gonna give them diabet easy to be health problems later, 607 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,520 Speaker 1: then that's part of it, right, By making sure that 608 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: they're accountable, making sure that they have proper food for 609 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 1: the neighborhoods to eat inside that it's a whole process 610 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: cleaning up outside, you know, just making the corridors inviting. 611 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: If you see an area and you're you're new to 612 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: the area, or if you're driving and you want to 613 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: stop and get a coffee, you might go ten blocks 614 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: away until you reach downtown area which is all set 615 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 1: up pretty and nice, because you didn't want to stop 616 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 1: me get a coffee yet, Mr Jack so ms wu's 617 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: on the corner because the area was dirty, it was garbage, 618 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: was people are hanging out. You're like, you know what, 619 00:32:57,800 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take this, go to tin blocks and gonna 620 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 1: get a nothing done us coffee either, you know. So 621 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 1: we have to hold them accountable. And about holding them accountable, 622 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: I know some business owners are not gonna be because 623 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: they're so locked in their way and used to what 624 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: they're doing, and then I'm gonna be so appreciative of 625 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 1: of it initially. But the ones who are going through 626 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 1: the process and are doing the right thing, they're gonna 627 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: love it. And that's what it's about, man, is it's 628 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:24,440 Speaker 1: about getting back to where we need to be, making 629 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 1: our corridors inviting. Because when it's inviting, more people want 630 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: to come. More people come, it creates eco development. More 631 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: money is spent. If more money is spent, they might 632 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: look up and say, man, I want that that department 633 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: is available. Now, then you have more residents introduced, more residents, 634 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: more people spending money to your neighborhood. But if it's 635 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: not inviting, people won't come, people won't spend them money, 636 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: people don't want to live there, and then it's bad 637 00:33:52,360 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: for not just the west Wood back from Jersey. It's 638 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,719 Speaker 1: everything kind of centered around economic development. It's kind of 639 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 1: your main revitalization. And the reason I say read the 640 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 1: bobalization because it's not just about brick and mortar. It's 641 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: about revitalizing the mindset to the mindset of our youth. 642 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: The mindset of our city is as well. You know. 643 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: We we we have to create a different type of 644 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: entertainment and outlook for our seniors because we can't just 645 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 1: lock them in the building and expect them to play 646 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: bingo for the to their last days, you know, and 647 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:41,160 Speaker 1: then they're scared of our youth. We need to kind 648 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:44,600 Speaker 1: of make them be together and make them engagement with 649 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: each other. So what I'm doing it with our devices 650 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: for all programs is we have the youth, we give 651 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: those who need a computers, then we also educate them 652 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,160 Speaker 1: make computers because will be surprised that that people who 653 00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: don't know how to work computers as they just don't 654 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,879 Speaker 1: have them. But the seniors don't have computers as well. 655 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 1: They don't know about going on the website. They know 656 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,800 Speaker 1: they're here, but they don't have it to actually do it. 657 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 1: So we give the computers to sing to the youth 658 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,480 Speaker 1: and the seniors, and we give a couple of questions 659 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 1: to the youth that that they can ask the singing 660 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: so they can start talking in conversation, get them engaged. Now, 661 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: what's happening is the youth for teaching the the elders 662 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:28,960 Speaker 1: the seniors about the digital divide and technology, and the 663 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: elders are giving the wisdom to the youth. But what 664 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 1: it's also doing is is making them both unafraid of 665 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: each other. It's making this the youth uh want to 666 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: engage a senior and also have respect for them because 667 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:43,840 Speaker 1: of the story they told them. It's also making no 668 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: seniors who live around the number of blocks but in 669 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: the senior building not scared to walk across the street 670 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: to the store, whether it's with the walker, whether it's 671 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: in their scuda, or whether it's just playing walking across 672 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 1: the street instead of sending somebody they can walk because 673 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 1: now they know they know how key money, they know Lisa, 674 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 1: or they know to Meeka, and you know if they 675 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: know these people in the community, so we keep them 676 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: engaged with each other. And you know, it's been working out. 677 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 1: So revitalization make the community more inviting. Accountability is what 678 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 1: I'm hearing, is what you're pushing when you will be 679 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: in office next year in May two. Well, I know 680 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: I got to get out of here because our girl 681 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: Marcy are produced, my producer, our friend, my friend, she's 682 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: letting me nothing, telling me to wrap. But I can 683 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:32,760 Speaker 1: listen to you talk all day, and it's just because 684 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm so very proud of you when you're doing and 685 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 1: I know we have a little ways off. You know, 686 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: you're always welcome to come anytime. I know you're busy, 687 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,319 Speaker 1: you're grinding, you're doing all types of interviews, and your 688 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,480 Speaker 1: most important interviews is really knocking on those doors and 689 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: people you know want to go out there and I'm 690 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 1: out there in one hour. Absolutely, yeah, So I I 691 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: am all about the ground game, the ground pound. You know, 692 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:00,200 Speaker 1: this type of stuff is great and important you as 693 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 1: you build your brand because you never know you know 694 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,399 Speaker 1: who may listen to me in your community. But still 695 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 1: the most important thing you're doing is knocking on those doors. 696 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 1: But still you're always welcome to come back at any time, 697 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 1: because I really just believe, uh that you are a 698 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: model with how people should be running. What it means 699 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 1: to run local, what it means to um use your 700 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:26,920 Speaker 1: experience from a national level, a hip hop level, a 701 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 1: national figure and localize that. That's the main That's a 702 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 1: real big issue that I I see a lot of 703 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: candidates that have national platforms. They just don't know how 704 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 1: to split that switch, you know, and and be local 705 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 1: and still be national at the same time and bring 706 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:44,840 Speaker 1: those resources you know together to benefit the hood. And 707 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: just real quick and I'm sorry, can play you off. 708 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,319 Speaker 1: That's a great point to say before you get out 709 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 1: of here. And I want people to know that people 710 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:53,760 Speaker 1: in the hip hop community, people in the hip hop culture, 711 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 1: I'm not just running for Westwater, NewYork, New Jersey. This 712 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,840 Speaker 1: is for hip hop two. Because what I'm saying to you, 713 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:05,360 Speaker 1: anybody and if anybody in the culture, allow myself allow 714 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 1: my city to be a model for you so you 715 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:10,960 Speaker 1: can take those same things that we're doing here and 716 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 1: take it back to your city, utilize us, utilize me, 717 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 1: because that way the culture of hip hop keeps expanding 718 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 1: in an old other way, you know. M Well, I'm 719 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,800 Speaker 1: always down to help anyway I can. I know we 720 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 1: talked about this before. And one of the things you 721 00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 1: know that I love doing outside of cable news and 722 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 1: working on campaigns is training and development. That's my favorite 723 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:36,000 Speaker 1: thing to do. So I love watching races that I 724 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:38,360 Speaker 1: can you know, look at as a model, and I 725 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: just don't believe that we have the access to the resources, 726 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: the expertise, or the candidates that can really speak the 727 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: language to bring that next generation up. I love Hip 728 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 1: Hop Caucus, and this necessarily an old shade to them. 729 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 1: You know, I've worked with them on a couple of 730 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:53,960 Speaker 1: different occasions, but I'm not sure. I know we had 731 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: a converse. I had a conversation with them about training, 732 00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:59,000 Speaker 1: you know, and getting people up to speed, and so 733 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: you should be the type of candidate that they're pushing 734 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:04,239 Speaker 1: all the time that they're saying, Hey, this is the 735 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 1: guy to be like and I'm hoping to see I know, 736 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 1: shout out to Brandy, great pr person you know working 737 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,320 Speaker 1: over there. But they to me, they have a ways 738 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: to go. I want to know that we have a 739 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: hip hop community. Uh that not you know, that's not 740 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:21,760 Speaker 1: just uh, you know saying hey, you know, do is running? 741 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:25,040 Speaker 1: But actually, you know, have a um, you know, leadership 742 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 1: training or coaching or something to be able to share 743 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:31,320 Speaker 1: that knowledge so that it's not as hard for the 744 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,319 Speaker 1: next person and the next person, and and and give 745 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 1: people an opportunity, you know, to be a part of 746 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 1: the process. I did just a random training and I 747 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:41,320 Speaker 1: am gonna get out of because Mark's gonna kill me. 748 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,960 Speaker 1: But I did a random training on Instagram. I marketed 749 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,319 Speaker 1: it just on Instagram for a reason. I didn't market 750 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:49,359 Speaker 1: it on Facebook. I didn't market on Twitter. I didn't 751 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:52,360 Speaker 1: go into my contacts. And it was called you know 752 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: what part of a series that I always do, Are 753 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:56,359 Speaker 1: you Gonna run for Office? Or running mount? I used 754 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 1: I think you probably saw the flyer. I used Juicy 755 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 1: J as the music. I had over three hundred people 756 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 1: that signed up for that, almost sixty that I mean, 757 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 1: that's amazing. Almost six show up. That is in the 758 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:12,319 Speaker 1: training world, that's almost unheard of to get that type 759 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:15,520 Speaker 1: of ratio. Um, they actually show up on a Saturday 760 00:40:15,560 --> 00:40:17,080 Speaker 1: to sit down. And these are our people that said 761 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:18,719 Speaker 1: they want to run. These are not people that are 762 00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:21,480 Speaker 1: actually in politics. These are not people that came to 763 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: me because they're you know, quote unquote, hey, you know 764 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 1: went to my website and said, hey, I know you're 765 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: a trainer. I want to be trained. These are just 766 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: people that just follow my grind. So that tells me 767 00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:34,840 Speaker 1: there's a market out there, you know, for somebody to 768 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:37,279 Speaker 1: hear from you so and and to hear from me. 769 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:38,880 Speaker 1: So we just have to keep pushing the line on 770 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,719 Speaker 1: its real quick. Before we leave, you just made me 771 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: think of something I know. Don't kill me, Mary, don't 772 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:49,040 Speaker 1: kill so. We have four mayors in the surrounding city 773 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:52,959 Speaker 1: who have jes United, Orange, New Jersey Mayor Warren Ergut, 774 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:56,160 Speaker 1: New Jersey may have Balls East Strange, New Jersey Mayor 775 00:40:56,239 --> 00:41:00,560 Speaker 1: Green and Rash rock In mayor of North We need you. 776 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna talk to you offline because we just came 777 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 1: from Martha's bed having an incredible meeting about these type 778 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:10,719 Speaker 1: of things and and the sore with steps for black 779 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 1: maids and surrounding area with power. We need you, Okay, 780 00:41:14,680 --> 00:41:17,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. Well, let's definitely talk offline. We have 781 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 1: got you know, I tell people all the time on 782 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:22,759 Speaker 1: my show, it's not always about allies our accomplices. I'm 783 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:25,439 Speaker 1: looking for frontline soldiers. And that's not everybody. I don't 784 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: speak for everybody, just some of y'all. And if we 785 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:29,839 Speaker 1: can organize, you know, when I say we, I'm talking 786 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,239 Speaker 1: about like minds. I'm not talking about everybody, because this 787 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:35,960 Speaker 1: ain't for everybody. But if we meet it, if we 788 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,200 Speaker 1: mean we when I say we, I mean like minds, 789 00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:42,440 Speaker 1: we have to train and develop. You have to. We 790 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:45,279 Speaker 1: cannot just continue to allow people to have to learn 791 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:47,200 Speaker 1: on their own, learn the hardway. Shout out to you 792 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:50,759 Speaker 1: going from underdog to top dog. But everybody doesn't get 793 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 1: that opportunity. There's a lot of gems that you can 794 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:55,440 Speaker 1: because we don't even have the time. There's a lot 795 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:57,800 Speaker 1: of gems I know that you have on how you 796 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:00,080 Speaker 1: were able to do that without pissing everybody off, that 797 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:03,239 Speaker 1: burning every bridge. That's what usually happens when people run, 798 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:05,160 Speaker 1: you know, the first time, the second time, third time, 799 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,840 Speaker 1: they get better and they really hard, very hard. So 800 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 1: you were able to really finest that in a way 801 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 1: that work to your benefit without selling yourself out and 802 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:16,560 Speaker 1: So that's a lot of game, you know that we 803 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:19,160 Speaker 1: just have that we really, you know, need to start 804 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,280 Speaker 1: getting out there to to raise up the next generation 805 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:24,239 Speaker 1: because in the next ten twenty years will be the 806 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 1: ones that are in our fifties and sixties and seventies. 807 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:30,160 Speaker 1: So who's gonna be the next generation? And if they're 808 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:32,319 Speaker 1: not getting laid the big homies ain't telling them? Who 809 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 1: gonna tell them? We literally are the big homie. And 810 00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:37,319 Speaker 1: not because I'm the oldest, but because out have been 811 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 1: down this road and I got some game I can 812 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:40,759 Speaker 1: give you, and so we're not giving it to him 813 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:44,040 Speaker 1: who will. So when you're saying partner with the seniors, 814 00:42:44,239 --> 00:42:46,879 Speaker 1: they also need to partner with you too, because they're 815 00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 1: gonna understand you, relate to you, and you're gonna give 816 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 1: them that game because, like you said, you got the 817 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:54,400 Speaker 1: receipts from the sweets to the sweets. So thank you 818 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 1: so much for stopping. I'm gonna end this before Marcy 819 00:42:57,640 --> 00:42:59,800 Speaker 1: texted me one more time and give me the signal 820 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: telling me to wrap it up. Shout out to Marcy again. UM, 821 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:06,040 Speaker 1: so very grateful that she made this introduction. You have 822 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:08,480 Speaker 1: just been wonderful to watch a blessing and watch keep 823 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 1: on grinding anything I can do. I'm always sharing and 824 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: telling folks and those of you that live in Newark, 825 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: New Jersey, make sure you vote for the HOMY next 826 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:18,840 Speaker 1: year May two thousand. It will be here before you 827 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:21,560 Speaker 1: know it. Don't take it for granted. Oh that's next year. No, 828 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:26,480 Speaker 1: every day counts. Share the information. Follow him on Instagram, 829 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:29,120 Speaker 1: follow him on Twitter, follow him on Facebook, follow him 830 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:31,160 Speaker 1: in the streets. That's most important to tell your friends. 831 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:35,320 Speaker 1: Campaigns are not one online, there one on the ground. 832 00:43:35,680 --> 00:43:38,759 Speaker 1: So like you you heard yourself, go out, follow him, 833 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: go to the events. He's always going live. I'm always 834 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,600 Speaker 1: checking in when I can and give him a hand. 835 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:45,080 Speaker 1: Don't just say don't walk up with just a criticism, 836 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 1: walk up with a way on how you can help, 837 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 1: because we definitely get enough criticism for days, trust me, 838 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 1: but we rarely get people to say, how can I 839 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:54,960 Speaker 1: get my hands dirty? What can I do to help? 840 00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:56,640 Speaker 1: And so we just need a few more people like 841 00:43:56,760 --> 00:43:58,920 Speaker 1: that that's willing to be about the solution and not 842 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:01,279 Speaker 1: just talk about the problem. So we are proud of 843 00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:03,160 Speaker 1: you and always a friend here. Anytime you want to 844 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:05,799 Speaker 1: come by, stop by, drop some game, in our life. 845 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:07,680 Speaker 1: Tell us what you're doing, and don't change your number 846 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:09,759 Speaker 1: when you win, because you will be in and yeah 847 00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:20,880 Speaker 1: the number right. Well, we appreciate youn me. Thank you 848 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:23,160 Speaker 1: so much. We love you, God blessed, thank you for 849 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:27,839 Speaker 1: coming by. If you like what you heard on Straight 850 00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:30,440 Speaker 1: Shot No Chaser, please subscribe and drop a five star 851 00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:32,880 Speaker 1: review and tell a friend. Straight Shot No Chaser is 852 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:36,040 Speaker 1: a production of the Black Effect podcast networking I Heart Radio, 853 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 1: Antessela and Figure and I'd like to thank our producer 854 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:42,040 Speaker 1: editor mixer, the one and Only Marcy de Pina, are 855 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:46,160 Speaker 1: mixed Master Dwayne Crawford, and our executive producer Charlottage Na God. 856 00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:49,000 Speaker 1: For more podcast from I Heart Radio, visit the I 857 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:52,880 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.