Brooklyn's 11th C.D. was shaped, in large part, to guarantee representation in Congress to African-Americans, Latinos and other minorities who had been kept un-represented by means of gerrymandered districts and other devices. And so, in 1968, the fighting Black Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm was elected to office to the newly-created district and represented her constituents, splendidly, for many years. Later, Major Owens, the current representative of the11th, continued in Ms. Chisholm's path. He has been one of the most consistently progressive members of Congress, in the forefront of struggles on behalf of labor, public education, civil rights and peace.
Major Owens announced his retirement this year and the race was thrown wide open. Progressives did not want the seat lost to "just another Democrat" who sees compromise and accommodation as their modus operandi. "Don't we have enough of them already?" they asked. They saw in Chris Owens, a man of principle molded in the same fighting spirit that motivated Chisholm and Chris's father, Major Owens.
Chris Owens for Congress. YES!!
The race has been a tough one. Other African-American candidates are in the contest - candidates who've been around, and sometimes inside, the fetid swamp of Brooklyn clubhouse politics. Their presence in the race has opened up the distinct possibility of a vote split among the Black candidates. And that has led, in the view of many, to a cynical endeavor by a fourth, white candidate, David Yassky (a councilman who didn't even live in the district) who would pluck the district out of the hands of its constituents on the back of a divide and conquer strategy. Yassky is heavily funded by the big real estate developers. And that's of particular interest, since Downtown Brooklyn is a huge target of big real estate. The proposed Atlantic Yards mega-development by Forest City Ratner, a land-grab of huge proportions that would overwhelm the surrounding low-rise brownstone communities, lies on the border of the district and is supportd by each of the candidates with the exception of Chris Owens. Yassky, if victorious, can be expected to strongly support the construction of this destructive project. You might imagine that he is not emphasizing his support of Ratner (or his financing by real estate moguls) as the project is widely hated in the liberal communities of Park Slope and Prospect Heights. Rather he attempts to hide his real agenda by emphasizing a liberal facade, parading as a born-again peace candidate and champion of affordable housing (huh??).
But it's Chris Owens, and not David Yassky and the others, that I have seen not just talking about peace, but marching for peace, time and again, with his kids, in peace protests. It's Chris Owens and not Yassky and the others, who speaks out, strongly and unbendingly, against out-of-scale, out-of-context mega-development, demanding instead measured development that would blend with, and offer aid to, the surrounding neighborhoods rather than destroying them and sending poorer folks fleeing the higher rents and unbridled gentrification that will inevitably result.
Chris Owens - he won't waffle on peace.
Out-of-control development and the fight in Congress against Bush's unending war - those are the two most important reasons I've devoted my spare time to the Owens campaign. But there are many other points that compel me to see his campaign as an urgent one for progressives to support:
• Chris Owens stands for a single-payer health care system. Even while almost 50 million Americans are without health insurance, this crucial question has taken a back burner instead of being seen as the national scandal that it is.
• Chris Owens stands for public education. He understands that public education is the backbone of a true democracy and must be funded and expanded, not belittled and cut to the bone. With his background on the local school board, you can expect him to be a leading spokesperson in Congress on behalf of our public schools.
• Chris Owens is a civil rights fighter. He sees that the fight for equality is incomplete. Recent Times articles document the decrease in enrollment by Blacks and Latinos in the leading colleges of the City University - a dramatic illustration of the attack on civil rights during the Bush/Giuliani/Bloomberg era. Chris believes, from the fabric of his soul, in the full equality of all Americans, regardless of their race, ethnicity or sexual orientation and he'll be a strong fighter in Congress for that concept of equality.
And on and on --- be it the environment and global warming or labor and opposing the free-trade agreements -- Chris is on the right side of each and every issue that matter to us so much.
This race is so important, in this the year that we want to recapture the Congress, that besides being out on the street, I've sent fundraising letters for Chris to all my friends and contacts, knowing that the Owens campaign doesn't have access to the millions that come from snuggling up to big real-estate. I succeeded in raising close to two thousand dollars (thank you my friends). But if you haven't yet sent a contribution, I'm urging you to do it now - it's the very least you can do to help advance democracy during these crucial times.
You can contribute on line by clicking right here: CONTRIBUTE TO CHRIS OWENS FOR CONGRESS
This election is on Tuesday, September 12th. That's soon! But you still have time to be helpful. If you've lolled away the summer that's great! But I'm asking you - my friends, to come to Brooklyn and give an hour or two or four. Not a lot...just a little. It'll make a difference and you'll feel a lot better because you will have been participating in helping to turn our country around.
You can volunteer by calling the CHRIS OWENS FOR CONGRESS headquarters at (718) 604-7500 or visiting the WEBSITE. JUST DO IT!
Chris, at work - One District, Many People.
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