Nathan Lebron 2009

EMS In Albany Still a Story

This afternoon I came across a gentleman laying on a bench at the bus shelter at Hannaford Plaza on Central Ave.  I noticed he was not moving and so I pulled over and decided to gauge if he was OK.

I called him a few times and eventually he mumbled some words I was unable to understand.  I proceeded to ask him if he was Ok and he responded with “No”.  I then asked him if he wanted me to call 911 and he mumbled “yes”.  I asked once more and he said “yes”.  So, I called 911 at 12:59 pm.  I explained the situation and was told someone was on their way.  I was asked for my name and I gave it to the 911 operator.

I waited for someone to show up and no one did.  He attempted to move a few times but was unable to sit up.  One hour after my initial call I called 911 once again and was transferred to the police department.  The officer asked me to get his name and someone at the bus shelter recognized him.  Once I gave the officer his name, he recognized him.   EMS finally arrived at 2:15 pm followed by Mohawk Ambulance.  He was placed on a stretcher and taken away.  I attempted to engage the Lieutenant of West Hill Engine #7 a couple of times but was rude and appeared to be vexed by the situation.

I can’t explain how disgusted I am by their response.  After all the issues we have had with response times in this city, for this to still be an issue is appalling to me as an individual.  As Mayor it will not be tolerated.  Regardless of what happens in this race, the winner will need to make responsive government a priority.

Performance Appraisal Referendum

It is customary in business to undergo yearly performance appraisals.  Every employee is evaluated on their accomplishments and performance by management.  This helps both management and the employee to track performance targets, productivity, and provide a better working relationship.

I have often wondered how a similar mechanism can be employed between citizens and their public servants.  Obviously a formal evaluation process similar to what firms have with their employees would be a logistical nightmare.  Can’t imagine how 95,000 citizens can evaluate all city elected officials.

I also noticed that politicians seem to provide their best performance when they are up for re-election.  We pay full time taxes but only receive quarter-time government.  Perhaps shortening the terms from four years to just one might do the trick.  If they have to run for re-election every year they will be responsive to the citizens year round.  Although absurd, I know it would work but I certainly would not want to be approached every year for signatures.   Perhaps a Performance Appraisal Referendum (PAR) might be the right way to achieve this goal.

In our city we go to the polls every November to vote for different federal, state, and local offices.  A PAR can be instituted every year (excluding city election years) to get the people’s feedback as to how their elected officials are performing.  It would be a simple “Approve” or “Disapprove” vote for all citywide officials and their Ward representative.

I believe this will give elected officials the opportunity to gauge their performance and address the issues affecting the city in a more responsive manner.  It will also bring more citizens to participate in the appraisal process and elevate electoral engagement.  I also believe that it will encourage greater participation in city elections.

 

NAACP Of Albany Forum

I was invited to a forum hosted by the NAACP chapter of Albany held at the Reigning Life Family Church on Rensselaer Street in the South End.  All the candidates were invited including the two write-in candidates Valerie Faust and Benzie Johnson.  The Mayor was unable to come due to a scheduling conflict and Mr. Ellis did not come because the Mayor was not going to be there.

We discussed everything from getting rid of blight, cultural arts education and schools.   It was well attended and I think the audience received great answers from all the candidates who were present.

The moderator Beverly Ivey (who was my niece’s assistant principal at Giffen Elementary) asked a question about blight.  I responded with perhaps the most specific answer of the evening, my tax amnesty program.

Under this program individuals would be able to purchase these properties tax free for a certain period of time.  This will alleviate the initial financial burden of property ownership so that the property can be rebuilt and remodeled.  The quicker the building can be brought to code, the more they can benefit from their tax-free window.

I explained that growing up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in America there were industrious people hungering for an opportunity to pull themselves out.  They were not looking for a handout but merely an opportunity to build something.  All that needed to happen was for government to get out of their way so they can do it on their own. 

There was an exchange about creating jobs in the city.  I couldn’t help but to respond with my desire to not bring jobs into the city but careers.  I must say, the response to that statement was truly positive.

I continued to explain that government likes to talk about bringing jobs which often are temporary, not open to most citizens, or offer almost no entry into sustainable careers.  The conversation should focus on how globalization and technology is going to bring the next generation of careers in our city.

I took the opportunity tell a story of young man who started a business on Lexington Ave.  He took all the risk of starting the business and hoped he makes $1 Million in his new venture.  I also hoped that he creates jobs and hire people from the community.   However, if this young man were to create those jobs, politicians would take credit for creating those jobs and the risk taker will never be mentioned.

A common theme at the forum was government and delivery of services.  The people in the forum felt that they have been ignored by city hall and the absence of the Mayor and Mr. Ellis only cemented that point.
I told the attendees that this was expected because most people do not vote.  Politicians only respond to votes and when the 70%-80% of the citizens do not vote, politicians are naturally not going to care.  It is an unacceptable approach to governance but it is certainly common.

But the greatest amount of applause came when I criticized Mr. Ellis for not coming to the event.  I stated that I found his not participating at a NAACP event unacceptable.  I myself cancelled a volunteer meeting to be at the event and as someone who is competing for an executive position Mr. Ellis should have been present.

I also mentioned how in life we don’t often get to pick our own battles.  In office, the challenges come and as the top executive you must deal with them.  Dismissing some issues because they are not what you expected is only an option when running for office but not as Mayor.  That perspective only comes from professional experience and maturity.  This race is has now added another component, maturity.

I concluded by challenging everyone to do two things:

1. Vote.  I would be honored to receive their vote but more people need to vote so politicians know that they can no longer be ignored.
2. If you agree with me, you are going to have to vote Republican.  I made the point that when it comes to local politics, the differences in parties as not great.  I further explained that when a criminal breaks into your home, the criminal never asks to what political party you belong.  Citizens should not either.

The historical significance of this race does not pass me by.  At one time we had 4 African Americans, 2 women, and one Hispanic challenging the Mayor in this race.  I believe this country is heading in the right direction when it comes to racial opportunities but this city is moving full speed ahead.

The Independence Party and The Machine

Just wanted to share a letter I posted on the Times Union blogs regarding my challenge of the Independence Party designated petitions.

All:

I wanted to take this opportunity to shed some light on recent events regarding the Mayor and the Independence Party.

In my 20 years living in this city, there has been a generally accepted perception that the machine has engaged in less than ethical tactics to get on ballots and dissuade others from voting for the opposition.  These concerns have come from democrat challengers as well as members of other parties.

For the first time in those 20 years, someone successfully proved in court that these tactics are still being employed in this city.

Mr. Caputo stated that my challenging the validity of the petitions only resulted in disenfranchising voters.  I respectfully disagree.  Weak Independence Party leadership in collusion with a political machine is how they were disenfranchised.  I merely shined the light of truth on decades of abuse of citizen’s electoral rights by the machine and lackadaisical leadership of a party that members of my own family belong to.

Mr. Caputo’s answer of the prevalence of such practices was also unacceptable.  Just because everyone does it, does not make right.  We teach this to children all the time and less should not be expected from adults.

As a citizen, I expect meticulous professionalism from the future City Auditor.  If Mr. Engstrom does a less than stellar, by the book job in acquiring signatures as a candidate, what can we expect from him once in office?  As the campaign moves along I am sure he will answer that question.

I also want to make it clear that my challenge was not done on behalf of any of the other candidates.  Any strategic benefit to other candidates is purely coincidental and should not be viewed as an endorsement.  In fact, I encourage citizens to ask all citywide candidates why such practices have been tolerated for so long.  We as citizens deserve a candid answer.  

Strategically, this challenge does not benefit me in the grand scheme of this race.  Mayor Jennings will continue to be on the Conservative line and has a battle against a very formidable candidate in Corey Ellis.  This was done to show disenfranchised citizens from across the political spectrum that the tactics of old are still employed today.  This is a call to action for citizens to ensure that their party, including my own, is representing us by the book.

About the only benefit I can derive is to show that I care about the fairness of this process.  I want to show the citizens of our city that there is a candidate who cares for their rights as voters and their representation as citizens.  We should expect more from our leaders and candidates.

www.lebronforalbany.com
lebronforalbany@nycap.rr.com
518-557-8891

A Republican Response

At the forum last night, two of the three mayoral candidates for the democratic nomination discussed issues like crime, schools, taxes, and traffic safety.  The questions were insightful and showcased the concerns citizens have about a city that is heading in the wrong direction.  The responses were, for the most part, on point but lacked certain specifics.

On education, I believe Mayor Jennings was on point with a lot of his approaches.  However, he began citing how schools were failing and gave statistics to support his claim.  I spoke with the Mayor after the event and commended him for outlining his ideas.  As a citizen I wondered why these approaches have not yet been implemented during his 16 year tenure.

Corey Ellis criticized the Mayor for waiting to the last minute to deal with a landfill at capacity.  I could not help but notice that it was almost verbatim what I have expressed on the Times Union website when I started an online petition to fight the expansion.  I was the only one who clapped in the audience and acknowledged that we are at least in agreement on this issue.

On taxes and the deficit, the two candidates did not provide any real solutions.  They both agreed that they need to get the city’s fair share from State and Federal coffers while admitting that those sources might be financially strapped.

Neither talked about government process reengineering to realize efficiencies in government operations.  Neither talked about reducing the size of government.  To Mr. Ellis’ credit, he did pledge to audit every department but failed to outline what he would do with the waste.

At one point, the Mayor criticized politicizing the death of a child by candidates running for office.  I was offended by this remark because I have often stated how the deaths of Kathina Thomas and Richard Bailey affected me profoundly as a private citizen.

Growing up in NYC it was common to hear of children getting killed.  Citizens were so desensitized to this type of violence that often the parents of these young victims cried alone.  It is personal to me because as a teenager their deaths would not have affected me as profoundly.   I too was desensitized.  Now that I am an adult I am outraged that this type of crime is remerging, not in the South Bronx but in our Albany.  Only a politician would diminish the deaths of two kids, as well as the outrage of a private citizen, as merely a political tactic.  I have had relatives die violently in the streets. As a result I can empathize with the family and friends of victims left behind.

Mayor Jennings cited declining criminal statistics.  Last year there were five murders, a few less than the prior year.  But the story that stats don’t often tell is the severity of such crimes.  To the Mayor and criminal statisticians, Kathina and Richard were just two murders.  But when a child or young adult dies, having never realized his or her potential, it is our responsibility as citizens to be outraged and to call our leaders to action.  As someone who touts his work with children, I find it disturbing the Mayor would dismiss it as merely politics.

Crime and the elderly concerns me a great deal.  As a teenager I worked for a community center that provided services to elderly citizens living on their own.  The services involved grocery shopping, landscaping, household chores, but often involved chatting about anything and everything.  It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

One of the saddest chapters in urban America is when the elderly in their golden years become victims of crime.  I saw it personally as a young man how they were victimized.  If one of our elderly citizens were to become a victim of a violent crime, would we be outraged?  I know we will.  Will the Mayor dismiss the outrage as political posturing?  I hope not.

After facing adversities no child in America should have to endure, I found my independence in this great city.  However, this city is changing and not for the better.  In my 20 years living in Albany I have been a victim of crime, my taxes have doubled, and schools are not as safe as they once were. Now we have child on child crime, a declining population, and stale leadership that will not deal with these issues.

In this election we the citizens, are going to have to decide whether we are happy with the current administration, or we need change.  We are also going to have to decide if the change we need comes in the form of a new face behind an old machine or we want truly fundamental transformational change.  We need to decide if our city is prepared for a bright 21st century future or it will be another upstate statistic.

www.lebronforalbany.com

On WCDB with Willie Colón/En WCDB Con Willie Colón

Yesterday morning I did my fist radio interview with DJ Willie Colon of the La Nueva Mega show on 90.9 WCDB, the Ualbany station. It was a great experience and he is a fantastic interviewer. It lasted one hour and it could  have easily lasted the entire day.

The hot issues of the discussion were taxes, crime, schools, the landfill, patronage, the police, and his selection of music. Willie Colon plays latin music but I mentioned to him that not only did he do new school and old school selections, but he also played ancient school with some Spanish Do-Wop. As a DJ and musician he really knows his music.

Being the first Hispanic running for the mayors office, it was interesting speaking about our issues in English and Spanish. Albany is a 400 year old city of Indian, Dutch, and English heritage. Now here I am. I even offered my translating services to the other candidates. We will see if there are any takers.

The issues of this election affect everyone. I see no way of bringing transformational change to our city without bringing everyone together.

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Ayer por al mañana tuve mi primera entrevista con el DJ Willie Colón de la Nueva Mega en el 90.9 WCDB, la estación de Ualbany. Me encantó la experiencia y él es un entrevistor fantastico. Duró una hora y pudo facilmente durar el día entero.

Lo asuntos bajo discución fueron impuestos, crimen, escuelas, terraplén, trabajos de patronaje, la policía, y su selección de música. Willie Colón toca música latina pero mencioné como él no solamente es de la escuela nueva y de la escuala vieja pero también de la escuela anciana cuando tocó unas selecciones de Do-Wop en español. Como DJ y músico él conoce muy bién su música.

Siendo el primer candidato latino para la alcaldía, fue interesante conversar en inglés y español. Albany es una cuidad de 400 años y de herencia India, Holandesa, e Inglesa. Ahora aqui estoy. Hasta ofrecí mis servicios de interpretación a los otros candidates. Vamos a ver si lo toman.

Los asuntos de esta elección afectan a todos. No veo como vamos a traer cambio transformational a nuestra ciudad sin unir a todos.

Petitions: Ward 5 and Lebron James

Perhaps one of the most interesting days of this petition period was a visit to ward 5 where I met Frank.  He has called my campaign previously to offer his volunteer services.  So I used the opportunity to visit him personally and chat about issues.

Frank is in his 60’s and is a transplant from Florida.  He came to the city about 30 years ago and immediately joined the Democratic Party.  He was active in local politics and in his neighborhood.  About 10 years ago Frank switched parties because of it lack of responsiveness to the issues affecting his neighborhood.  He is now a self described African-American Republican Rebel.  I liked him right away.

He invited me to his backyard and over a tall glass of iced tea talked about everything except issues.  He said we had a lot in common when it came to overcoming adversity.  We spoke about the youth and how worse things have gotten on the street.  He was really concerned about his neighborhood and the youth.  He was really fed up with the complacency of city hall with respect to his neighborhood.  That conversation lasted more than one hour and two glasses of iced tea.

Frank offered his yard for any events and so guess where I will be hosting Meet-The-Candidates events!

As I was turning off Third St. on my way to meet Frank, I struck a conversation with a group of young men hanging out on a stoop.  I told him I was running for mayor, and they couldn’t wait to complain about everything.  One of them asked for my name, I said Nathan Lebron.  He then asked how he could  remember me and I joked to just think of Lebron James but without the:

Money

The skills

The fame

The good looks

The Hummer

They got a kick out of that.  One of the young men approached me and demanded that I “slam dunk” the mayor.  I told him I will do my best!

Their complaints were more about recent police presence in their neighborhood.  They felt that since election season, they have seen more police than in non election years.  I told them that under my administration there will be full time city services not just election year attempts to appear on top of issues.

Now I gotta work on my slam dunk!

Petitions: Ward 3, Off and On Clinton Avenue

As a first time candidate for political office I will admit that collecting signatures was hard work.  As someone with a disability it was even more difficult going up and down stairs to meet and greet people but on the whole, it was fun.

I met a woman who lives just off Clinton Avenue.  She is an African-American republican woman in her 60s and proud of it.  She has lived on the same street most her life and is not happy with how things have been going for quite sometime.

She invited me into her home and spent the next 45 minutes talking about everything from my three core issues, crime, schools and taxes, to all the rain lately and the lack of representation in city hall.  She was not just going to hand over her signature without a proper exchange.

She did sign my petition and was glad to see someone truly challenging the status quo.  I will be visiting her again!

I then visited the home another registered republican who lives on Clinton Ave.  I spoke with him on the phone and had a great conversation about jobs.  He is 28 years old and has lived on Clinton Ave most his life.  He is concerned about the availability of employment in the city.  I expressed my desire to bring more private sector enterprises into the city and to make it easier for individuals to start up businesses.  He felt that as an African-American this city and especially his neighborhood, has been overlooked by city leaders when it comes to investment and opportunities.  I concurred with his assessment and assured him that I will not overlook any corner of the city as mayor.   I told him about my background and how politicians treated my neighborhood the same way.   Underrepresentation by politicians is a common story in American cities and Albany no exception.

However, when I went to get his signature, he was not home.  My luck, the one time it did not rain!

Petitions: A Couple On Their Way Out

I expected the petition period to be busy and somewhat stressful.  What I did not expect was the rain.  However, we got way more than we needed and had great conversations with everyone I met.

Most of the people I spoke with were republicans and were pleased to see a candidate running for office.  Most were surprised at my age.  I am 38 and apparently that is young to run for mayor.  I am sure Corey Ellis, who is also 38, is running into the same initial impression.  If it means anything Corning was 32 years old when he first ran so youth and the Mayor’s office are no strangers.

On my first day collecting signatures I ran into a couple where the husband was a republican and the wife was a conservative.  When I knocked I got no answer.   As I was about to leave, the wife answered the door.  As a registered conservative she could not sign my petition but wanted to talk about issues.  Top of her list were schools. 

As we were chatting the husband showed up to the door, a registered republican, and his issue was taxes.  That sparked a great discussion about value for the tax payer dollar and the dysfunctional assessment process.  He finally signed my petition and off I went to the next house.

That visit was bitter sweet.  The reason they could not answer the door in a timely manner was because they were preparing their home for sale.  They have had enough of schools and taxes in the city and were going to leave the city.  They are anticipating selling their home by the end of summer.

I have been making the point that the exodus out of Albany in the past 10-15 years has revolved around three core issues:  crime, schools, and taxes.  The couple I met is a perfect example of good decent people who are going to leave the city because the government has not been responsive to their needs as parents and tax payers.

I concluded our conversation with my desire to keep people from leaving the city and even creating a climate that will encourage growth in both population and business.  I also expressed my hope that when they vote for me this november, it is from a voting booth in the city not on their last absentee ballot as citizens of Albany.

Lebron For Albany

Football and Politics in Albany

Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid football fan.  Just about any kind of football will do; NFL, CFL, collegiate, and high school.  Not only am I a football fan but I am a fan of its history.

In the late 90’s the Arizona Cardinals were as exciting as they come.  After countless seasons of disappointment they finally made it to the playoffs in the 1998 season.  That year, they became known as the Cardiac Cardinals behind impressive last quarter heroics.   Unfortunately, lazy playing, poor execution and just plain bad football defined their first 3 quarters.

During the fourth quarter, as if rising from the ashes of mediocrity, the Cardiac Cardinals mounted comeback after comeback.  The passing game was flawless, the running game rivaled any in the league and their defense was impenetrable.  This style was so successful that not only did they make it to the playoffs they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the wildcard game, their first playoff win since the 1940’s.

Our city government this election year is much like the Cardiac Cardinals; dormant for three years and great in the fourth year, the election year.  Now, every problem which has been around for years has importance and visibility.  A shadow ticket system that has been around since the early 90’s now under hearings.  A credentialing problem with the Chief of Police is now under criticism by the Common Council President after four years.  Not to mention a Common Council that now realizes what their job is and a Mayor who is just about everywhere.

The fans of the Cardiac Cardinals could not go back to the ticket booths and demand 75% of their money back.  In all fairness they only got one quarter of football.  As citizens, we can’t demand that wasted time either.  Years of sitting on problems and issues until an election year, so that they can benefit from the political collateral of silence, is just unacceptable.  However, we can make sure this never happens again.

When November rolls around, we must demand full time leadership and full time representation.  Sitting on issues until an election year cannot be tolerated in this city anymore.   We citizens are not paying part-time taxes and so must not accept part-time government.