Black & Puerto Rican Legislators Conference by Gloria Winston Al-Sarag
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 The New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc. (NYSABPRL), recently hosted its 37th Annual Conference in Albany, NY. There were over 5,000 people from across the State in attendance, having been invited to attend by their elected state representatives. I was one of 52 participants invited by Assemblyman David Gantt, the only Black Legislator and Dean of the Rochester Assembly Delegation.
Edward A. Johnson, was the first Black elected to the New York State assembly in 1917. The first Puerto Rican, Oscar Garcia Rivera was elected in 1937. From those humble beginnings the Caucus has grown to 39 members. The first formal beginnings occurred in 1966 when Black and Puerto Rican legislators joined hands and visited the office of then Speaker, Anthony J. Travis, to negotiate for more power in the State Legislature. Because they went to meet with the Speaker in the wee hours of the morning, the meeting was dubbed “the Midnight Walk.” Their Spokesman at the time was Percy E. Sutton. The demands for equal power and position met with little resistance because the legislators had threatened to discontinue their democratic support.
The Conference offers not only the opportunity to meet and talk to Black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian legislators from across the state, but it is an action packed week-end that offers workshops and seminars directed at various issues and concerns of many consitutents.
The Conference is always held on “President’s Day” weekend, beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday. Trying to attend all informational workshops and receptions is impossible. The theme for this year’s Caucus was “embracing a united Workforce.”
Friday night kicks off with an invitation-only reception hosted by the NYSABPRL Chairman, Adriano Espaillat. The Conference co-chairs were Assemblyman Darryl Towns, and Senator Ruth Hasssell-Thompson.
Saturday is always action packed with a host of workshops conducted by a variety of legislators and organizations on issues such as Housing (NY Housing Outlook 2008), Education (De-unionizations, Privatization, and Marginalization of Students, Parents, Community and Working Families), Economic Development, Employment ( Empowering Women in the Workforce), Healthcare, (Directions of NYS Health care Policy), Judicial Process, Aids Epidemic, Transportation and more. Our own Councilwoman, Lovely Warren, also Legal Counsel to Assemblyman Gantt, was asked to present her perspective on why the process to select a Public Defender should remain independent and not involve politicians. She invited Assemblyman Gantt to give remarks.
For youth there was “To The Top with Hip Hop,” a Youth Hip Hop Summit, which was offered all day. There was also a Business/Career & Craft Exhibition Fair. All of this occurring before the Labor Luncheon whose theme was “Labor Moves, NY Works.” Luncheon Speakers were Patricia Smith, Commissioner of Labor; Ed Ott, NYC Central Labor Council, Jerome Ringo, National Apollo Alliance, and Sonia Ivaney, LACLA..
Also on Saturday, the Council of Black Senators hosted a reception where they honored a variety of Unions such as AFSMCE/SIEU, Local 371, SIE Local 1199, AFSCME 1707, TWU Local 100, UAW 9Region 9A), AFSCME DC 17, CSA Local 1, Local 237, and IBT.
Senator Malcolm Smith hosted a well attended reception after giving a keynote address at a reception hosted by the Honorable Joan E. Flowers, Esq. Senator Smith, much like Barack Obama is on track to make history in NYS. He could very well become one of the three most powerful men in NYS government, if the Democrats are successful in gaining two seats in NYS this fall. Sen. Smith is currently Senate Minority Leader who seems to have the popularity of a rock star. I gave up trying to get through his entourage to meet and dialogue with him on several occasions. My chance encounter with him did not occur until checkout time and we briefly discussed Rochester politics in the gift shop. God is good.
The annual concert performers were Angie Stone and Musiq Soul child. Immediately following their concert, a Saturday Evening of Jazz was held at the Crown Plaza Hotel. There was also an After Concert Dance, free with a concert ticket stub, and a strictly enforced dress code. Jeans, caps, sneakers and work boots were not allowed.
Sunday morning, The Westchester Women’s Political Caucus, Inc hosted its 27th Annual Leadership Breakfast. State Senator Ruth Hasssell-Thompson was Keynote Speaker. Immediately following, a church service was held at Wilborn Temple First COGIC. Guest Pastor was Eric Figueroa, Pastor of New Life Tabernacle Church, Inc., Brooklyn, NY. An awards ceremony was held followed by the Farrell/Towns Reception and a VIP Reception that was by invitation only. Conference guests also attended a Cocktail Reception hosted prior to the final main event for the week-end, the Gala Scholarship Benefit Banquet. The Gala, with a ticket price of $175.00 per person, is a legislative parade of stars which includes a “red carpet” walk presenting lots of background for photos. The affair is formal and I saw only a few men who chose to wear suits over tuxes. Describing some of the gowns, dresses and pantsuits the ladies wore would take another page in the newspaper. And of course there were those dripping in minks. Oh, what a night!
The first order of business after the Invocation and several national anthems, sung in a variety of languages, the Caucus members were individually introduced and adorned the stage by seniority. Out of the 39 members out, Assemblyman David Gantt was the third one introduce. He is a member of the Class of 1982. Remarks were made by the Governor Elliott Spitzer and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Two keynote addresses were given one by Congressman Rangel, and Lt. Governor David Patterson. I could not help but wonder what Superdelegate Congressman Rangel was going to do, as he was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton for President but his NY district in the NY Primary voted an overwhelming 80% in favor of Barack Obama. In his speech I also noted he was using code words and phrases most have come to connect to the Senator from IL, who has outdistanced the Party favorite in the last 10 Primaries/Caucuses since Super Tuesday.
An After Dinner Dance with free entry for those with a dinner ticket stub was hosted at the Crown Plaza., immediately following the dinner. The NYSABPRL Conference is one everyone with an interest in knowing more about who represents us, not only locally but around the state, should attend. This was probably my 15th Conference. I really stopped counting. There is always much to learn and the potential for networking and developing relationships with those representing a variety of arenas in the State of New York. Yep, God willing and the creek don’t rise, if invited, I will be there next year.
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