Bloggers' Truth: Bed-Stuy Race is Most Interesting in City (And Will be Ignored by Mainstream Media Till Bloggers Shame Them into Caring)

Actually, the campaign in Bed-Stuy's 36th councilmanic district has been shaking below the radar screen for weeks, like the rumbling of a contained quake seeking its outlet through the earth.

The compression of energy in fact was visually captured today in the reaction of incumbent Al Vann, who walked silently but with obvious pent-up emotion past the gaggle of activists now supporting his challenger Mark Winston Griffith

The heat is on, in the words of the old soul song that Vann, Charles Barron and Al Sharpton once danced to with glee absent from their faces yesterday.

Barron, who is younger than Vann but has over the years shared an underlying philosophy of old racial nationalism with Vann, is clearly struggling emotionally with his decision to support Griffith.

Sharpton, also supporting Griffith, seemed equally loathe to deal personally with Vann today as they crossed paths on the steps of City Hall.

The Daily News paid some attention to the race today, and its Adam Lisberg shot Vann walking with telling slowness and silence past his challenger and erstwhile allies.

But first, for those who missed it yesterday, hear Barron speaking to me about his decision to back Griffith. (There is an unaccustomed softness to Barron's voice in this moment of decision that may or may not signal an historic change in Bed-Stuy politics. Tuesday will tell.)

("It's time for a change," Barron says. To listen, put cursor over image below and then click right-pointing arrow.)

Barron Endores Griffith

Now you're free to see the quick video of Vann turning his back on those who turned their backs on him.

Vann walks past Griffith from NYDN Brawl for the Hall on Vimeo.

Comments

[Michael Corley]

As I've shared in many blog posts at MyBrooklynReport.com, if someone did not step forward to become a critical challenger to the status quo, Bed Stuy and would be in danger of becoming a replay of what occurred in Harlem.

Just as in Harlem, we were seeing the same forces merging to re-define the 36th CCD: Clergy, Politicians and Rezoning.

The Newspapers here haven't realized how significant this race is, as Al Vann will usher in the agenda sought by Community Based Organizations engaged in Real Estate development, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and Pratt Center for Community Development.

(and, what does a blogger have to do to get on your blog roll, LOL)