Rocks press statement

[counterattack]

Let me thank everyone who came out today to Local 617 press conference

Let me also thank the Mayor for his support in the past for Local 617 and his support of Labor initiatives, as a State Senator Local 617 is not of the opinion that Mayor James has not accomplished anything in his 20yrs as Mayor. Local 617 holds no animosity or hatred towards the Mayor and we would hope that he holds no animosity or hatred towards Local 617 for the decision that we made. There does however come a time in everyone’s life when you can only run the race but so far and a runner has to come along and take the baton and run the next leg until it is there time to past the baton. We at Local 617 believe that Cory Booker is that next runner. This past Thursday the Executive Board of SEIU after meeting with Cory Booker and listening to his vision for our city, voted overwhelmingly to endorse Cory Booker for Mayor and we will ask our State Council which consist of other SEIU Locals to do the same.

We have however made it clear to him that we would only be endorsing him and not Team Booker since we feel there are certain councilmen who have supported this Union in the past and continue to support this Union, and they should be returned back to the City Council so SEIU will be creating it’s own slate of candidates with Booker at the top of the ticket. Which will be called Newark’s Unity Ticket. Signifying that its time for this City to come together as one and heal itself for the betterment of the residents of this great city.

15 years ago when I started working with this Union first as a Shop Steward, then as a Business Agent, and now as President, Politics has always intrigued me, because other than the work I was doing to make members lives better I felt politics was a way to make the lives of the people that my members came in contact with on a daily bases better and most of the time those people were their families since most of our members reside in this City. What I most liked about politics was the fact that a candidate for office convinced a voter to take the time rather from home or work to make it to a polling site and pull a lever for he/she because that voter believed his/her choice would make their lives a lil better. Today’s politics have taken a different turn, most politicians I come in contact with no longer view that Voter as relevant anymore, they never work to solve that voters problems after they have been elected, they take that voters vote for granted, and they only view themselves accountable to the machines that has taken advantage of that voters trust and scared them into voting for someone they believed had their interest in mind. Then we wonder why most voters are apathetic and choose not to exercise the right our forefathers died for.

Well the time has come for that to change, it is time for politicians to once again pay attention to that voter, the time has come for that voter to stand up and say I to am important, I to need you to work on my behalf, I to want viable employment, I to want to live in safe neighborhoods and I to want a better education for my child. We at Local 617 believe we can start this change with Cory Booker as Mayor and that is why we have chosen to endorse his candidacy

[Maximus]

See? Koolaid don't taste so bad after all

[jazzyken]

Hey Counter.... come over to the "dark" side!!!! Just kiddin'

But really one question, all of the "bookerite" stuff that you have slung for over the last couple of years.... what do you really think about Rock endorsing Booker???

[counterattack]

I support the decision 100% and will be working towards making sure he is elected. By the way Rock did not endorse him on his own SEIU endorsed him it was a team decision.

[LastCubanStanding]

I support the decision 100% and will be working towards making sure he is elected. By the way Rock did not endorse him on his own SEIU endorsed him it was a team decision.

After all the crap you posted here, what a surprise that this is the outcome. How passionate you were for the King, then with the flip of a switch, your support swings 180 degrees. You are just a shill for your president, you would have supported David Duke if he'd told you too. You don't give a S about Newark...the second you saw the tide swinging the other way you jumped ship. I hope Booker didn't promise you anything and he cleans house of all the overpaid janitors his first day in office.

[counterattack]

After all the crap you posted here, what a surprise that this is the outcome. How passionate you were for the King, then with the flip of a switch, your support swings 180 degrees. You are just a shill for your president, you would have supported David Duke if he'd told you too. You don't give a S about Newark...the second you saw the tide swinging the other way you jumped ship. I hope Booker didn't promise you anything and he cleans house of all the overpaid janitors his first day in office.


hows about I ignore your ignorant *ss today and yes I do suport my president. Time to heal the city

[LastCubanStanding]

hows about I ignore your ignorant *ss today and yes I do suport my president.


Whatever. You're a joke. Don't make me embarrass you by digging up every damn post you uploaded to this site slamming Booker. Your credibility is zilch.

[counterattack]

Whatever. You're a joke. Don't make me embarrass you by digging up every damn post you uploaded to this site slamming Booker. Your credibility is zilch.


Are you freakin kidding me do you think I care about what you do by all means keep digging heck do me a favor dig up the scenario it needs more reads. Dam....... I almost forgot I know why you are upset it is because we are not supporting you.

[LastCubanStanding]

Are you freakin kidding me do you think I care about what you do by all means keep digging heck do me a favor dig up the scenario it needs more reads. Dam....... I almost forgot I know why you are upset it is because we are not supporting you.


yes Counter, I am actually running for mayor. I am actually Sharpe himself, and I am hurt that you have left me. I thought you were mine for life when you said:

Funny how the press can only get quotes from Booker supporters, .....ohh thats right opposing views are not allowed in the rally. When Sharpe did his speech the press interviewed Booker but when Booker did his they couldn't find one Sharpe supporter. C'mon these tatics by the press are becoming transparent.
If sharpe would have put a Booker supporter out of a Rally they would have found that person and interviewed him/her Booker puts a Sharpe supporter out of a public rally and they don't even mention it.

I think it is time for Newarks real next generation of leaders to call a press conference and ask the question
WHY BOOKER? what has he done to be Mayor? How many lives have he saved in the last 4 years? How many kids have he helped graduate? How has he lowered the unemployment rate?

[Maximus]

You could at least respect Counter for his relentless assaults on Booker because you believed he was sincere. Now that Booker has his bosses' endorsement he's prepared to drop 'em for Cory.

I know a few Gibsonites who once James got in office, burned their "Gibson for Governor" t-shirts and climbed in bed with James. I guess some things never change.

Well, I guess Cory can have some "useful idiots" too.

[jazzyken]

You have to admit Counter that ya kinda jumped ships mighty fast... honestly i am glad your organization chose to go the other way... Rock was kind of by himself (of course you were on his side) with backing Sharpe. The SEIU click was not behind that decision after the last election!!!

[counterattack]

You are a Joke ......and a non factor I might add.... lucky you were not in the room when Rock decided to endorse.

[LastCubanStanding]

You are a Joke ......and a non factor I might add.... lucky you were not in the room when Rock decided to endorse.

Why? Would I have been intimidated? (You understand I'm not really Sharpe, right?)

Non-factor? Sure I am. But what are YOU? I'm sure you'll flip-flop again before May, if Rock so desires.

[counterattack]

You have to admit Counter that ya kinda jumped ships mighty fast... honestly i am glad your organization chose to go the other way... Rock was kind of by himself (of course you were on his side) with backing Sharpe. The SEIU click was not behind that decision after the last election!!!


you have no idea what you are talking about you have no clue of the heat he is taking cause of our endorsement remember this is a public sector union it has Sharpe supporters deeply entrenched in it.

[counterattack]

Why?


doesn't even matter you are not high enough on the food chain to have the discusion.

[LastCubanStanding]

doesn't even matter you are not high enough on the food chain to have the discusion.


But obviously you are not either, since your boss can so easily sway your mind.

[counterattack]

But obviously you are not either, since your boss can so easily sway your mind.


Your right...... I am a team player and I changed my mind and if the team asked me to do it again I would.

[jazzyken]

you have no idea what you are talking about you have no clue of the heat he is taking cause of our endorsement remember this is a public sector union it has Sharpe supporters deeply entrenched in it.

I support the decision 100% and will be working towards making sure he is elected. By the way Rock did not endorse him on his own SEIU endorsed him it was a team decision.

I know what I am talking about and the many SEIU members know as well... and now the world knows your organization is backing Cory Booker!!! They were not feeling Rock backing Sharpe. Am I right??? And yes there are always Sharpe backers and they will be in an uproar but they will have 80 million ways to get over it :p

[counterattack]

I know what I am talking about and the many SEIU members know as well... and now the world knows your organization is backing Cory Booker!!! They were not feeling Rock backing Sharpe. Am I right??? And yes there are always Sharpe backers and they will be in an uproar but they will have 80 million ways to get over it :p


like I said you have no clue but it is not relevant SEIU endorsed Booker so we are moving on and I sure wish they would have cut me in on the 80 mil:D

[LastCubanStanding]

Your right...... I am a team player and I changed my mind and if the team asked me to do it again I would.


You didn't change your mind, ROCK changed your mind. Don't you feel a bit embarrassed, or dare I say, dumb, after the passionate diatribes you posted here? Whatever, all water under the bridge. I'm glad you all saw the light and changed to the right side.

What are you going to do with all those Sharpe T-Shirts and buttons?

[counterattack]

You didn't change your mind, ROCK changed your mind. Don't you feel a bit embarrassed, or dare I say, dumb, after the passionate diatribes you posted here? Whatever, all water under the bridge. I'm glad you all saw the light and changed to the right side.

What are you going to do with all those Sharpe T-Shirts and buttons?


We are going to put re-elect Sharpe James for Senate on them.:D

[LastCubanStanding]

We are going to put re-elect Sharpe James for Senate on them.:D


That's battle #2.

[jazzyken]

like I said you have no clue but it is not relevant SEIU endorsed Booker so we are moving on and I sure wish they would have cut me in on the 80 mil:D
I have no clue about what??? Is your union backing Cory or what??? what is not relevant??? and I feel you on the $80 mil as well :D

[thinktank]

I have no clue about what??? Is your union backing Cory or what??? what is not relevant??? and I feel you on the $80 mil as well :D
do you live here?

[jazzyken]

do you live here?
Have you read ANY of my posts???? Please try the search link and type in "Jazzy" and you will find my many. many posts....

[Klap Bak]

do you live here?

...... messing with Jazzy is not a healthy way to get votes for your candidate. Not a good way to garnish support for him.

Don't just read her posts thinkblank, read the heartfelt outpour of sadness, love and understanding when she needed to make the decision for the sake of her kids.

Go ahead and get nasty with the rest of us, but leave Jazzy alone. Hers is a prime example of what is wrong with Newark.

[jazzyken]

...... messing with Jazzy is not a healthy way to get votes for your candidate. Not a good way to garnish support for him.

Don't just read her posts thinkblank, read the heartfelt outpour of sadness, love and understanding when she needed to make the decision for the sake of her kids.

Go ahead and get nasty with the rest of us, but leave Jazzy alone. Hers is a prime example of what is wrong with Newark.

Thanks Klap... I try to keep a level head no matter what is thrown at me. But some people live on the other side of the fence where they only "hear" of shootings and killings... they never "see" the magnitude of the devastation and the after effects. Kids should never fear walking in the streets.

I growing up on High Street played with the neighborhood kids and the drug dealers (yeah some are still there after 20+ years) looked out for us... they knew our parents. They made sure their dirt didn't tangle with the way of life, so to speak.

They were there to "make" a living by any means... But these jokers now and days will kill you for looking at them wrong. Beefs over girls ends up as another murder in Newark. It is way out of hand and they think the answer is new houses and new buildings. Do you really think the average drug dealer that sees the quick cash will leave the block for a job paying $7 bucks an hour... No they won't. Some dealers have teenage runners making their sales, making real dollars and paying low income rent.

They have records and can not get a job that will pay them what they make on the street - tax-free!!! Programs are good for individuals that do not want to live that life. some guys actually enjoy standing outside each and every day making what we see as nothing...

[Klap Bak]

... hope this will help them understand.

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