For as long as I can remember, at the end of each calendar year, newspaper columnists have fallen back on the same, tired technique. Either they write about a series of dumb "Christmas Gift Ideas" for elected officials, e.g., "I want to give a gift of "ethical behavior" to Mayor Jones," or they come up with a list of equally dumb New Year's resolutions for the same list of politicians and public figures.
It happens every year. It must be Chapter One in the national newspaper columnists' handbook. For the record, I don't like it.
Like you, I've read too many of these things to count, by now, and what strikes me about all of them is that they virtually never include anything at all about "resolutions" that might improve conditions for black people. It's like mainstream media outlets, and their columnists and editors, don't even believe that we deserve to be a part of the political agenda. It's wearing me out.
Take a look at a few such columns that have appeared in recent years:
Last year, for example, an editorial in USA Today called for a resolution that would have the nation's political parties devise a system for "rotating" regional primary elections by the year 2012. It would allow more people to share, they said, in the privilege of being in the first state to vote in primary elections.
There have been others, of course. In his own column, New York State Senator Jose Serrano resolved to fight toward bringing "a strong dose of transparency to New York." (By the way, isn't it long past the time that we retired the word "transparency," once and for all?l” Most elected officials that sprinkle the word around are only using it to impress reporters, editors and pundits, anyway. The truth is that there can be perfectly valid and ethical reasons for working out the “bugs” in a government strategy before sharing it with the media or the general public for input. There really is a case to be made for honest and ethical people being able to have private, constructive planning meetings, especially in the public’s interest, from time to time. Not even the most respected decision-makers in Corporate America can function effectively, day after day, in such a “fish bowl,” and they don’t even try. Most unfortunately, while we have been focusing on the myth of attaining “complete operational transparency,” we’ve lost our concentration on what really matters: Ensuring accountability for program effectiveness. Let’s get back to that and kill the “buzz word”).
And, finally, in January of this year, the Arizona Republic published its own obligatory list of political “resolutions,” including "Get along with the legislature," which they recommended for Governor Janet Napolitano and "Ponder retirement," the newspaper’s recommendation for the state’s own U.S. Senator, John McCain. The latter sounded like a good idea at the time. Obviously, given the recent election results, it’s now an even better one.
See, just as I said...lots of resolutions, no issues for black people.
With all of that as background, I've decided to come up with my own list of New Year's resolutions for the politicians that affect our lives most directly in Philadelphia, and here it is:
Governor Edward G. Rendell: As the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continues to cope with the national economic crisis, resolve not to cut the state budget in ways that will disproportionately affect black Pennsylvanians. Resolve to leave money in the budget, not just for fighting statewide crime, but also for economic development initiatives that will improve conditions in black communities. I know that's something that hasn't been done much in Pennsylvania, but it is finally time for the state government to have meaningful, quantifiable economic inclusion for black people, too.
Mayor Michael A. Nutter: As the City of Philadelphia continues to cope with the national economic crisis, resolve not to cut the municipal budget in ways that will disproportionately affect black Philadelphians and their neighborhoods. In other words, don't just leave money in the budget for the Mummer's Parade, also insist that there be money in the budget for black and minority economic development ─ jobs and contracts that will help to stabilize conditions in this city's predominantly black communities.
Council President Anna Verna: Recognizing that African Americans comprise about 45 percent of the City's population and represent more than 60 percent of registered Democrats in a city with a five-to-one Democratic registration advantage, resolve to ensure that, finally, the economic stability of black neighborhoods will be a continuing, legislative priority in City Council.
All Other Philadelphia City Council Members: (Same as above)
Philadelphia Delegation to Harrisburg (All Senate and House Members Representing Philadelphia Voters): Recognizing that African-American voters are the primary reasons that most of your members hold office in the first place, make a resolution to become more attentive to legislative issues that will provide for economic stabilization and opportunities for African Americans. Trust me, such an approach will be good for the entire city and regional economy, not just for black folks. You might be surprised.
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus: With just a 104-99 Democratic majority in the State House, recognize the political leverage your 17 Democratic House-member votes can have on every single piece of legislation that comes before the General Assembly. Resolve to use that leverage strategically to build coalitions and to benefit the people who vote you into office every two years.
State Senators Anthony Hardy Williams and LeAnna Washington and State Representatives Dwight Evans, Ron Waters and a Few Others in the Black Caucus Who Have Worked Tirelessly for Black Voters: Resolve to keep up the good work, to date, and to "step it up" to the next level. It's hard out here and getting harder every day for black Philadelphians. We need elected officials with the courage and intelligence to keep our issues “on the table” in Harrisburg.
State Senator Vincent Hughes: Resolve to prove to black voters and to all Philadelphians that, in your new position, you actually can provide improved access, legislative effectiveness and budgetary support. With the loss of the Democratic Appropriations chairmanship to Allegheny County, all eyes will be focused on your performance, hoping you can demonstrate that the lack of a Philadelphia and African-American presence in Appropriations leadership won’t have disastrous budgetary consequences for Philadelphia
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter: Get serious about gun control and start asking meaningful questions and start drafting long -overdue legislation about drug traffickers who bring tons of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs across U.S. borders, primarily from Afghanistan and Mexico, and into black communities. Make sure that there are provisions in Barack Obama's long - awaited Infrastructure Stimulus Plan that will guarantee that black workers and black contractors are meaningfully included in the construction industry, at long last.
U.S. Senator Robert Casey: (Same as above)
U.S. Congressman Robert Brady: (Same as above)
U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah: (Same as above)
U.S. Congressman Allyson Schwartz: (Same as above)
So there you have it, a list of political New Year's resolutions that finally includes issues of importance to black people in Philadelphia. I guarantee you won't see such a list in any of your local, mainstream media outlets.
In any event, I hope our elected officials accept these suggested resolutions in the vein of absolute seriousness and support in which they were written.
And, finally, here is one more recommended, 2009 resolution, this one for black voters: If any local elected officials choose to ignore these resolutions and your vital interests in the coming year, by all means, make a commitment to vote them out!
Please don't break that resolution. It’s the only “juice” you have available to improve your political and economic fortunes.
And, hey, Happy New Year to all, wherever you are!
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