Letitia James. Public Advocate of New York City. SJ Dodgson MJoTA 2014 v8n1 p0101
On January 01, 2014, I watched the entire inauguration ceremony on live streaming video, starting at noon with a panoramic view of New York City Hall looked down on by the building that houses the African Burial Ground museum.
Rapidly the inauguration turned into a civil rights rally. Speeches pledging working for human rights were given by the 3 elected officials whose terms as leaders of New York City started at midnight on the new year of 2014. And also by Harry Belafonte, Cynthia Nixon, President Clinton, a young woman reciting a poem, chaplains praying for a better tomorrow for the poor and disenfranchised, a large choir of school students, and a young woman singing Imagine, by John Lennon, who was an Englishman who was murdered in New York City in 1980.
The Public Advocate of New York was elected from a field of 5 candidates; one I endorsed, Sidique Wai. Mr Wai is not well known outside African communities, even though his position is advisor about African communities to the New York city police commissioner.
The single time I came to New York to listen to the candidates debate, in August 2013, I found Public Advocate James combative and aggressive, qualities I have seen in her before on the few occasions I have spoken with her and watched her at public meetings and parades.
Mr Wai had a concern about where he lives in Brooklyn, for where until the last minute of 2013, Public Advocate James was the member of New York City council. She challenged him to come up with documents and evidence, and immediately.
Public Advocate James has been battling aggressively for decades. She did not come from a privileged background, and has managed through sheer determination and intelligence to get to the very top in New York City politics, after 8 years as an elected member of New York City Council.
She has only recently passed her 50th birthday; we can all be sure she will be watched very closely as she discharges the duties of Public Advocate, which are similar in other countries to the position of Ombudsman.
After I listened to her speech, I finally realized that I understood who she is and what she is doing. And know something that was clear from the outset, she, as well as all the defeated candidates, will be terrific at her job. Candidates for public positions in New York City do not get as far as organized debates if they are not up to the job.
During her speech Pubic Advocate James took the hand of a little girl, Dasani, who was recently profiled in the New York Times as a bright little girl living homeless with parents who just cannot cope.
Public Advocate James pledged to fight for Dasani, and for all homeless and disadvantaged children.
I know she will fight for our children. Aggressively. Combatively. Magnificently. Successfully.
Public Advocate James, may God blow wind under your wings and into your voice and may the greatest city in the world be the greatest city in the world for all children.
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Picture, above, edited from screen shot of streaming video of New York City inauguration ceremonies on the steps of New York City Hall on Jan 01, 2014. Standing with Public Advocate James as she takes the oath of office is Mayor David Dinkins.
Video below, taken by Ray Beckerman, who also took the video of Harry Belafontewhich is posted on his page. Mr Beckerman's videos are the only complete speeches posted.
Picture below, the honor guard a the inauguration ceremonies. Public Advocate James is standing between her own family and the family of Mayor Bill de Blasio.
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New York City mayor, Mr Bill de Blasio, sworn in after clock strikes midnight, Jan 01, 2014 click here
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Son of Jamaica, Harry Belafonte: civil rights activist, proud New Yorker and performer click here
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African Burial Ground and Museum in New York City celebrates Kwanzaa and the life of Nelson Mandela click here
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NYC Councilmember Jumaane Williams looks after his constituents click here
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