Foot in Mouth, MTA Edition

MTA executive Gary Dellaverson has had some explaining to do. Last week, when discussing the possibility of a Metro-North strike, the MTA's labor negotiator told Metro, "Negotiation is about compromise," before joking about "putting needles in my Roger Toussaint doll." Oh, dear.

am New York reports Representative-elect Yvette Clarke believes Dellaverson's remarks were insensitive and that he should resign or be fired, noting, "There's a cultural significance in respect to many cultures of the Caribbean when one mentions voodoo dolls. It's been used historically, particularly in the American context, as a reflection of being primitive." And the Reverend Al Sharpton said, "He should resign. He's stereotyping African- Caribbean culture, the same as if he said I want to stick pins in my Al Sharpton watermelon."

Dellaverson said, "My joking comments made towards reporters while insipid were neither racist or insensitive. The simple reality is Toussaint is fighting for his political life and manipulating whoever he can, whenever he can, to his political advantage. ... In my 27 years representing the public in labor disputes, I've been called an infinite number of names but never a racist."

The Transit Workers Union is facing a nasty election this year. Toussaint, who has been raising campaign money by selling autographs and other tchotchkes, claims he's loved by the people and actually made a deal with the state unknown to the public during the transit strike last year.

You can buy your own voodoo toothpick holder

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By Jen Chung in News on November 22, 2006 1:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Tim N.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Why has Al Sharpton survived this long after this many career-killing scandals? Because Al Sharpton is the best pure politician in this town.

He makes a wacky statement like this, and gets his protege Yvette Clarke to sing along with him, laces it with just enough theatricality to get him attention and sprinkles it with just enough racial bombs to make it matter and now he's got Gary (I'm A Dork) Dellaverson on his heels in a negotiation and the MTA playing defense as their new boss, Governor Spitzer, is getting ready for his first day on the job.

Absolute genius.

Totally despicable, but absolute genius.

A

Congresswoman Clarke: And so the 25 years of awfulness begins. Makes me sad that Yassky lost.

PleaseShutUp

Race Mongering, I've been a long time reader of Gothamist and they do waves of controversial posts. When I first started reading it was Jake's "amazing" graffiti posts that were posted with incomprehensible frequency, then it was posts about the Atlantic Yards, and now its about race. I suspect a strong comments section is good for business. Which makes sense.

anonymass

If you think he should resign because he's incompetent, that's one issue.

If you think he should resign because of that comment, you're an idiot.

Al Sharpton should resign. If he had any kind of real job, I mean.

Billy Budd

That's b.s., Murray. You must be white.

This Dellaverson jerk is supposed to be a labor negotiator, but he seems intent on never making a successful deal. I think he should resign.

Murray Hillster

Oh good lord. I can't stand the MTA, and I'm often obnoxiously PC, but this is embarrassing. Embarrassing for those claiming that it was racially motivated.

Clarke and Sharpton need to pick better battles if they want to be taken seriously. I don't think Dellaverson had any explaining to do.

anomalous

much ado about nothing.

Billy Budd

Don't you find it interesting that the print version of amNew York conveniently left out the mention of Metro?

Irritated

Oh, they're grasping at straws here, aren't they? Since when is reference to a Voodoo doll racist? Roger Toussaint is a pig and a liar and should be fired. He has no right to be insulted by anyone else's words or actions. And, quite frankly, I would LOVE to see someone stick pins in Al Sharpton's watermelon...