Quinn Re-Elected As Council Speaker In Racially-Charged Vote

Councilwoman Christine Quinn was re-elected as Council Speaker yesterday in a lopsided, 48-1 victory over Councilman Charles Barron, who cast the only vote on his behalf. Though Quinn's victory doesn't come as a big surprise, AMNY reports that the scene inside City Hall became chaotic when a dozen Barron supporters gathered on a second floor balcony and heckled black councilmembers who didn't vote for the East New York politician with chants of "sell-out," "Uncle Tom," and "Charles Barron for speaker!"

Before the vote, Barron addressed the newly-elected Council — where minorities now constitute the majority — and said: "We owe it to our children to stand up like men and women and say our time has come." According to the Daily News, he added: "And to bring up race doesn't mean that you're anti anyone, you are pro you. And to be pro us doesn't mean to be anti-white or anti anybody else. But I do think that it is time that we elect one of us to be speaker in this body."

After the vote, the Barron supporters — who the Councilman insists came on their own accord — were escorted out of by police. As they were leaving, one of them "asked loudly when Quinn would get 'indicted' for 'that slush fund,'" though Quinn seemed unfazed, the Observer reports. After the hecklers left, she gave a speech emphasizing the value of diversity in City Council. "[Just] as this City Council looks very different from the Councils of old, we have governed differently too," she said. "We have pioneered a new politics of inclusion, bringing together diverse stakeholders and traditional opponents in unprecedented ways. We've pushed the definition of bipartisanship far beyond the realms of Democrat and Republican."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on January 7, 2010 1:15 PM

Comments [rss]

Sheila Tenant

Quinn demonstrated what she is capable of when she first was elected speaker and appointed various council members to various committees. Remember what happened to the ones who voted against her in the Speaker vote then?

As far as racism goes, one would think that we as a society would go forward but everyday testimony tells us otherwise: unemployment numbers, education, health care (not to be confused with insurance), life expectancy, etc. Besides, Barron isn't nearly as much in the pockets of special interests as Quinn. That is a significant disadvantage. He is also a victim of "boroughnism" being seated in the People's Republic.

Politics as usual, blah, blah, blah!

thefacts

When you have a sizable portion of black youth disdaining education and mocking strivers, of course blacks will have lower graduation rates.

Lower graduation rates then effect your employment numbers. Don't blame society for not hiring dropouts.

Your health is not society's cause. If many blacks choose a crappy, fat-laden diet, whose fault is that? Not whitey's!

Other people of color have immigrated to the USA and are succeeding like the immigrants of old. The Waynan Brothers did a comedy skit on a Jamaican who was ONLY a doctor - and not a lawyer as well.

Same with Hispanics. They were marginalized in the mid-20th century but have pulled themselves into the middle class. Let's not even talk about Asian immingrants' accomplishments.

As long as native African-Americans continue to blame The Man for their poor numbers and not themselves, they will fester in 3rd class citizenship for generations.

Finally, Barron quoted in his speech Huey P. Newton, one of the founders of the Black Panther Party. Barron was a member of the East Coast BPP. Newton and the West Coast BPP faction HATED the East Coast crew, calling them "bourgeois cultural nationalists". The is BPPspeak for 'black racists'.

Barron is no one to admire.

MrCholly

Thanks for once again telling us BLACKS your prospective of us but frankly we don't give one damn what you think or believe about us. Your ignorance began when you attempted to compare American Blacks to immigrant groups who arrived on these shores under different circumstances and on the shoulders of the same Black people you attempt to disparage.

JacqueMehoff

that's why I wrote I trust barron more than the jessica lappin types. and regarding racism so black people haven't been voting for white people in like forever?

MrCholly

Thank you

JMH

Oh look, Charles Barron plays the race card again. He'd have four of a kind in poker because all he's got in his hand is race cards. Maybe if you came up with a reason for people to get behind you besides "because I'm black" then people would take you seriously. If a candidate said "vote for me because I'm white" there would be outrage and rightfully so, so why is it acceptable for Barron to pull his shit over and over?

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Jessica lappin is another Quinn. She is self- aborsed and delusional with herself. Racist? Yes was the one who laughed out a Hispanic woman from her district( Roosevelt Island) out of her office. Lappin is cold and mean and loves money

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

The tragedy are those " waiters" who voted fir Quinn instead of Barron or running themselves. Ny1 poll - 79% don't want Quinn.

Polite New Yorker

Not sure how "racially charged" the vote is when it's 48-1. Whites are now a minority on the City Council, but Charles Barron's contemptible career even turned off the self-serving black council members to the point that they cast their lot with Quinn.

The tragedy is that people like Charles Barron, Quinn and just about every incumbent you care to name get elected to begin with.

MrCholly

The psychology impact is bizarre. The first time in the history of NYC that the City Council is minority majority, to prove THEY aren't racist or homophobic they elect a corrupt White lesbian woman to be their Speaker. What I don't get for a entire group minorities who do not have a history of racism, why do they feel the need to prove they aren't racist or homophobic to anyone. If Charles Baron wasn't suitable I'm sure they could've found someone else to be their Speaker,who yes is a Minority person. It's a sad that the minority majority Council Members are acting like waiters at head of their own table.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Sk. Barron spoke in front of the mayor and scolded bloomberg not to sign the tem extension bill. We don't Need more Quinn people in the city council. The real hypcrite is Jessica lappn who voted against the public referendum amendment.

JacqueMehoff

I trust barron more than the jessica lappin types.

yeah, I said that.

S.K.

Barron is the worst hypocrite. He initially opposed term limits repeal, then ran for third term, then chided Quinn for her third term.

S.D.

"We owe it to our children to stand up like men and women and say our time has come."

Absolutely, but why would anyone vote for a man with his record of conflict?

He's hardly a figure for uniting anyone.

SohoTimmy

Is this the last time Barron can be reelected? I hope so.

JacqueMehoff

I really should change my party affiliation. HA!

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Simcha Felder was a no show because he can't vote for a gay person. This crook was hired now by John liu. Felder had stolen so much slush fund and now this thief is in the comptroller's office. Obama, why don't you sent in the Feds.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Bunch of sell outs. Bunch of cowads who attend our rally bashing Quinn but just reelected her. Disgusting and then they wonder why turnout is low.

Dude69

Yes! Anyone but Barron! I even marked it as a "Like"!

FJF

Hey Charlie, didn't you get the memo? Gays are the new black.

JacqueMehoff

I'm going to tick this off as another reminder to not vote for any incumbents in the next election.

hotstepper

"sell-out" "Uncle Tom"

diversity is classy.

MrCholly

Meet the new City Council, the same puppets as the old City Council. They too will be used and played by Christine Quinn whose ethics are questionable.Hopefully those idiots will be voted out of their seats come next election. The first time the Council is Minority majority and what do they do vote a leader in who does everything she can to work against their constituents best interest. Why do I think Bloomberg buck may have played a part in this, we know Quinn is up Bloombergs ass, he farts she tells him how lovely it smells.