Tea Party Activist Daryl Brooks Runs For Council

TRENTON-- Longtime Trenton activist Daryl Mikell Brooks has announced that he is running for City Council at Large. Brooks, a two time failed United States Senate candidate and a vowed member of the Tea Party, declares that if elected, he will fight to overcome the foreclosure crisis, reverse economic disinvestment and  foster opportunities for viable youth development, family stability, and educational and economic advancement for all according to a press release. Along with this, the Trenton native says that if elected he will make it a priority to get corporate funding to reopen four shuttered city libraries that were closed due to budget cuts last year.


I think even though Brooks is running in a non-partisan election, his candidacy raises an important question: why aren't there more independent voices in local politics? Sure, some may say fundraising obstacles, organizational backing, and other issues prevent independent candidates from being serious contenders in general elections, but I think Brooks and other independent candidates also face the challenge of trying to win over a constituency that is historically loyal to the Democratic Party despite the dilapidated conditions of inner city communities. Indeed, high levels of unemployment, a dismal high school graduation rate, crumbling infrastructure, and an ongoing public safety issue are all problems that continue to plague inner city communities like Trenton.



Glenn Beck and Brooks

Candidates like Brooks hope to turn the tables on the conventional way of doing things in Trenton. In a brief interview, Brooks claims that he is disappointed with current leadership and how they lack vision for the 21st century. He is a member of the Tea Party, a political group that many people in the Trenton community are suspicious of mainly because of its criticism of the Obama administration. However, according to a Tea Party website, they stand for “limited government, fiscal restraint, and individual liberty”, some things that may actually help inner cities like Trenton if they were applied.

In this sort of climate where inner cities face tremendous challenges, I think now is all the more time to hear alternative visions and viewpoints that might actually work. I think it will do us a lot better than staying politically loyal to a party that has not substantially turned things around for the better while they have had power. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Feel free to disagree and chime in on this larger discussion about improving the city of Trenton...

For more information on Brooks and his candidacy, click here.

Anwar G. Salandy of http://anwarsreflections.blogspot.com/

Daryl Mikell Brooks Announcement Letter For Trenton 2014 City Council At- Large

   

My name is Daryl Mikell Brooks and I’m running for City Council at Large. I’m a young man who believes in participatory democracy and equitably representative government. The Trenton City Council election in 2014 is both a job opening and a job review. My vote as a Trenton resident and emboldened candidate will be for leadership change in the city!

 

Trenton has a depressing reputation in the state, possibly the worst for any area in New Jersey and I hate that! I’m proud to be a Trentonian and I want to help revitalize the social and economic conditions here and help to repair the damaged city reputation. I grew up in Trenton and I love this community enough to raise my young family here today. I understand many of the complex issues that challenge the city neighborhoods and envision significant community improvements.

The Trenton politicians who are largely disconnected from the community are not qualified to represent this area. I feel misrepresented by the incumbent so I am compelled to serve my hometown by campaigning to be the change I want to see in City Hall! Tony Mack and the city council public policy and constituent service records are unacceptable. I propose term limits for our Trenton City Council Members. Two terms is enough.

As a Community Organizer I greatly value community engagement. If our country is going to experience the significant “change we need” nationally then we all must contribute locally. Let’s improve Trenton together. I don’t believe the City government can be effective enough in its service to residents if most of us are disengaged. True democracy means government that is “of, for and by the people.” Communities must be organized and welcomed to challenge and support the elected officials hired to serve us by governing our City well – true democracy. We need strong, engaging, equitable and efficient governance that truly serves the people, over profits!

My campaign mission is to help establish a City wide Community Coalition that helps foster a greater sense of community by organizing a critical mass of residents committed to civic participation, government accountability, community responsibility and good neighborliness. I want Trenton to work together and will facilitate greater cooperation based on our common interests. We all share a human experience so we can identify common ground.

I envision a proud, cooperative, healthy, clean, safe, vibrant, and peacefully diverse city –a multi-cultural, inter-generational and mixed income community. I envision an organized and effective City Wide Community Coalition that works together to successfully: (1) overcome the crime and violence in the city, (2) reverse economic disinvestment and (3) foster opportunities for: (a) viable youth development and reopen our city libraries, (b) family stability, and (c) educational and economic advancement for all. That is my campaign platform, encapsulated.

The Daryl Mikell Brooks candidacy will carry consciousness, conscientiousness, compassion, creativity, a collaborative spirit and courage to the City Council to represent and serve Trenton in City Hall! My politics are non-partisan, honest, inclusive, socially conservative, fiscally responsible, and humane overall.

Trenton Stand UP! “Yes We Believe”!

Brooks Bio:

Brooks is also a former member of Mothers Against Violence, Silent Shoe March, Fathers and Men United for a Better Trenton and Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Daryl has won the MLK Jr. Award from the Martin House Learning Center for community work.

Brooks has been a activist for over 22 years and he is the new age civil, human and political activist. A former host radio talk show on WTTM, also has ran for the US Senate, as well as Congress. On a historical note, Brooks is the first and only person from Trenton, NJ to run for US Senate in the history of Trenton, NJ.

Has been featured in the New York Times, ABC Channel 6,NBC 3 WZBN, News 12, Comcast Newsmakers, NJN, Trentonian, Trenton Times, Star Ledger, National Korean Newspaper, Philly Tribune, Nubian News, Courier Post and other newspapers.