Friday, January 1, 2010

Daryl Mikell Brooks Announcement for Trenton City Council at Large



Announcement Letter

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 2010 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! Doug Palmer and the city council public policy and constituent service records are unacceptable. I propose term limits for our Trenton City Council Members. Three 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 progressive, 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 foreclosure crisis, (2) reverse economic disinvestment and (3) foster opportunities for: (a) viable youth development, (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 progressive, fiscally responsible, and humane overall.

Trenton Stand UP! “Yes We Believe”!