Backstory
Wow! It feels like Advance Mattapan's already covered a lot; even tho, it's clear we haven't even touched, let alone, 'scratched the surface.'Six months ago it looked like this season was shaping up to be about Mattapan's political economy: it's leadership, especially it's interaction(s) with community residents, businesses, etc.; and the very few community-based groups that public- and private-sector institutions recognize as speaking for the neighborhood of Mattapan.
Since community members are, for the most part, kept 'in the dark,' this season's design concept had to be 'outside in.'
It was a relatively easy decision to make because Advance Mattapan made very little headway by taking an 'inside (Government) Center' approach last season.
All Mattapan 'power centers' ignored us: politicians; community-based service and economic development centers placated, but largely ignored requests to appear on the show. On occasion, neighborhood community leaders even 'trashed' us at public meetings--as if our show was not of, by, or for [#thePeople of] Mattapan; and so, by implication, lacked legitimacy somehow.
The Journey
We began this season talking about the BRA's push to add a zoning overlay to "Greater Mattapan" that would permit urban farms. Edith Murnane, Mayor Menino's Director of Food Initiatives and John "Tad" Read of the BRA made the case for the Mayor's pilot project.
City Councillor Charles C. Yancey was a vocal opponent of the City's urban farming proposal when the Zoning Commission held hearings. So we invited him on the show. But his standard platform about the need for a high school in Mattapan displaced discussion about zoning to permit urban farming; at least the word, "redistricting" came up.
Then came the killing of Trayvon Benjamin Martin (may he rest in peace); and the horrible discovery that Florida's #StandYourGround law allowed his killer to roam free in the interim. Outrage. Protests. Petitioning governments for redress of grievances. Questions emerging. Answers disturbing; connecting dots previously just 'data points.'
The "Habitual Offender" law aka "Three Strikes" was only one in a series of moves being made in the MA General Court "relative to the common defense" (S00661). The local lobbying arm of the NRA--namely, the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL)--had moved State Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) to introduce a version of #StandYourGround right here in Massachusetts.
The more we scratched at this scab, the uglier it got. Pending bills purporting to provide for "the common defense," coupled with push/pull for the implementation of ICE's "Secure Communities" Program (S-Comm), revealed something greater at work--in "quiet rooms;" behind the scenes. The feint outlines of a pattern, suggesting the prison industrial complex (#PIC) wasn't a figment of an overactive imagination after all.
The watchword had been CORI reform. So we invited Aaron Tanaka of the Boston Workers Alliance to come on the show to talk about it; more specifically, to update our audience about breakthroughs in this regard. After 'a long, hard slog' the broad coalition of activists pushing for CORI reform had moved the state legislature in a positive direction; and we wanted (needed, really) to hear more.
Building segments about "Three Strikes," "Stand Your Ground," and CORI reform, coupled with ongoing protests related to the #TrayvonMartin case brought awareness and calls to action about the American Legislative Council (aka #ALEC) to the fore, however; most especially its, "Public Safety and Elections Task Force." (See earlier blogposts for more detailed discussion).
These "common defense," prison-pipeline bills and programs were obviously fraught with racial, ethnic, and class disparities. Less apparent is the particular way they impact Black and Latino people who happen to be #LGBTQ as well. The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition-Boston's Corey Yarbrough helped us connect these 'data points,' however.
ALEC's "Public Safety and Elections Task Force" was something of a conundrum, until #StandYourGround and #VoterID 'data points' came together. Voter ID bills had also spread rapidly across the nation; and a variety are pending here in Mass as well. Nineteen (19), in fact, at last count.
Stephen R. Canessa, who represented the 12th Bristol District (New Bedford) for a few short months before resigning to become the top lobbyist for Seacoast Health Systems, made #VoterID legislation his one substantive charge will there. Fascinating, isn't it?
Stephen R. Canessa, who represented the 12th Bristol District (New Bedford) for a few short months before resigning to become the top lobbyist for Seacoast Health Systems, made #VoterID legislation his one substantive charge will there. Fascinating, isn't it?
All to say, the nationwide push for #VoterID requirements brought MassVote into view. Our segment featuring Cheryl C. Clark allayed several concerns about registering to vote and voting this year.
Flash Forward
So, this Friday night @AdvanceMattapan goes #LIVE at on BNNtv to wrap up the season of topics just outlined. Tune in to Comcast Ch 23/RCN Ch 83, or watch online here on June 22nd at 8 PM.
You can even join the discussion by calling Studio A during the show (617.708.3280) or tweet us using #LIVE @advanceMattapan.
At least let us know if you think we should continue next season. Boycott of Facebook is on, but you can holla back via Twitter @advanceMattapan or email: advancemattapan@gmail.com.
Looking forward...
You can even join the discussion by calling Studio A during the show (617.708.3280) or tweet us using #LIVE @advanceMattapan.
At least let us know if you think we should continue next season. Boycott of Facebook is on, but you can holla back via Twitter @advanceMattapan or email: advancemattapan@gmail.com.
Looking forward...