VTMBH Article: Body
New York Governor George Pataki visited Flatbush July 11 to receive an endorsement from the Haitian American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization.
Friends of Pataki, the Governors campaign arm, organized a breakfast at Café Omar on Nostrand Avenue. The event is part of the Republican governors effort to expand his base of support by reaching out to communities that usually vote for Democrats.
Pataki was greeted with applause and complimentary introductions from local leaders, such as City Councilman Kendall Stewart, a Democrat originally from St. Vincent.
No one has done more for the Haitian community than Pataki, Stewart said of the governors record on health care and education. Recently, Pataki has been under fire for his support of a State Supreme Court ruling setting minimum education requirements at ninth grade in New York.
Pataki was also praised for his appointment of a Haitian community liaison, Jocelyn Mayas, last year.
Some who were invited to the event, such as Claude Antoine, president of the Haitian American Republican Association, said that Pataki is doing what he can to reach the community.
In the past we never had a voice. [Elected officials] didnt know about our problems, Antoine said. Pataki has done a good job for the Haitian community.
There was no question-and-answer session at Thursdays event, which included a performance from Haitian singer Emeline Michel. Yet, while some enjoyed the festivities, other Haitian leaders wanted to know why Pataki did not reach out to all Haitian groups.
Tatiana Wah of the Haitian American Alliance said her organization was not invited to the breakfast.
Wah questioned the validity of an event that did not include more Haitian leaders from community organizations and churches.
It would have been better if it were advertised as a forum for us to come and ask questions about the campaign, and Patakis position concerning Haitian American needs, said Wah, who added that the event was not planned by Haitians. Haitian American Alliance was invited to a forum held June 11 at Medgar Evers College by Democratic gubernatorial hopeful State Comptroller Carl McCall.
Some attendees remarked that the Pataki visit is part of a rise in pro-Republican sentiment among some Haitian Americans who feel that the Democratic Party has neglected them. Antoine, who is running his wife Rolaines campaign for a Queens State Assembly seat, said, The mayor, the governor, and the president are Republican. If you dont decide to sit down and talk to them, you wont have a voice.
Friends of Pataki, the Governors campaign arm, organized a breakfast at Café Omar on Nostrand Avenue. The event is part of the Republican governors effort to expand his base of support by reaching out to communities that usually vote for Democrats.
Pataki was greeted with applause and complimentary introductions from local leaders, such as City Councilman Kendall Stewart, a Democrat originally from St. Vincent.
No one has done more for the Haitian community than Pataki, Stewart said of the governors record on health care and education. Recently, Pataki has been under fire for his support of a State Supreme Court ruling setting minimum education requirements at ninth grade in New York.
Pataki was also praised for his appointment of a Haitian community liaison, Jocelyn Mayas, last year.
Some who were invited to the event, such as Claude Antoine, president of the Haitian American Republican Association, said that Pataki is doing what he can to reach the community.
In the past we never had a voice. [Elected officials] didnt know about our problems, Antoine said. Pataki has done a good job for the Haitian community.
There was no question-and-answer session at Thursdays event, which included a performance from Haitian singer Emeline Michel. Yet, while some enjoyed the festivities, other Haitian leaders wanted to know why Pataki did not reach out to all Haitian groups.
Tatiana Wah of the Haitian American Alliance said her organization was not invited to the breakfast.
Wah questioned the validity of an event that did not include more Haitian leaders from community organizations and churches.
It would have been better if it were advertised as a forum for us to come and ask questions about the campaign, and Patakis position concerning Haitian American needs, said Wah, who added that the event was not planned by Haitians. Haitian American Alliance was invited to a forum held June 11 at Medgar Evers College by Democratic gubernatorial hopeful State Comptroller Carl McCall.
Some attendees remarked that the Pataki visit is part of a rise in pro-Republican sentiment among some Haitian Americans who feel that the Democratic Party has neglected them. Antoine, who is running his wife Rolaines campaign for a Queens State Assembly seat, said, The mayor, the governor, and the president are Republican. If you dont decide to sit down and talk to them, you wont have a voice.