Council Members Clarke and Stewart set new standard for teamwork

n politics, as in many other areas of life, too often people are more interested in protecting their turf than in serving their cause most effectively. That’s why the close partnership between Council Member Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn’s 40^th District and Council Member Kendall Stewart of the 45^th is so notable. They have rejected the political norm of separation instead of cooperation because they firmly believe that it is only by unity of purpose and singleness of focus that they can best serve their constituents - not by trying to score cheap political points against each other.

And their partnership – unprecedented in Brooklyn politics - feels perfectly natural to them. "We’re really one big district," commented Stewart. "Even though there’s a boundary between the two, we share the same concerns. The people of Clarke’s district and mine are of the same ethnic makeup, and we each have areas where languages other than English are spoken. Whatever happens in one district spills over into the other. My interest have to be hers, and her interests have to be mine."

Clarke concurs. "The boundary is really artificial when you look at the lines," she stated. "The needs are very contiguous. Our populations and problems are similar; our challenges are the same."

She said, too, that Stewart and she frequently discuss how they can develop or enhance programs and policies in order to provide maximum support for their constituencies. "We also consult with each other and make sure we’re on the same page when considering legislation being brought before the City Council. You will find a commonality of voting on things that affect our districts."

Michael Roberts is one of the top political and communications strategists in Brooklyn. He says that these new leaders have seen that a lack of teamwork only divides communities and prevents much-needed resources from being brought into their districts. That’s why they’re setting a new standard for cooperation. "Our communities can only grow in strength by their joining forces with each other and their shared vision of a Central Brooklyn that is strong in every sense of the word," stated Roberts.

To give an idea of how closely intertwined the two districts are, he pointed out that the 45^th district doesn’t have a single hospital. For medical care most of the residents cross over into the 40^th district to King’s County Hospital (one of the biggest employers of people from both districts), Downstate Medical Center, or Caledonia Hospital Urgent Care Center. And residents of the 40^th invariably go southward into the 45^th district when it comes to shopping because that district has more stores than the 40^th. One of the economic hubs is the Flatbush Nostrand Junction near Brooklyn College with its many banks, retail stores and specialty shops.

One of the challenges both districts face is building up businesses owned by residents. "Both councilmembers are extremely sensitive to the needs of the various merchants associations and business improvement organizations in the districts," said Roberts. "Some of them, such as the Flatbush Business Development District, overlap both the 40^th and 45^th." These businesses are crucial to the well being of the districts because they both provide services and employ local residents at entry-level jobs. They are especially important during economic crunches when people are laid off elsewhere.

A lot of the small- and medium-size businesses need technical assistance, such as help setting up their financials, arranging for micro-loans, capacity building and human resource development. Clarke and Stewart have each allocated money for small business development focusing on how to start a business and the technical side of how to make it grow.

In order to discover additional ways of tapping into their districts’ economic potential, both councilmembers attended the recent Multi-National Business Conference in the Bahamas.

Earlier in 2003 Clarke and Stewart also made a fact-finding trip to Trinidad, seeking ways to boost New York City’s annual Caribbean Day Carnival Parade, which draws millions of spectators to Brooklyn each September. "Since most of the carnival production takes place in their districts, it’s natural for them to collaborate with the carnival’s organizers, making sure it maintains its high quality," Michael Roberts explained.

As a member of the Brooklyn delegation, Kendall Stewart led the negotiations with the City Council to get them to allocate funding to the carnival organizers for two consecutive years. Supported very strongly by Yvette Clarke, he succeeded in getting $100,000. "That is the first time in the 38-year history of the parade that this has happened," declared Roberts. "The carnival never got money from the City before. And it was brought about by the direct cooperation of Council Members Clarke and Stewart."