{"id":1007,"date":"2019-05-10T09:21:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T09:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/develop.mtopp.org\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2021-01-22T09:29:13","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T09:29:13","slug":"statement-against-laurie-cumbo-by-sakia-fletcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/2019\/05\/10\/statement-against-laurie-cumbo-by-sakia-fletcher\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement Against Laurie Cumbo by Sakia Fletcher"},"content":{"rendered":"

Statement Against Laurie Cumbo by Medgar Evers Student, Sakia Fletcher<\/h4>\n

Who is Sakia Fletcher<\/strong><\/h5>\n

My name is Sakia Fletcher.<\/strong> I am a non-traditional student, returning back to college. After years of thinking I would never receive the opportunity <\/strong>to continue my education, God open an door<\/strong> for me to attend Medger Evers College. As a single, African American mother,<\/strong> and student at Medgar Evers College I experience daily the barriers, disparities, and the disenfranchisement <\/strong>our community faces.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After discovering my purpose in the public administration department,<\/strong> I immediately started to work wanting to perfect my calling. I interned at the school newspaper;<\/strong> with a nonprofit organization named Generation Citizens as a Democracy Coach<\/strong> and later as a Student Director.<\/strong> I interned at the New York Campaign Financing Board,-NYC Votes<\/strong>. I also interned in the Student Affairs office <\/strong>at Medgar Evers College. Upon working at the student affairs office it became evident <\/strong>to me of the enormous amount of burdens<\/strong>, we the students at Medgar Evers College deal with everyday while trying to achieve our degrees.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This semester <\/strong>I was nominated by faculty to participate in the Model New York State Senate Session<\/strong> Project. This great opportunity allowed me to be a senator for a day<\/strong>, attend the Somos Caucus<\/strong> and argue an actual bill in Albany on the senate floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Currently, I am President of the Public Administration Club<\/strong>, Student Advocates for the Disability Student population,<\/strong> interning at the Student Affairs office<\/strong>, and Student Government Association President elect.<\/strong> I like other students at Medgar Evers College are very concerned<\/strong> with the recent development projects<\/strong> surrounding the immediate vicinity of the college.<\/p>\n

Interactions with Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I have interacted with Laurie Combo <\/strong>on several occasions, both privately and publicly<\/strong>. During every interaction with the councilwoman my focus<\/strong> was on allocation for educational infrastructure,<\/strong> student housing<\/strong>, capital budgeting for new building<\/strong>, and replacing the portable trailers<\/strong>. Every time she refused to answer these questions.<\/strong> She has lied to my face <\/strong>stating that Medgar Evers College student athletes will have free unlimited access <\/strong>to the Bedford Armory recreational facilities for games and practice if paid for by CUNY, eventually putting the sole liability on Medgar Evers <\/strong>College’s President Dr. Rudolph Crew.<\/p>\n

Student Grievances Ignored by Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The students at Medgar Evers College have no comfortable leisure accommodations,<\/strong> have dirty green chairs in the lobby of each building; the only senior college<\/strong> that does not have dormitories<\/strong> for students; has a homeless shelter next door<\/strong> to our campus, that is i<\/strong>mpossible for homeless students to get into; lacks the necessary athletic facilities <\/strong>to accommodate our exceptional sports teams; and portable trailers<\/strong> which were slated to be temporary 15 years ago. The students have been silenced by a lingering hopelessness<\/strong> as they have watched numerous recent development <\/strong>projects approved by Laurie Cumbo<\/strong> in the surrounding vicinity, with no direct academic<\/strong>, leisure or student housing facilities <\/strong>allocated for the students at Medgar Evers College.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such projects like: The Bedford Armory; 40 Crown Street; 960 Franklin Avenue; 1535 Bedford Avenue; 1579 Bedford Avenue and 4050 Eastern Parkway.<\/p>\n

Prior Engagements with Laurie Cumbo<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I have engaged with Cumbo on several occasions<\/strong> in various governmental venues. On November 15th I testified at the City Council public hearing<\/strong> concerning the proposal for Franklin Avenue Rezoning <\/strong>(currently in the courts under review “Boyd vs. Laurie Cumbo<\/strong> index #1518\/19″), in front of Laurie Cumbo. I have also engaged with her privately<\/strong> at several Community Board 9 meeting and at several Medgar Evers campus events <\/strong>including the 2019 Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cumbo is very familiar with my face<\/strong> as being a student seeking answers<\/strong> from her\u00a0 as to why Medgar Evers College is not receiving any benefits<\/strong> from all the development occurring in Crown Heights especially the Bedford Union Armory.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On April 30th <\/strong>at the monthly Community Board 9<\/strong> meeting when I exercised my first amendment constitutional right <\/strong>of free speech<\/strong> at a public meeting <\/strong>and proceeded to hold an elected official accountable<\/strong> by asking her what new facilities are being allocated <\/strong>to Medgar Evers College. Laurie Cumbo became upset <\/strong>because I have been asking her the same questions for over a year <\/strong>now. She felt that I didn\u2019t have the right <\/strong>to ask her the same questions anymore. She proceeded to react in an aggressive and outrageous manner,<\/strong> yelling out me, calling me ignorant over and over,<\/a> pointing her finger at me<\/strong>, stating it was people like me<\/strong> who was preventing our community from getting ahead<\/strong> and we are reason <\/strong>she is unable to pass legislation on our behalf.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time and time again Laurie has lied <\/strong>and manipulated the community.<\/strong> The truth is that Cumbo district has the highest rate of displacement<\/strong>; a dissatisfied Medgar Evers College student body<\/strong> due to fraudulent promises from Laurie<\/strong>; growing number of homeless shelters<\/strong> in her district filled with individuals whose incomes will never <\/strong>allow them to qualify to live in the luxury developments <\/strong>she has approved, nor the \u201caffordable<\/strong>\u201d ones she has negotiated for.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The disheartening fact <\/strong>is an atmosphere of hopelessness looming <\/strong>over the 35th Council District<\/strong> in regards to Fair housing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Unraveling of Laurie Cumbo<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The travesty is Laurie<\/strong> has exhibited favorable alliances with corrupted individuals, slumlords, and real estate developers <\/strong>seeking to gain profits <\/strong>from her position. Now we are witnessing the unraveling of a politically tainted \u201crepresentative<\/strong>\u201d who would do anything but tell the truth.<\/p>\n

The fraudulent allegation<\/strong> that I was influenced by Alicia Boyd from MTOPP is a lie<\/strong>.\u00a0 The allegation that I was aggressively attempting to attack her<\/strong> is a lie<\/strong>. The insane allegation that this was a stunt for my next social media post is a lie. <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Laurie continues to lie and scheme<\/strong> for her own financial and political gain.<\/strong> She will say anything to fortify her political supremacy over our community. As we can see Laurie has now stooped to an all time low, <\/strong>trying to sway the conversation from taking accountability for her opportunistic tendencies<\/strong>, to trying to tarnish my reputation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, my character stands fortified on the rock that is higher than I. <\/strong>I employ all to fact check my reputation and social media pages. The truth will verify who I am.<\/strong> I am a Black, single mother, <\/strong>Medgar Evers College student advocate\/leader,<\/strong> and devout servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. <\/strong>Who, by God\u2019s Grace has been given the opportunity to find my purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like David slaying Goliath, I will stand for Justice<\/strong>. I will continue to fight for the students at Medgar Evers College<\/strong>. I will be a voice and advocate for the underserved and the disenfranchised <\/strong>men and women of color. I will not be silenced<\/strong>. I have no fear.<\/strong> Because God has not given me a spirit of fear<\/strong>, but of power, love and of a sound mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In closing let us depart in peace, hope, and courage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Sakia Fletcher<\/strong><\/p>\n

Medgar Evers College Student Advocate\/Leader<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Statement Against Laurie Cumbo by Medgar Evers Student, Sakia Fletcher Who is Sakia Fletcher My name is Sakia Fletcher. I am a non-traditional student, returning back to college. After years of thinking I would never receive the opportunity to continue my education, God open an door for me to attend […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-updates","category-eyes-on-cb9"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1007"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1008,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1007\/revisions\/1008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtopp.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}