Waterman runs to be ‘vital voice’ in 45th CD
Jeffries: Republicans show ‘true colors’
Caribbean Life, M BQ arch 29–April 4, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem
Jeffries said on Tuesday that Republicans
have shown their “true colors” by
attempting to invalidate Obamacare.
The Trump administration the day
before asked a federal appeals court
to invalidate the Affordable Care
Act, Obamacare, as it is commonly
called.
“Once again, the Republicans have
shown their true colors,” said Jeffries,
House Democratic Caucus Chair,
who represents parts of Brooklyn
and Queens in the 8th Congressional
District, at the House Democratic
leadership’s weekly press conference
with House Democratic Caucus Chair
Katherine Clark (D-MA).
“They simply cannot help themselves,”
Jeffries added. “Americans all
across the country woke up to news
that the Trump Justice Department
is once again launching an assault
on health care in the United States
of America.
“The Republicans want to take
away health care from tens of millions
of Americans again,” Jeffries
added. “The Republicans want to
impose what would be effectively an
age tax on Americans between 50 and
64 forcing a dramatic increase in premiums,
copays and deductibles.
“Once again, the Republicans want
to strip away protections for Americans
with pre-existing conditions,”
he continued. “They simply cannot
help themselves.”
The congressman noted that
healthcare was a “defining issue” of
the 2018 midterm elections.
“We embraced this fight because
House Democrats were given the
majority in order to defend health
care on behalf of everyday Americans,
and that is exactly what we are
doing,” he said.
Later, on Tuesday afternoon, Chairman
Frank Pallone, Chairman Bobby
Scott, as well as other Members of the
House Democratic Caucus, including
Chairman Richard Neal, introduced
legislation to strengthen the Affordable
Care Act.
Jeffries said that legislation will
protect Americans with pre-existing
conditions.
“Our legislation will expand access
to health care coverage, while, at the
same time, the Trump Justice Department
files reckless legal papers to try
and destroy health care for tens of
millions of Americans,” he said. “You
can’t make this up!
“And so, there’s a clear contrast
in terms of what we as House Democrats
are about and what Republicans
are about,” Jeffries added. “Republicans
fight for the wealthy, the welloff
and the well-connected.
“Democrats fight for working
families, middle-class folks, senior
citizens, the poor, the sick and the
afflicted. Period. Full stop,” Jeffries
continued. “That’s the contrast, and
it’s going to play itself out in front of
the American people.”
By Nelson A. King
Monique Waterman, the daughter of
Barbadian and Jamaican immigrants,
is hoping her community activism
would set her apart from the reported
eight other candidates vying to replace
Jumaane Williams as representative for
the 45th Council District in Brooklyn.
Former New York City Councilman
Williams was recently elected Public
Advocate in New York City.
Besides Waterman, the candidates
claiming they are best suited to represent
the district that comprises East
Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine
Park and Midwood are: Anthony Alexis,
Anthony Beckford, Louis Cespedes Fernandez,
Farah Louis, Jovia Radix, Xamayla
Rose, Adina Sash and Rickie Tulloch.
“I’m a first generation American of
Caribbean descent and lifelong resident
of East Flatbush, and I’m running to
be a vital voice for the people in our
community,” Waterman told Caribbean
Life in an exclusive interview over the
weekend.
“As an activist and community organizer,
I’ve been doing the work of a council
member for the past decade, when I partnered
with Council Member Williams in
his office, then as a nonprofit executive,
providing many of the services his office
utilized to address many issues our community
faced, such as gun violence,
mental health services, affordable housing
programs and more,” she added.
“As the district’s next council member,
I will continue to build on the foundation
that Council Member Williams
laid in this community by improving the
lives of working families across district,”
Waterman added.
Waterman, who is also a public servant,
said her term as president for the
East 29th Street Block Association
marked her foundational work in civic
engagement, which is guided by her
desire to “improve lives by meeting the
community where they are at.”
As an active, lifelong resident of East
Flatbush, Waterman said she recognizes
the needs of the community, adding that
she “works tirelessly for everyday families
and residents.”
In 2005, she served on the Youth
Committee and Block Association Committee
for Brooklyn Community Board
17. She later served as a Civilian Advisor
for the New York Police Department’s
(NYPD) 67th Precinct.
In 2008, Waterman said she founded
East Flatbush, Inc., “in response to the
lack of youth services in the community.”
She said East Flatbush Village
now provides programs for youth and
resources to families including mental
health tools through S.T.A.N.D. (Selfcare,
Tender-love, Always, Needed, Daily)
and solution-driven initiatives to eliminate
violence in the community through
E.N.O.U.G.H. Anti-violence Initiative.
With a Master’s in Business Administration
degree, Waterman later served as
director of Community Outreach with
Williams in 2012.
She is a recipient of the Caribbean Life
Impact 40 under 40 Award.
She has also been recognized for her
work in the community with the Shirley
Chisholm Woman of Distinction Award,
Sesame Flyers International Community
Award, Community Board 17 Women of
Distinction Award, among others.
She currently resides in East Flatbush
with her husband, Eric Waterman, and
four children: Eynique, Erique, Eynee
and Erynn.
Waterman said her campaign’s support
is growing “by the day,” adding that
she looks forward to unveiling a “full list
of endorsements.”
“In the meantime, I’m proud to
announce that Assemblyman N. Nick
Perry is the chairman of our campaign,
and that we’ve received support by a large
number of city and state elected officials,
clergy members and community members
across the district,” she said.
Waterman said she’s been “proud” to
work with Williams, who is yet to make
an official endorsement in the race “but
has encouraged me to run and has continued
to support our grassroots campaign
now.”
“This special election has brought a
number of qualified candidates that I
admire,” she said, “but I know that my
background, experience and vision for
the office (set her apart from the field).
“As the council member for the 45th
District, I will advocate for additional
funding for community organizations
working with the Crisis Management
System, and will continue the work we’ve
done to make this community a safe
place for our youth to learn and grow,”
Waterman added.
Monique Waterman. Monique Waterman
House Democratic Caucus Chair,
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Caucus
Vice Chair, Katherine Clark (D-MA)
held the House Democratic leadership’s
weekly press conference.
Offi ce of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries