Bochinche and Buzz: Fresh wounds in Harlem and Keith Wright’s future

If you believed the political theater served up at Sylvia’s Soul Food restaurant on June 30 was the main course in the electoral fight to keep the symbol of New York black political power in the heart of Harlem, here’s some additional bochinche to chew on.

The common notion seems to be that the conciliatory and gracious words in defeat from Assemblyman Keith Wright meant that the oft-heated primary in the 13th Congressional District was water under the bridge. “We've left it all on the battlefield, and certainly now it's time to come together," Wright said, while conceding the primary election to state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, adding that supporters of both candidates and in the district now needed to unite.

Even the legendary Congressman Charles Rangel, the incumbent for the last 46 years, was asked to reflect on the new era of Upper Manhattan political power.

“I don’t know how the Italians felt when the Puerto Ricans moved to East Harlem,” Rangel said. “I don’t know how the Irish and German Jews felt when the Hispanics came to Washington Heights. I don’t know how the whites felt when the blacks from Hell’s Kitchen moved to Harlem. But I do know one thing, is that’s what America’s all about. That’s what change is all about. We have enough room for everyone to work together.”

Rangel's message was undoubtedly meant to signal a turning of the political page. Time for another group to start writing their own chapter of history in the American Dream narrative.

But as sincere as Rangel’s words were, they were meant for public consumption. The reality is that, as of right now, the wounds from the primary are too fresh to begin the healing process.

Fresh wounds in Harlem

The problem is not solely with Espaillat, though the ambitious Dominican’s rankled many political leaders in the district during his three attempts at taking the seat (he lost to Rangel in 2012 and 2014).

The real bochinche – some of it reported – is the fissures created by some of the newcomers in the district’s political establishment. While Wright and Espaillat may have declared a truce, there are still hard feelings left over.

One of the reportedly despised candidates is Clyde Williams. He’s been publically labeled the “white” candidate in the race responsible for ending black political power in Harlem. The disdain is such that he was not invited to the peace gathering at Sylvia’s.

Neither was Suzan Johnson Cook. The only female in the male-dominated race is persona non grata for winning 2,100 votes in the primary, with the Wright campaign convinced those votes would have gone for him. They were particularly annoyed at the proximity of Johnson Cook’s campaign headquarters to Wright’s stomping grounds in Harlem. Still, Johnson Cook showed up to Sylvia’s anyway, prompting a testy exchange between Johnson Cook and Wright’s campaign manager, Charlie King.

We don’t know at this point what Johnson Cook’s political future holds. However, Clyde Williams has already sent out an email blast that, among other things, states: “I'll be talking with colleagues and supporters about the best way to continue to empower our voice to make a difference.”

There are some in Harlem who feel Clyde has already done enough.

¿Qué pasa Keith Wright?

Wright will keep his word and not run for re-election, with his tenure as assemblyman ending on Dec. 31. We’re assured that Wright will indeed support and campaign for term-limited City Councilwoman Inez Dickens, who will run for his seat.  

The bochinche here is that if Dickens wins the primary on Sept. 13, and then the Nov. 8 general election, she will, in turn, support Wright to take over her 9th Council District seat and serve out her term. This would lead to Wright running as the incumbent Council member in the 2017 primary.

With Wright still holding the title of County Chair of the Manhattan Dems, this jockeying should be pulled off with ease. Done deal.

With Wright set to take over in the City Council, would he throw his hat in the race to replace Melissa Mark-Viverito as speaker in 2017? Now, that’s some bochinche to salivate over.