Prominent city and state politicians wined and dined in Harlem on Sunday for State Senator Bill Perkins’ reelection campaign kickoff for the 30th Senate District seat.
At a fundraising event in the afternoon at Gran Piatto d’Oro, a restaurant on 116th Street and Fifth Avenue, Perkins spoke to supporters and donors about tough times ahead and his goals to bring about change.
The announcement of his reelection campaign comes on the heels of rumors that New York Governor David Paterson and U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel were actively seeking contenders to supplant Perkins, who had supposedly vexed both. The state senator had said Paterson shouldn’t seek reelection in the wake of Paterson’s alleged interference in an aide’s domestic violence case, and there were rumors swirling that Perkins was considering a run for Rangel’s seat. Amid these rumors, which have not been confirmed, Perkins remained silent about his next political move until last Thursday, when he officially announced his plan to fight to keep his seat as a Harlem representative.
“I’m here for you. All I ever wanted was to be here for you,” Perkins said at the event, which also doubled as his birthday party. “I’m asking you again to allow me to continue to serve you during this challenging time in the Senate. We inherited lemons, and now we’re trying to make lemonade from it.”
Among the public officials who spoke in support of Perkins were State Senate majority conference leader John Sampson, fellow State Senators Eric Adams and Eric Schneiderman, City Council member Inez Dickens of the city’s 9th District, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
In their speeches, supporters cited Perkins’ familiarity with the people and streets of his district, his fortitude in the Senate, and his contribution to the recent Democratic takeover as reasons to keep him on board.
“Brother Perkins is a stallion in the senate,” Adams, who represents parts of Brooklyn, said. “For 70 years, they [the Republicans] have been in charge. When the coup happened in the Senate, John Sampson brought Bill Perkins and I together and said, ‘We got to get this back.’ Now ... we are finally talking the language that people in the inner city understand.”
Sampson agreed, saying, “It’s good to have the light, the leadership, the guidance, and the wisdom you [Perkins] bring to the State Senate. It’s good not just for your district, but for all the people of New York.”
Dickens, a Council member who represents parts of Harlem, said that she continues to support Perkins’ stance on the key issues that are important for neighborhood residents. “I’m here to salute my senator for fighting for tenants’ rights, public education, and small businesses. He’s willing to take the licks,” she said, adding, “We are going to stand with him as he fights for reelection against anyone who dares to come against him.”
In an interview, Perkins cited several feats of his career so far, specifically mentioning the recent passage of the Public Authorities Reform Bill, which he said will be useful for increasing transparency on controversial economic development projects across the state, including Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion and the potential use of eminent domain there.
Perkins said that his future goals include protecting affordable housing and making sure charter schools remain accountable and transparent, which has remained a thorny issue among some constituents since he publicly voiced his opposition to charter schools.
He added that despite the small majority the Democrats have in the Senate, “Opportunity continues to exist. If we keep doing things to help the people of New York, hopefully we can grow our majority and get a truly enlightened government.”
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