Hi neighbors,
I am writing to address the two negative pieces of mail about me that were delivered to Seward Park residents this week. After the first one, I had hoped to simply stay focused and keep my head up heading into Election Day, but given the way the attacks are escalating, I felt that I needed to say something.
First, on the topic of the postcards: Yes, I am a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. My main project there has been organizing around housing—specifically trying to get more housing like Seward Park built in New York. I also organize with NYC Plan (which is not affiliated with the DSA); our goal is to get more funding for libraries. I’m not ashamed of these projects, and, in fact, I think they are very aligned with the things I’ve been talking about in the context of our co-op: Access, affordability, inclusion, and community.
The postcard also references a blog post I wrote in 2020, a week after George Floyd was murdered, along with an old image of me that appears to have been screenshotted from a video interview and edited to look like a mug shot. You can read the blog post being referenced here if you’re curious; there are several links in it that talk about the painful history of anti-Black racism in America, including a story I wrote that was circulated by Obama.org at the time.
The letter written by my neighbor Sam Zimmerman and Raven Dolling is missing some important context: Raven used the n-word in front of me twice. Sam and his wife Michelle Kuppersmith (a current board member and a member of the election committee) witnessed it. I’m actually not the only Black shareholder who Raven has used the n-word in front of; this has happened more than once, apparently as recently as last month. Sam’s defense of this behavior (and of some incidents of homophobia) is what caused our neighborly friendship to fracture far more than anything related to the lobby renovations. I’m not sure why he left all of this out of his note.
When we were petitioning around the lobby renovation earlier this year, several people declined to sign out of fear of retaliation; they told us they were worried board members would hold a grudge. At the time, I didn’t get it. Now I do. Apparently, this is what happens to people who attempt to challenge power, or who put forth “divisive” ideas like making sure our elderly neighbors can easily move through our buildings and wanting the board to talk to the community before completing a $32.7M renovation.
I assume the attacks on me this week were intended to keep me from getting elected to the board—or, failing that, to make me feel small. What the people behind this failed to understand is that I am surrounded by a community that is big: Expansive, thoughtful, open, and kind. Our neighbors have been so warm, so supportive, so excited by the slate’s campaign, and by the idea of electing board members who are eager to hear from them and to treat them like they matter. I have been incredibly touched by the number of people who have reached out to me and who have stood up for me this week.
I hope these bad faith and frankly weird attempts to silence me (and, by extension, you) won’t change your opinion of me. And regardless of what happens on Tuesday, I hope that every cooperator comes away from this feeling empowered to stand up for what they believe is right.
Sincerely,
Rachel Wilkerson, board candidate #11