2 Minute Warning and the conversations continue

By Dixie Ann Black

        The 2- Minute Warning welcomed Ms. Nadine Hankerson, PhD., Nikki Fried, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and guest moderator Corey Shearer to last Thursday’s political discussion. Perry Busby and Bobby Henry, Sr. spearheaded the discussion. Florida’s primary is Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

Here is a snap shot of what was discussed:

    Dr. Nadine Hankerson, Fort Lauderdale native, is running for City Commission District 3 seat, Fort Lauderdale.

“This is not my first rodeo” Dr. Hankerson stated, citing her run for the same commission seat in 2009 against Bobby DuBose. “You must give back to your community” Hankerson said, citing an extensive background in foreign, domestic, and international understanding of how the world works through working with various groups.

Hankerson has a Ph.D. in conflict analysis and resolution based on communities in south Florida, spending a lot of time working with local communities to understand how to meet their needs. She worked for 10 years in economic development in and out of West Africa.  She holds a master’s degree from Clark Atlanta University, Ph.D. in  Conflict Resolution from Nova Southeastern  University and a Georgia State University Project Management certification from the school of business. Hankerson has participated in her community, first from the age of 13 as a lifeguard with Parks and Recreation. She has sat on the City of Ft. Lauderdale Budget and Finance as well as the Fireman’s Board. She has been a member of Mount Olive Baptist church since childhood.

Regarding her loss to DuBose, Hankerson added, “Just because you don’t win don’t mean you stop working.” If you are here for community, you are here for community not here to collect money, because the bottom line is money is not what you need. You need voters and you need voter participation.”

       “My goal (win, lose or draw), is to make sure that whoever wins continues to work on behalf of community, and that what we do is for the greater good.”

Perry Busby asked Dr. Hankerson for her vision for housing and the homeless.

“We need to stop using the words “Affordable Housing” because it doesn’t exist. Understand the economics behind housing so we can provide what is needed to place our folks in housing.

“Housing is associated with policy, at least for the poor or near poor. Unless we remove the caps under the Faircloth Amendment that determine housing based on cost rather than need, we will build un-affordable housing. The answer is to remove the financial caps from the amendment so government can build affordable housing using public funds.”

Dr. Hankerson tackled questions from the chat which included, explaining ‘Partnerships for Public Low-Income Housing that include state and county funds having private corporations like pinnacle as the lead.’

Hankerson summed up the upcoming election as follows,

“I lost last time because folks don’t vote.” “1350 people voted with 3 or four candidates in the race. It doesn’t require money; it requires votes.” “Unless we start participating in a process that is supposed to work for the greater good, we will have limited to no vote or voice.

“Vote for me, I think I’m the candidate for the job. I want you to care enough for change.”

Mr. Corey Shearer joined the discussion. He is Brooklyn born, Broward raised, Alum of Blanche Ely High School and Georgetown University. He is a multi-faceted contractor and Outreach Lead for Emgage, and Southeast Regional Director for the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida. He offered this commentary:

       “Coming out of the pandemic we are realizing that government can hurt you. It can cause pain. It can cause you to lose confidence, feel psychologically neglected, cause physical and mental harm…. People are looking at who are these candidates and what will they mean to us and to those not yet born.”

       Nikki Fried, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, joined the discussion. She is running for Governor.

Perry Busby asked her to explain the significance of the department she runs. Fried pointed out why the department is essential for the state. The department of agriculture employs two million people and has a 380-billion-dollar impact on the state. It exports products to 130 countries around the world. This department provides food for 150 million people each year. It oversees consumer services. Fried reported that food banks and school nutrition programs were kept afloat by the department of agriculture so that children could be fed during the pandemic.

Her office also oversees the concealed weapons permitting program. Florida has the largest program in the nation with over two million Floridians as registered concealed weapons carriers.

“Prior to me, the NRA had a lot of power. I kicked the NRA out of my office, made sure everybody had a complete and thorough background check. We regulate from food stores to convenience stores, oversee non-profits and work to prevent fraud in gas stations. What we do impacts people’s lives every single day.”

Fried underscored the help the department of agriculture is giving to local food gardens. They have passed out packets of free seeds to create “unity gardens”. “3.5 million Floridians are food insecure and one million of that number are children.”

Bobby Henry asked, “What, if any, is your plan for giving an equal playing field for Black business?”

       “It is essential. We White politicians and elected officials keep coming back to Black communities asking for you to vote, asking for you to vote, asking for you to vote, and you never get a return on that vote.

“I have seen the despair and the inequities…The recognition that so much could be solved if we are investing in our communities.”

As a past public defender, Fried acknowledged the inequities in the system. She spoke passionately of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts that are given out to small business each year with one caveat.

“Do you know that there is a ceiling of eight percent that goes to Black owned business? We have to get rid of that…and lift up our Black businesses.”

If elected as Governor, she plans to create regionalized councils to mentor small business owners to foster the creation of generational wealth.

Since being Agricultural Commissioner Fried has increased the number of Black staff from two to twelve in leadership and created a diversity and inclusion director. The LGBTQ+ director was also Black. She has also created the first every Black Advisory council.

Corey Shearer, asked how will you speak to the needs of the African American Farmers.

Fried acknowledged that the number of Black farmers has dropped from tens of thousands to 250 Black farmers in the country. She noted that monies set aside to assist these farmers have been redirected. She spoke in detail as to the attempts still being made to assist these farmers. This includes legalizing hemp.

Bobby Henry posed the chat question as it pertains to loud music law recently passed.

Fried responded, “Those laws were put there for one purpose and one purpose only, clearly to pull over Black drivers and then create probable cause and find some way to arrest them for some other nonsense…”

As a follow question, What strategy does the Democratic party have to promote Democratic candidates?

Fried, who has a master’s in campaigning from University of Florida, had a detailed response.

“We as Democrats are so focused on turning out the Blue that we are losing by margins that we cannot overcome. The other strategy is, we have to have a bottoms-up strategy… sending resources down to the bottom of the ticket. I have a strategy to promote our down ballot candidates.

“Imagine a TV commercial with all of the Democrats on the executive tickets of our local races and we on commercial together saying, ‘We are the Democratic party, this is what we are going to do for you.’ And you see a united front on these commercials. That is a game changer!

“We have to change up our strategy if we think that we are ever going to take back the Governor’s office and the legislature.”

Shaerer wanted to know what it was like to work with the current governor.

Fried’s answer gives a window into what she called his failed leadership, “He is vengeful.”

Busby tackled the issue of the sugarcane burn. She addressed the burn program, pointing out that burning is essential for agriculture but had not been updated for thirty years.

Fried’s closing thoughts included this, “I’m a fighter. Someone who will always fight for the people. Our democracy is on the line. I’m going to ask viewers to know I’m our best shot. This guy is someone who will destroy democracy, this guy is dangerous, and we’ve got to win. I’m asking everyone to put faith in me. I am a proven winner and a proven fighter.”

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