Harlem Democrat Inez Dickens ready to give anti-cop Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan the boot
Harlem Assemblywoman Inez Dickens says she’ll “seriously consider” running a Democratic primary to topple hard left, cop-hating democratic socialist Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan next year after hearing desperate appeals from uptown residents.
Dickens, 73, told The Post that constituents are alarmed by Jordan Richardson’s advocacy of police abolition or “self-policing” — reducing the NYPD presence in the neighborhood.
“People in the community don’t believe in her ‘ self-policing’ policy. Everyone knows somebody who was shot, killed or robbed. They are not supporting self-policing in Harlem. They are not down with that in Harlem,” Dickens said.
“She’s not representing the views of the majority of the community.”
Richardson Jordan has called the NYPD “the biggest gang in New York City”, a “white supremacist institution” and tweeted last year that “we’re going to defund the police down to zero dollars….”
Her other infamous tweets include sending sympathy to the relatives of Lashawn McNeil, the man charged with murdering officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora responding to a domestic violence call in January, as well as the officers’ families.
The councilwoman also blamed Ukraine and the US for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Dickens vs. Richardson Jordan Democratic primary would provide Democrats a clear contrast.
Dickens, who was councilwoman from 2006 to 2017 when she was elected to the Assembly, is opposed to the defund the police movement and was among the first black legislators to demand changes to the state’s controversial cashless bail law earlier this year to better protect law-abiding residents.
The assemblywoman said she likes her state legislative job in Albany but has been deluged with appeals to run for Council against Richardson Jordan.
“The NYCHA tenant association presidents are asking me to run. The small business people are asking me to run,” she said “People are telling me, `You’ve got to run.’
“They want someone who has name recognition and is a street battler. I told them I would think about it. I told them I would seriously consider running for the Council.”
Dickens previously served on the Council before her election to the Assembly.
Dickens said complaints about Richardson Jordan include the councilwoman’s opposition that scuttled a new development project where Al Sharpton’s Action Network headquarters is located at 145th Street near Lenox Avenue.
“I’ve heard complaints about the inability of the present council member to negotiate a deal. People thought I could have negotiated the deal and gotten more for the community,” Dickens said..
“When I was in the Council I didn’t just say `no’. I negotiated. People thought I could have negotiated a better deal and not just say `no.'”
The assemblywoman also said she’s heard complaints about Richardson Jordan providing inadequate constituent services and outreach because of problems locating a district office.
One City Council source said Richardson Jordan doesn’t engage in council meetings and negotiations.
“There’s no original thought or idea. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth,” the source said.
Some politicos believe Richardson Jordan’s election last year was a fluke. She defeated former Councilman Bill Perkins, who struggled with health issues, in the Democratic primary.
Manhattan Democratic Party leader and Harlem resident Keith Wright said of Richardson Jordan, “I don’t talk to her. I’ve had no communications with her.”
Richardson Jordan argued in a statement provided to The Post that she won’t go down without a fight.
“The Assemblyperson has had the opportunity to fight and represent the people of Harlem for almost 20 years. During that time, our black and working-class communities faced mass displacement. Those who remained have struggled to access affordable housing, quality education, decent healthcare, as well as safe streets. The old way of doing things hasn’t worked,” she said.
“Our office has centered the community in every aspect of our work and re-directed needed resources into the district. This year we launched the first ever ‘Summer of Hope’ to prevent violence in our community by providing resources and family activities on the streets of Harlem for 60 days straight. We don’t have a ‘self-policing’ policy, we have a community care policy. We look forward to continuing to put forth a new vision to persevere Harlem and letting the people decide who best represents their interests in next year’s election.”
