Fear And Intimidation Are Weapons Of The Weak!

By Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant

Just in case you have forgotten: this Demo crat was challenged for the Democrat Line after I announced, in early November 2024, that I was running for the 2nd Legislative District seat. I lost that bid to run in the past June Primary, but this hard-working Democrat went out and collected over 2,400 signatures from registered voters to allow me to run as an Independent Democrat on a line called the Restore Buffalo Line. This line will be listed on the ballot in the Nov 4th General Election.

I am running to garner resources and add my voice as an advocate for the visible and troubling challenges facing our youth, as we deal with out-of-touch established political parties who try to address our youth without directly engaging them.

In addition to the problem with our youth, we are facing problems: massive homelessness; out of control rent; too damned high grocery bills; deaths due to drug overdoses or being man handled in our county jails; almost zero growth among Blacks in eastside businesses and home ownerships; proliferation of prison inspired; big boxed, warehouse-like rental units where poor people are stacked on top of one another; and a still failing, Buffalo Public Schools system.

On November 4th, or the week before, during early voting, y’all know what to do. Get that ballot sheet and darken the oval near my name first. I was the first can didate to announce my inten tion to run for Erie County, after April Baskin vacated the seat. But, instead of being fair and giving all a chance to compete for the vacant seat, the power controlling, non- inclusive, Democratic Political Machine chose to put its political thumb on the political scales by having the Erie County Democratic Executive Commit tee install a hand- picked candidate to hold the seat until after the November 4th General Election.

Another way this community can help is by advocating for Free and Fair Elections that give all citizens an opportunity to run for political office, when and where they choose to— join or rejoin the process. Rest assured that the political henchmen are going to try and stop me from running in this November General Election through fear and intimidation tactics. But I guess God made me differently. I was given the wisdom to have no fear of what man can take from me. I am going forward with pride, hope, unity, courage, and experience— helping improve the health, wealth and living conditions for all residents in Erie County.

If we allow political parties— Demo crat or Republican— to select, groom and elect our political leaders without voters’ influence or participation, we are no better that countries run by oligarchy or dictatorship.