PAMELA STEWART-MARTINEZ
Insurgent
"THE BEGINNING"
"If you are a Black, or Hispanic Woman in certain areas They Talk down to You."
Pamela Stewart-Martinez is a Bronx born Harlem Bred Fighter. A Married Mother of Seven. Pam beginnings in Politics was the result becoming frustrated With the Board of Education. Pam said "There were to many hoops a Parent had to go through to get Help within the Board of Education when it came to a parent trying to get the best Education for their child. Pam has a Son named Timothy. Timothy Was given a IQ test the second in three years. Pam was called into the school to discuss the results. The superintendent in charge of administering the test handed the results of the test to Pam with two letters "MR". Pam asked the gentleman what does "MR" mean?. The superintendent informed Pam that "MR" represented Mental Retardation. He then asked Pam what did she plan to do. Pam said she was confused by the results because three years prior her son took the same test and scored significantly higher. Pam said that the superintendent was not helpful. Pam left the meeting feeling helpless. Determined to right a wrong, Pam Sought out other agencies to help her show that the Scores was wrong. Pam was able to find a agency to retest her son. The Son scored even better than three years prior. Pam was informed that the Dept. of Education did not administer the test properly. Pam took the information and Sued the Board of Education Nickerson Letter. Pam won that case and was able to Qualify for a Voucher(Nickerson Letter) to place her son in private school. A victory No doubt. However, Pam felt that she went through too much as a parent to get help or information from the board of education. "If you are a Black, or Hispanic Woman in certain areas, they talk down to you." Pam says Passionately. So Because of this experience Pam ran and won a seat on the Education Council. The Education council exist in every school District. The Education Council work with the School Chancellor and Superintendent to review School programs.
"2016 ELECTION FOR BRONX DISTRICT 87 STATE ASSEMBLY"
"Are you going to be about it, or talk about it?"
After winning the Case against the board of Education. Pam did not feel satisfied. Pam did not feel like it was a Win for her, Or the Board of Education, New York City, and even for Children who look like Her children. This spurred Pam to become more involved within the community after joining the Education Council. Pam start advocating for the improvement of The schools in her community. while Attending Community meetings Pam would notice That Department heads would get unlimited time to address The Board, and Parents would not have the same amount of time. This would frustrate Pam. Pam would write resolutions as a member of the Council, No response. Pam would write elected officials and still would not receive a response.  One day while Lamenting about it to a Friend. Who ran for Public Office before. Pam talked about what she would do if she was in the Politicians shoes. The friend Told Pam "To Run for Office". Pam laughed it off saying "Elections are 6 months away". The friend replied "Are you Going to be about  it or are you going to talk about it?. Pam decided to be about it and go through the process to run for a position within the Bronx Assembly. In order to get your name on the Ballot a potential candidate must collect 500 different signatures for the petition from the Residents of the District. Realistically you must collect 4x times that amount in order to be on the Ballot. The Board of Elections can review your signatures and if there is a objection on the signatures, A review will take place and possible legal action to get you removed from the Ballot. Pam advised that the Board of Elections do not Guide you through the process. With the Different rules and guidelines it is extremely difficult. The Board advise you to hire a Lawyer to get you through the little land mines within the Rules that can get you removed from the Ballot. The same is not applied to incumbent officials. The Board of Election would extend courtesy's to Elected officials. Pam was able to Get over 1500 signatures for her petition to run for Office. What should have been a period of accomplishment for Pam and her family turned in to a period of political Harassment and Awakening.
"CANDIDATE PAMELA STEWART-MARTINEZ"
"Men think they can intimidate women especially Black women"
Pam had now collected 3 times the signatures she needs to be added to the ballot to run for the assembly seat in the 87 district. Pam a late entry, began to plan her campaign strategy. It is now the Political harassment begins. Pam speaks of a day when She and her Husband had left home to do their daily chores. leaving her then 16 year old son Timothy in the home. A group of men came into Pam apartment building in the Bronx yelling and making loud noises. They went straight to Pam's Apartment. The Men started to bang on Pam door demanding that the occupants open the door. Pam son answered the door. The Unidentified men demanded that the young child open the door, threatened to have Pam and her Husband arrested. Timothy called Pam and her Husband.   Both Pam and her Husband rushed home. Pam's Husband arrived first to see the Current 87th District Assembly man(I will not name him because we do not want to be sued. we will call him incumbent). Standing across the street from Pam's home. Pam's husband ran into the Building and the Men was Gone. When Pam arrived at the apartment she went directly to the Superintendent to get him to view the video from the building cameras. in the Video you can see a group of men leaving the building and getting into the incumbents car. The building super refused to give Pam the video for the Police. Pam realized quickly that the Incumbent will not play by the rules for campaigning.  After the incident Pam contacted News 12 in the Bronx. News 12 contacted the Incumbent about the matter and he Flatly denied any involvement. Not too long after this event. The incumbent and The Bronx Democratic Party file a Objection to Pam's Petition signatures. However, they filed it incorrectly and when Pam stood before the Election commissioners all of her Signatures were deemed valid. and Also they were informed the time period has passed to object to her petition. undeterred The incumbent had his lawyer sue to get Pam petitions thrown out. Pam would now have to stand in front a Judge and Go through each signature to see that they are Valid. Remember the Board of Elections is not suppose to give special preference to any of the participants in the election. The day of the Court date As Pam tried to enter in to the court room the incumbent Stood in her way trying to prevent her from entering the Court chambers. Staring at her the incumbent refuse to move. Pam said she is from Harlem this did not scare her and she Pushed past him. Pam said "for some reason Men think that they can intimidate women especially Black women." Pam said she has seen some pretty scary things and the incumbent is not one. Pam won that case. Pam thought that would be the end of it. The incumbent went back to the Board of Election and asked for Pam's petition to be scrutinized by the Board of Elections of the Bronx. Extending the incumbent a courtesy they brought Pam back to have her petition signatures reviewed. even after being deemed lawful by the election commission and a Judge. Pam was brought back by the Bronx board of Elections. The Bronx Board is selected by the Bronx Democratic Leader Marcos Crespo a Close personal friend of the incumbent.
"REVIEW OF THE PETITIONS LINE BY LINE."
"That Trouble Maker from Parkchester"
As the proceedings began Pam is there By herself and she is in a room Full of supporters of the incumbent. Once Pam was seated she was to review all of the signatures she collected for her petition to run, all 1500. While she is reading them off A group men, supporters of the incumbent surrounded her. The men heckled her in English and Spanish trying to drown out Pam as she spoke. Pam frustrated asked the men to back away from her. Pam even asked the Judge who also agreed "That the men are acting unruly". One of the men yelled at Pam "If you cannot stand the heat get out of the Kitchen". Pam said that the men present were trying to Intimidate her. Ultimately Pam won that case as well and All of her signatures was accepted and she was finally able to move forward with her campaign. Pam filed a Federal Lawsuit against against the incumbent and the Bronx Board of Elections. This spurred a another round of Harassment from the incumbent. The Incumbent this time undeterred came back to Pam's apartment Building Yelling inside the Lobby. The incumbent had to be escorted out of the building.
"Election Night"
Pam eventually lost the election for the seat. Pam garnered 1/3 of the vote for the seat. Pam and others were labeled Insurgents, and Pam was labeled "That trouble maker from Parkchester". Reuben Diaz Sr. wrote a article in the Bronx Chronicle named "This is what you should Know" essentially threatening Bronx African American political Incumbents because of the challenges to Hispanic incumbents. The articles about Pam's lawsuit and Reuben Diaz Sr. Article can be read on the link below.
"Are You Running again?"
Pam said she will run again but she did not elaborate. I asked Pam what does Black women bring to the Political landscape?. Pam said"Black and Hispanic woman are more hands on in the Home and within the community. We tend to be more hands on and protective of the community because our children and families live in within the communities and there is a strong effort to keep us(women) us out. This will be detriment to our communities and has been. The State and City decides the funding for our schools and we have the wrong people elected to office. Pam say that she is "More recognized now, and more influential" Pam have helped others enter into Politics including her oldest son Timothy Martinez. You may remember Timothy, he is the same Son who the board of Education tried to say was "MR" mentally Retarded. Timothy has earned a Bachelors degree in Criminal justice and was elected as a Male State Committee member for the 87th District. Pamela Stewart-Martinez embodies The name "Insurgent". and Hopefully her story will Ignite conversation and Empower another woman of color to become a "insurgent" in their local politics.
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The link for the Daily news article on the Federal Lawsuit and The Article written by Reuben Diaz Sr. is below
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