The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists released a damning statement this afternoon on Republican candidate Chrissy “Caboom’ Casilio’s refusal to accept their invitation to debate Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz before the upcoming election.
The Association is known for its fair and popular debates during important elections in Buffalo and Erie County. The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding and more balanced media coverage of minorities and increasing minority representation at both the staff and management levels in Western New York newsrooms.
As an affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists, the world’s largest media organization for people of color, the Buffalo chapter helps minority organizations better utilize the media. The BABJ also monitors media coverage of minorities and reports to the community and holds workshops for groups that seek media coverage.
You can read their official statement below:
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 5/14 massacre and the Blizzard of 2022, there has been a lot of talk in Erie County about dealing with the racial disparities that either contributed to or were exposed as a result of those tragedies.
Government has a key role in addressing those issues.
That is why the Buffalo Association of Black Journalists invited this year’s candidates for Erie County executive to share their vision for addressing the particular concerns of the African American community in a debate at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library prior to the Nov. 7 election. It is also why we find it both disappointing and highly insulting to the African-American community that the Republican Party nominee has declined our invitation to participate in this public forum. The debate was designed not only for the candidates to explain their plans but also to answer questions from the audience and hear first-hand the community’s concerns and priorities.
In deciding to reject this debate, Republican candidate Chrissy Casilio has thumbed her nose at the African American community, not once, but twice, at the very time its concerns are supposedly a priority for a region looking to brand itself as inclusive and committed to addressing long-standing inequities. It is an odd position for the nominee of a Republican Party that gives lip service to wanting to attract the Black vote, but too often fails to follow through. This, unfortunately, is just one more example.
We understand there will be other county executive debates. However, the BABJ’s track record of sponsoring debates that hone in on issues that matter most to Black voters makes our forums indispensable in ensuring that candidates respond to all parts of the electorate. Unfortunately, Casilio has chosen to reject that opportunity.
We will leave it to voters to judge accordingly.
