Today I gave a talk to the Latvia Special Interest Group of the Jewish Genealogical Society. In it I had cause to quote a local Brooklyn politician, Bill Batson who has served on Community Board 8 and who is running for Assembly. More about that talk in another diary when I get the chance to adapt it to the blog format. The connection with Bill Batson wasn't political, but cultural, regarding the preservation of heritage and the importance of heritage.

Coincidentally, today I received Bill Batson's campaign newsletter, and in it he has a success story of preserving Brooklyn's heritage...in fact preserving AMERICA'S heritage. From the Batson campaign:

We are learning more about our ancestors' role in building New York city, especially through the African Burial Ground and the Historical Society's recent exhibit on Slavery In New York.

We were thrilled to discover an Underground Railroad Station on Duffield St. in Downtown Brooklyn. Escaping Slaves used the station as a safe house. Instead of celebrating this wonderful opportunity to teach our children about Black History in Brooklyn, the City used Eminent Domain to try and seize the URR site, knock it down, and turn it into an Underground Parking Lot for a new mall.

After meeting with the current owners of URR site, Bill helped organize a march across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall. We presented Mayor Bloomberg with a letter demanding he halt the City's plan to turn our Heritage into a mall.

We won. The City's Plans have been halted. A national historical society has confirmed the site's significant role in Brooklyn's history.

To Join the fight to Defend our Heritage, contact us at (917) 627 6528 or www.batsonforbrooklyn.comwww.batsonforbrooklyn.com