Everyday People
As we approach the Primary
Election for Niagara County Legislator and City Council on Tuesday September
10th, there are a couple of things I wanted to share with all of you, our local
voters.
Is it just me or have you also
noticed that most County Legislator and City Council candidates only speak
about their contributions and accomplishments to our county, and city, within
the context of their job duties or affiliations? Rarely do I hear someone speak
about anything they've done as an everyday citizen. Rarely do I hear of
anything some candidates have done that they're not getting paid for, or that's
not affiliated with a club/organization they belong to. In other words, if it
wasn't their job, or expected of them as a club/organization member, you'll see
almost no contributions or sacrifices being made to benefit anyone outside of
their own family. We are all citizens first, and what we are willing and able
to do first, as everyday citizens, regardless of our job, or the club/organization
we belong to, is worth considering. This is especially important to consider
when these everyday citizens, choose to run for public office, and serve our everyday
people as elected officials.
Recently a citizen reached
out to me about a public safety concern in his neighborhood. This person is not
a politician, they are not a member of a club/organization, they are not
getting paid, and their concern had nothing to do with their job, or affiliations.
This was an everyday citizen being proactive and taking the responsibility to
coordinate other concerned citizens to resolve a situation in one of our
communities. That proactive approach towards the growth and development of our
communities, as an everyday citizen first, is a quality we rarely see in public
officials today. It is my assessment that many of the things we would like to
see happen in our communities, and city, aren't getting done, or won’t get done,
because we choose people to represent everyday citizens that have done very
little to nothing as everyday citizens themselves. Imagine if the citizen who
reached out to me also had this mentality "it's not my
job, and I'm not getting paid for it" philosophy. Can you see how this increases the danger, and
lack of growth and development, of a community?
I am currently running for
Niagara County Legislature to represent the fourth district. The majority of
the contributions I have made to our community, and other communities around
the country, have been as an everyday citizen. I had the opportunity to work as
a program consultant for the History Channel Show 'Gangland', and work as a
media consultant for an actor from the T.V. Series OZ. I've created Mentor Programs including a free
8-Week Young Writers Program that empowered our youth to successfully
publish a book. I operate a Prison Correspondence Program where I donate
literature to correctional facilities around the country. I've done fundraisers
to send two local youth on a College Tour out of state, and support a
Reconstruction Project for an academy in Philadelphia, PA. I've hosted various
educational forums, and taught life skills classes, at our Niagara Falls Public
Library. I've volunteered with various community organizations, and have done
workshops, radio programs, and speaking engagements about community outreach,
economic development, and personal empowerment globally. I've authored 10
books, have helped publish other authors, and have written for various
publications globally. These are just a fraction of the things I've done, and
currently do, as a 38 year old everyday citizen whose concerned about the
growth and development of our communities, especially our youth. These are contributions
and accomplishments that have nothing to do with a job I'm getting paid for, a
title, or a club/organization I belong to.
Official Bio
Website
Citizens
of Niagara Falls, if your goal is to elect people who are going to anticipate
your needs as citizens, and exceed the expectations of our community and city,
there are two things we must do. Number one is: assess candidates based upon
what we've proactively done, and what we currently do, as everyday citizens.
To be more accurate, begin your assessment of us prior to this election year because
all of the dog petting, baby kissing, and festival photos can create an image
of activism and community outreach that may have never existed. Secondly,
public office is a job, and just like with any job, you have people who sit
around and watch the clock, people that milk the clock, people that hide until
it's time to punch out, and people that give you a hard day’s work. You also
have people who don't treat their position like it's just a job, and will do
everything in their power to help resolve your concerns of our community. Before you vote for
any of us, find out who we are. Look for evidence that supports what we have been willing and able to do, as an
everyday citizen; because this is who we really are. And this is who we will continue to be, after you
have elected us to represent you.
Saladin Q. Allah,
Candidate; Niagara County
Legislature, 4th districtOfficial Bio
Website
