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Thompson, Grant Endorse Walton for Masten
ENDORSED! Front row standing (from left) former Masten Council Member and State Senator AntoineThompson, former Legislator and activist Betty Jean Grant, India Walton an John Walker of "The Buffalo 5."
Former Common Council Member for the Masten District and NYS Senator, Antoine M. Thompson on Monday was joined by activist and former County Legislator Betty Jean Grant during a press conference to endorse India B. Walton for Masten District Council Member.
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Standing on the steps of the dilapidated former CAO Building on the corner of Humboldt and E. Ferry Street, Thompson praised Walton as a "leader who’s got a vision and gets results” and could" move the entire community forward.”
He said that they chose the site of the long neglected building at 735 Humboldt Parkway as an example of a host of unfinished projects in the district. That building, for example he said, had been in disrepair for some 20 years.
Masten, he continued has “too many unfinished incomplete projects” and gave examples of Kensington Heights, Fillmore Avenue development, the Jefferson Renaissance, Cold Spring Housing and Central Park,
“She (India) knows that Masten needs to get back on the move again” he said. “She knows that we need to increase home ownership, job opportunity , Black business ownership and a strong cultural corridor along Jefferson” and surrounding neighborhoods.
Activist Betty Jean Grant said there was no one running who could better serve the community than Walton. She remarked about the “courageous stand” India took when she ran for mayor and how all the naysayers said she couldn’t win, “but she took her message to the people and won the Democratic Primary and in the Masten District two times (in the Primary and in the general election).”
"She has proven that she is ready to be the next Masten Council Woman. She has the independence and she has the stamina," Grant added.
Thanking Thompson and Mrs. Grant for their support, Ms. Walton responded:
“Today Masten District is at risk of being left behind. In 2021 I stood right in this very same place and unveiled my plan for the East side when I ran for mayor. I was the one who started talking about disparity in health care and home ownership and housing and business ownership and the underdevelopment and inequity and disinvestment in the East Side community. Now there are all these so called plans for the East Side. But my fear is that if we don’t have a seat at the table, they will eat us for lunch. And there has to be someone at the table who is going to fight for the people of Masten district and the people on the East Side of Buffalo and that person is me…”
She added that she is a person who “will never back down, a person who tells the truth, a person who cares. Not about the politics but about the people.”
She said that she believes that her “ people powered, people centered campaign is going to bring home the win for the people of the Masten District and get Masten back on the move!”
She announced that her campaign headquarters is located at 571 E. Delevan and open Monday through Friday from 2-7pm. Volunteers are welcome.
