Chavez Phelps, Ph.D., HSPP

Good question. I personally was able to start the rebuilding of my neighborhood after Katrina with 40 homes because of Community Development Legislation created by Democrats. You should always challenge the party. This is why my family has voted Democratic for generations: Democrats’ Policies Beneficial for the Black Community HEALTHCARE -Childcare: Child Tax Credit ( $3000 proposed being raised to $6000) -Creation of Medicare and Medicaid. Healthcare safety net for middle/working class and underserved. -Obamacare: millions of Black Americans with access to healthcare, protection against discrimination practices denying coverage. -Protection of Reproductive Rights for Women -Elder care that allows family members to care for an elder and receive payments for their work and care. Build Back Better -Reduction of Prescription Drug prices. -$35/month insulin. With Blacks disproportionately suffering with diabetes at 12% SOCIAL JUSTICE -Civil Rights Bill that ended Jim Crow laws and segregation -Voters Right Bill protecting the rights to vote -Civil Rights Housing Bill ending housing discrimination. -James Byrd Hate Crime Bill -Emmit Till Anti Lynching Act -Proposed George Floyd Criminal Justice Reform Bill -Proposed John Lewis Voting Right Bill -The most Black judges nominated and seated after generations of exclusion. -The First Black woman on the Supreme Court. ECONOMICS -Creation of Social Security. Economic safety net after years of working towards retirement. -Raising the minimum wage. -Labor Law codifying collective bargaining, living wage, 8 hour/work day, 5 day work week. Support of Unions. (Trump in Elon interview praised union busting) -The Community Development Legislation combating banking discrimination and funding business capital for Blacks discriminated against and refused lending. -Creation of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)in underserved communities without banking institutions funding Black entrepreneurs, economic development, and creating jobs. -Community Development Block Grants that funds cities for operations and infrastructure -Biden Infrastructure Bill -Infrastructure Bill which requires participation of Black contractors on ALL federal projects -Infrastructure Bill replacing lead pipes in Black communities disproportionately with a poisoned water supply. Milwaukee is replacing its entire network. -First Time homebuyers subsidies to be increased in a Harris Administration to $25,000 -FHA loans to combat Banking discrimination that denies Black mortgages. -Funding through the Farm Bill for grocery stores in food deserts: bringing economic development in Black communities and supporting Black businesses. -$2 Billion to Black farmers discriminated against by the USDA.(Republicans sued to block it because of their judges) -Economic Empowerment Zones created by President Obama to bring economic development in poor Black communities (Republicans continued the program to use the zones as tax right offs without any development create blight.) -The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. An agency designed to regulate corporate fraud and corporate greed that purposely inflate prices for profit. -Manufacturing Jobs created with the return of manufacturing plants with tax credits incitnives first source hiring from Black communities lowering Black unemployment. EDUCATION -Student Loan forgiveness -Increase of the Pell Grants, 68% of which go to Black students. -$15 Billion to HBCUs -Protecting public school funding. Stopping the siphoning off of public schools funding to private schools.

Madame Vice President you ran a great campaign. In 107 days you introduced yourself to the American people and defined what disqualified your opponent. You raised a billion dollars within a matter of days and put together a coalition of the most diverse group of American citizenry. You presented a measure of hope and optimism while displaying intelligence and discipline. You were pragmatic, deliberate, insightful, inspiring, and positive. You were the epitome of a political scientist and your campaign left everything on the field. You were our last best hope for an American aesthetic that millions of us are in pursuit of. I am honored to have been a part of this campaign and I look forward to working with you further to protect our democracy and form a more perfect union. May the ancestors give you enlightenment. May God continue to bless you all the days of your life. Thank you for your service.

Democracy is clarity. As a student of human behavior, I believe it reflects the will of the people. The race is not over but the blame game has begun. I will not let the pundits scapegoat Black voters. I will not let you scapegoat Arab American voters. Not even the shift of Latino voters. Donald Trump was supported by White men, White women, non college educated and college educated. Suburban White women and rural White women by a majority. It’s clear that my neighbors, coworkers, and friends have no problem with a convicted felon, convicted rapist, racist, and misogynist leading their government. They share his values. People show you who they are.