In November of last year Jon Corzine was elected the 52nd Governor of New Jersey. He received over 90% of the African American vote. Since his election to the United States Senate in 2000 when he won by only 3% over his Republican opponent he has enjoyed overwhelming support from the African American community. Because of this there is a feeling among African American leadership and the African American community that he “owes us” or at the least should be supportive of issues important to our community. This feeling is not only appropriate, but also long overdue. Far too often in the past we have given our support to candidates, largely Democrats, who have gotten our votes and then not delivered for us.

Upon taking office Governor Corzine was confronted with a host of major problems: a budget deficit of over four billion dollars, a crisis the state faces with the highest property taxes in the nation, the need to provide at least twelve billion dollars to complete the school construction project, refund the transportation trust fund (which needed at least four billion dollars), replenishing the pension fund, and a host of others. This governor has more on his plate than any governor since I arrived in New Jersey in 1979.

Gov. Corzine has had to address several issues that have impacted African Americans in what has been perceived as negatively. Some have said that he has betrayed African Americans in light of the support they provided him.

Two particular issues stand out. First, the mayor and municipal council of Newark formed two foundations to determine how to expend $80 million dollars. The outgoing mayor is a member of both foundations. No rules or regulations governing the foundations had been established for their operation. The State Department of Community Affairs vetoed this decision. However, subsequently, the mayor and council decided to expend some of the funds on specific issues they considered emergencies. Again, the Department of Community Affairs vetoed this decision prompting the mayor to request a meeting with the governor to discuss the matter. The governor met with the mayor and members of the council. At this meeting it was inferred that the actions of the administration were based on race.

Second, the governor in seeking to balance the state budget asked the State Supreme Court to approve flat spending for the predominantly urban, poor and minority, 31 Abbott School Districts. Again this angered some African American leaders. The president of the State NAACP said it was equivalent to southern governors standing in schoolhouse doors to block African American children from entering.

While I am sensitive and glad to see African American leaders challenging decisions of those to whom we have given our votes and support, I take issue with the inference or charge that the actions and decisions of the governor and his administration were made on the basis of race. These decisions were made based upon on law and in seeking accountability.

For example the decision regarding Newark was made because the City of Newark had not passed a budget as required by law. Newark, like many municipalities has failed to pass a timely budget for years. Last year, Newark passed its budget only two weeks before the fiscal year ended. In the matter regarding Abbott spending, the fact is that the State of New Jersey spends 40% of education spending in 31 (Abbott) of the state’s 566 school districts. Yet, there is no accountability for these funds and the education the majority of children in these districts receive is poor. This decision was not based on race, it was based on the fact that the state has a budget deficit, and there has been no accountability of billions upon billions of dollars spent in these districts.

If there is any racism, it is in the fact that thousands upon thousands of low income, minority and urban children have been deprived of a quality education and saddled with a bleak future. This is what we should be angry about and acting upon. Instead of our cry being “we need more money,” our cry should be for accountability. If quality education were based only on money our children would be brilliant.

Often when decisions don’t go our way we make, playing the race card becomes almost automatic. The consequence of that however, is like the little boy who cried “wolf,” when racism does occur, the assertion will not be taken seriously. Racism is still a major problem in this state and nation; we must not make its reality frivolous by charging racism when it is not.