Here’s an update on President Obama and the Democratic National Committee‘s $30,000 plate dinner fundraiser at Red Rooster by Eddie Gehman Kohan at Obama Foodorama. Chef Marcus Samuelsson joins only a handful of chefs who have received repeat business from President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. On Tuesday evening, he’ll be getting more, when the President headlines a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at Samuelsson’s hotspot, the Red Rooster restaurant on Lenox Avenue at 126th Street in Harlem.
The trip will be Mr. Obama’s first visit to Harlem since becoming president, though he’s visited the Apollo Theater before he was elected. Open for less than four months, Samuelsson’s and Rooster chef Andrea Bergquist American comfort-food menu is meant to be affordable, with entrees ranging from $16-$24. On Tuesday, prices will be abit higher: $30,800 per person, only about fifty people are expected.
That same evening, the President will attend an invitation-only “Thank You Reception with President Obama,” at the Studio Museum on 125th Street. Harlem is a critical fundraising base for the President; during the 2008 campaign, locals dumped millions into campaign coffers.
We understand the need for the President and the Democratic National Committee to compete for fundraising dollars. Here are four reasons why we think it’s bad timing:
1. Harlem’s unemployment at a record high of 50% for men.
2. The Secret Service is closing down Harlem street vendors during the president’s visit.
3. Harlem institutions in deep financial need; Rice High School, the National Black Theater, etc.
4. Harlem’s annual median income is $25,000, less than the $30,000 plate dinner for the night.
I hope that this is something that will be thought out more thoroughly and not revisited until after the economy has picked up.
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St. Philips Church
Cohen's Fashion Optical of Harlem
...the HW Cup
...Harlem tees
Harlem umbrella by Wardell Milan
"Bearden, 1944," 
Harlem World Magazine
The DNC is held every year and prices for tickets have been consistent for decades. When Bill Clinton held his DNC fundraiser, no one said a word. We hailed him as the “black president” Uh, ok. The black President who brought what jobs to Harlem while he paraded around in the State Building. Fast food restaurant on every corner is what he brought to us. That’s it. I guess Obama was suppose to come into office and create jobs in less than a year and pass out checks to everyone. We make history with our first black President and all we have are negative opinions on everything he does. How about, be happy that he is bringing attention to Harlem. You have no idea what’s in the works. Also, remember Harlem is not a city. It’s a section of Manhattan. If people would go pass the 20 block radius there may be a job. His slogan was “Yes WE Can” We have just as much power. We live in a free enterprise. He’s created funding for new businesses and educational programs for those who are out of a job to get training. Create a business and hire people or we can further our education to be gain employment. In addition, he extended unemployment an entire year and people just sat on their asses and collected. We have to take some responsibility for what’s in our community. I have been in Harlem 3 years and I love it. I’m not a native New Yorker, but I love the energy of this city. However, each day I see drug dealers selling to our own people and the same people doing the same thing on the corner daily. Are they even looking for jobs? Let’s not shift all the blame on Obama. I came here and did not know a soul. I raised my daughter here and have been employed since I lived here. It’s about getting up and making a move. Things do not just happen. We have to make them happen. You reap what you sow. Obama is a figure head for our country not God. Remember “Work without Faith is dead”. We need to believe is somehting bigger than Obama and maybe we will see some changes in our lives. Negativity will get you know where. It will only prove that black people are divided and can cause him to lose a reelection. Then we’ll end up with anohter George Bush and no one will say one damn word. I never saw this much resistment when Bush was President.
I meant no where. Excuse my typos. I’m sure someone will post something ignorant, so I felt the need to correct my errors. Thanks
Anna, well said.