Published by
The Empire

Dem Congressional Candidates Barron, Jefferies to Debate in East New York

Brooklyn City Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries will face off for the second time on Thursday evening in the heart of Barron's city council district.

The two Democratic candidates for the 8th Congressional district last came to rhetorical blows on Monday during an in-studio debate for NY1's "Inside City Hall," but have yet to take each other on in public.

Not much has changed for either candidate since Monday evening, when both men spent most of their time attacking each other's records. Barron accused Jeffries of flip-flopping on the Atlantic Yards development and his support of charter schools. Meanwhile, Jeffries attacked Barron's inability to lead on legislation.

Despite the fact that five of the borough's six poorest Census tracts are in the 8th Congressional district, neither candidate have spoken substantively about each other's records on unemployment or education. However, both candidates are sure to repeat their stated positions against NYPD's stop and frisk policy, which critics argue have disproportionally affected East New York and the neighboring Brownsville residents.

Tonight's forum begins at 6:30 p.m, at the Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in Theater 2.