The Black Brooklyn Empowerment Convention of 2006 has been a fascination of mine since I got my hands on the first email about it...which referred to David Yassky as a white individual and threw a spotlight on the racial implications of his congressional race.

Then we found out about a not-so-publicized meeting of convention organizers with Eliot Spitzer, where they demanded more blacks get jobs in all state agencies.

Now, comes word that all that convention planning and organizing has left the group in debt. Below is a copy of the group's latest agenda, which someone was kind enough to send along.

Note item No. 6:

To: Planning Committee, Black Brooklyn Empowerment Convention 2006

From: Councilman Al Vann

Re: Follow-up Meeting The next meeting of the Brooklyn Black Empowerment Convention will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 1360 Fulton Street, 3rd Floor- The Skylight Gallery, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration.

As usual, we shall begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and adjourn by 12 noon. Among the issues to be considered:

1. Report from meeting with Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

2. Update on "Cluster" activities and plans

3. Post-convention restructuring of Planning Committee

4. Printing and distribution of ratified Agenda

5. Use of Convention's web site and email address

6. Eliminating convention debt

7. Open agenda

Thank you.

A spokeswoman for the convention declined to put a dollar amount on the convention debt.

-- Azi Paybarah