Harlem Mystery Mail (Series)
Not on my watch! – Iyanla Vanzant
If it’s one thing I hate, it’s somebody trying to get one over on me. I’m not sure which I dislike more: being lied to, or the liar thinking they can get away with it. So when I opened my post office box and found a mailer that didn’t seem quite right, I investigated. What I found was way, way wilder than I imagined. (It’s like the BKMag thing all over again.)
There are private interests spending a lot of money on my neighborhood state assembly primary. It costs anywhere from $28,000 to $40,000 to send this kind of mail of to every address in the district, and some independent expenditure committees have sent 2-3 rounds when the primary was still a whole month away.
The more I look into who’s funding these groups, the more frustrated I become. And I think we all as Harlemites have a right to know that just because a group has dubbed themselves MOVING HARLEM FORWARD doesn’t mean they live here, support our local businesses, or have any interest in community uplift. The rent is too damn high, my favorite spots are closing, and the library isn’t open on weekends for families to take their children to get books. Plus, we need those fast and free buses like yesterday.
I’ll be posting installments of the Harlem Mystery Mail series on TikTok and Instagram every time I get a new piece of mail. I’ll also post them on this page, so be sure to check back regularly. As far as the candidates go, I’ve interviewed the challenger, Conrad Blackburn, and I’m waiting to hear back from the incumbent, Jordan J.G. Wright. And don’t be discouraged, this is very much still an ART BLOG, but art is made by people and people are impacted by politics.
Here’s what I’ve posted so far
(Last Updated: May 30, 2026)
Harlem Mystery Mail, Part 1 (originally posted on 5/17, reposted on 5/20)
Who sent me this mailer?
@blackstar.reviews [reposted] Harlem Mystery Mail, part 1 — NYC democracy, Black politics, big money, lobbying, and connecting the dots only to find out it’s one big circle. Pam Bondi, Chi Osse, Conrad Blackburn, J.G. Wright #greenscreen #harlem #uptown #harlemworld🌎 #localpolitics
Harlem Mystery Mail, Part 2 (originally posted on 5/17, reposted on 5/20)
Did Conrad Blackburn work for Pam Bondi?
@blackstar.reviews [reposted] Harlem mystery mail, Part 2 — harlem politics, dsa power grabs, carpet bagging, affordable housing, free buses, weekend library hours, getting it out the mud, and storytelling: WHY HARLEM? #greenscreen #harlem harlemworld🌎 #localpolitics #uptown
Harlem Mystery Mail, Part 3 (posted 5/25)
Topics: Moving New York Families Forward, Michael Bloomberg, Alice Walton, Jim Walton, Frank Ricci
@blackstar.reviews Harlem, we’ve got mail (again…) going deeper on the pink and yellow mailer – the crazy part is we don’t even have Walmart in Harlem 😮💨 #greenscreen #localpolitics #harlemworld🌎 #uptown #harlem (Harlem Mysyery Mail part 3)
Harlem Mystery Mail, Part 4 (posted 5/25)
Topics: New York Future, Draft Kings, Fan Duel, Online Gambling
@blackstar.reviews at this point I’m getting 2 per day! arghhhh. what’s the under/over on how many more of these we should expect? 🤔🤔remember to vote on June 23. #localpolitics #harlemworld🌎 #uptown #harlem #greenscreen
Harlem Mystery Mail, Part 5 (posted 5/25)
Topics: Moving Harlem Forward, Solidarity PAC, Adeena Rosen, Daniel Lowy, 32BJ American Dream Fund
@blackstar.reviews beginning to wonder how many parts this series will have….we’re still a month out. 🥱 idk how long this one will stay up… and some of yall called this connection out early #greenscreen #localpolitics #harlemworld🌎 #uptown #harlem
No matter where you land on these issues — whether cooperative housing sounds like a dream or a nightmare — please, please remember to vote in the primary. If you live in NYC, the election is on June 23, but you can vote early between June 13 and June 21. Go to https://www.vote.nyc/elections to learn more about the when’s and the where’s.
If you don’t live in NYC, figure out what’s happening in your own local politics. And when you learn something new, don’t keep it to yourself! Tell a friend.
blacklove 🖤 and starlight 🌟
