Brown posts letter addressing his critics
Vallejo mayor candidate Hakeem Brown —facing what he says is a “smear campaign against me based on lies, distortions and mistruths” from a “political group” supporting one of his opponents — took to social media to address his critics on Sunday.
Brown, a current Vallejo City Council member in a heated race with fellow Councilmember Robert McConnell and three other candidates, wrote a letter describing, among other topics, his “troubled youth” — including “several arrests” and a four-year stint in jail
Brown wrote that he and his attorney are warning the news organization Open Vallejo that “untruthful attacks on my character will result in legal action based on slander and libel.” Open Vallejo made headlines over the summer with its story claiming members of the Vallejo Police Department bent their badges to celebrate fatal shootings.
On Monday, Geoffrey W. King, the CEO and president of Open Vallejo, said the site’s work “stands on its merits.”
“Open Vallejo recently contacted Vallejo City Councilmember Hakeem Brown for comment on a news story,” King told the Times-Herald in a statement. “Rather than respond to Open Vallejo’s questions, yesterday Councilmember Brown published a statement characterizing this news organization as a ‘political group’ that supports one of his political opponents. That is false.
“Open Vallejo does not support or oppose candidates for elected office,” King continued. “We believe our published work stands on its merits. That work includes our investigation exposing the Vallejo police tradition of bending badges after fatal shootings. Councilmember Brown referenced this investigation at a recent city council meeting. Our request for comment to Councilmember Brown remains open.”
Brown goes on to discuss his youth, including “several” arrests and his time in jail, 20 years ago.
“I have made no secret of my tough journey to leadership and success, which includes a trou
bled youth where I made numerous mistakes,” Brown said. “As a young man 20 years ago, I was arrested not once, but several times — for drugs, possession of a firearm, and a scuffle with a domestic partner. I took full responsibility for these actions and pled guilty, serving four years in jail. During that time, I vowed to reach the standard that others expected of me.
“Since then I have sought to live the example for my son, other Black youth, and the community that we are
not solely defined by our mistakes, but how we learn from them — and the importance of repentance, spiritual faith, and community service,” Brown continued. “Thanks to the love of my family and the acceptance of the Vallejo community, I have not only turned my life around, but been provided with the privilege of serving you — and giving back to the community we all love.”
Brown owns Life Enhancement Services, a cannabis business on the 1900 block of Broadway.
He owned and managed a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Vallejo from 2009 to 2012, when it was shut down as part of a
multi- dispensary raid. The raid was cited as unlawful and the city was required to return the money seized during the police action.
Brown then opened a new garden to grow for patients in Napa. This garden was also raided and Brown was arrested for possession with intent to distribute, despite possessing documentation confirming the medical nature of the garden. Brown was eventually found not guilty.
Brown, who has captured endorsements from local officials including Vice Mayor Hermie R. Sunga, Councilmember Pippin Dew, former Councilmember Jess Malgapo and Solano County Su
pervisor Erin Hannigan, had his downtown office tagged with racial hate words in August. The next morning, a large crowd gathered to paint over those words.
Despite the hurtful images, Brown is undeterred and feels he is the right person to be the next Vallejo mayor.
“As your mayor, I will bring every aspect of my life experiences — the good, the bad and the ugly — to ensuring that every young person and family gets the support they need to be healthy, safe, and successful during these challenging times,” Brown said in his letter. “Working with you, we can achieve the reform, change and recovery needed to Move Vallejo Forward. Thank you for understanding that this is the last time I will publicly address this issue, for the health, well-being and privacy of my mother and son.”
Brown and McConnell are joined in the race by M. Avonelle Hanley-Mills, John B. Kenney and Cornisha Williams-Bailey. Current Mayor Bob Sampayan announced in July he would not be seeking another term. Current Mayor Bob Sampayan announced in July he would not be seeking another term.