The Newark Star-Ledger reveals that Imamu Amiri Baraka (aka Everett Leroi Jones) is going to have to hit the bricks in Poet's post is being written out:
A Senate panel yesterday acted to abolish the post of New Jersey poet laureate as a way to oust controversial Newark poet Amiri Baraka.No to worry, Imamu! There's an opening in the poet laureate biz that's right up your alley!
The move to eliminate the post altogether is the latest twist in the effort by lawmakers and Gov. James E. McGreevey to remove Baraka, who has been under fire for writing a poem critics contend is anti-Semitic.
McGreevey had wanted to fire Baraka, but his attorney general said the 1999 law creating the post had no provisions for removing him. Lawmakers then drafted legislation giving the Governor the power to remove the poet laureate, but yesterday opted to simply get rid of the post. The bill cleared the Senate State Government Committee in a unanimous vote.
Baraka, 67, a nationally known poet and playwright, did not attend the committee meeting and did not make himself available for comment.
Nobody defended him before the committee; five people called for his ouster.
Baraka has refused to resign and has threatened to take the issue to court if he loses the poet laureate position. McGreevey has cut off his $10,000 state stipend.
Communist Vietnam's 'poet laureate'Currently Huu's doing a briquet imitation in Hell.
To Huu, Vietnamese poet and politburo member
Born: October 1920, in Hue
Died: 9 December, in Hanoi, aged 82
