Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Influential NYC Mayors since the 1898 Consolidation

NYC Mayors (Van Wyck - Giuliani)
Prior to the mid 1930s New York City's Mayoral accomplishments focused heavily on the development and construction of transportation systems.  Van Wyck brought the first subway contract to the City and Gaynor fought against efforts that inhibited the development of the subway system.  McClellon, Hylan and Walker spent a great deal of time working on transportation issues and saw the construction of several bridges, the West Side Highway and the Queens Midtown Tunnel.  Perhaps a unique accomplishment during the pre 1930s era was Mitchel's development of the nation's first Municipal Zoning Plan and New York City's "first comprehensive budget".  www.nyc.gov

After the mid 1930s the focus split, one part remained on transportation, the other shifted to the progress of social, urban and public welfare and the maintenance of capital.  LaGuardia's work with President Roosevelt's New Deal Administration led to funding for a unified "transportation network, ... parks, low income housing, bridges, schools and hospitals".  He also led the construction on what is now known as LaGuardia Airport.  O'Dwyer created the "Office of City Construction Coordinator" to which he appointed Robert Moses and Moses completed a number of highway and public housing projects during the tenure of Impellitteri.  Wagner directed the commencement and/or completion of several major thoroughfares, Shea Stadium and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and from 1964-1965 New York City was host to the World's Fair.  www.nyc.gov

Lindsay dealt with numerous transit strikes throughout his tenure.  He created the "Urban Action Taskforce and Neighborhood City Halls" in order to organize and address criticism and grievances placed against City services.  Lindsay also "consolidated City agencies ... and created community school districts". Beame combated municipal bankruptcy by reducing the capital budget, decreasing the municipal payroll and "secur[ing] annual federal loans"; Koch restored the capital budget.  Dinkins was New York City's first African American Mayor.  He heavily advocated for the eradication of the City's pension stock "invested in companies that [conduct] business in South Africa".  He also helped to pass a bill that ranked banks according to "their opposition to apartheid".  www.nyc.gov

Giuliani dramatically reduced the murder and overall crime rate in NYC making it "the safest large city in America".  He also decreased tax burdens that resulted in increased tourism and job creation.  Giuliani reduced municipal spending and the payroll without layoffs and established a reserve fund.  He implemented welfare reform via a workfare program and brought higher levels of accountability and performance standards to the school system. Current Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, reduced crime, increased job growth, supported rehabilitation of the City's parks and harbors, enacted public health strategies, increased high school graduation and literacy rates, increased "support for community arts organizations" and saw unemployment rates reach record lows.  He also generated and is implementing the "Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan", a strategy focused on financial stability amid the recent financial downturn.  www.nyc.gov

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