Ivan Thomas
The Public Policy Institute and Political Science Department are sponsoring a speech this Thursday by former mayor of New York David Norman Dinkins, who will share his experiences at the SIU Law School Auditorium.
Dinkins was the first black mayor in the history of New York and one of the first ever in the United States when he was elected in 1989.
"[David Dinkins] has a very unique perspective on public policy issues having been the first black mayor of New York," said Matt Baughman, development director for the Public Policy Institute. "He had to deal with a lot of violence and racial discord during his time as mayor."
Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1927, Dinkins lived with his mother and later moved to Harlem, N.Y. As a teenager, he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II before attending Howard University in Washington, D.C.
After graduating with honors and a bachelor's degree in mathematics, he went to Brooklyn Law School and then pursued a private law career that he focused on until 1975. He worked as a city clerk from 1975 to 1985 and campaigned for Manhattan's borough president three times before finally being elected.
In 1989, Dinkins beat incumbent Edward Koch in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Rudolph Giuliani in the general election by the slimmest of margins to claim victory as New York's mayor.
As the 106th mayor of New York, Dinkins faced numerous problems stemming from the violence and instability of New York at that time. Along with the troublesome stock market crash in the early 90s, he inherited a nearly $2 billion debt.
When the raging riots in the city became a big issue in the 1993 mayoral election, Dinkins once again faced Giuliani and lost by less than three percentage points.
Dinkins is now a Public Affairs professor at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and senior fellow of the Columbia Center for Urban Research and Policy.
Baughman said Dinkins has accomplished a great deal during his life, and it is an honor to have him speak at the University.
"He was a leader in the fight against apartheid and even hosted Nelson Mandela in a parade in New York. He teaches public affairs, hosts a radio program, and serves on several volunteer boards," Baughman said.
Baughman also thinks people who attend the lecture will leave with a better understanding of what it is like to be the first black mayor of New York while trying to tackle public policy challenges and manage a large city.
Paul Simon, director of the Public Policy Institute, has known Dinkins for about 15 years and said he has a great personality and is an extremely likable person, in addition to being well motivated.
SIUC students have the chance this week to witness the reflections of a man who has worked within the system and become an important part of New York's history.
Simon stresses that students should take advantage of this lecture because he thinks that there is much they can learn.
"I think [for students] it is extremely important to get insights from people who have strong opinions and practical experience," Simon said.
Reporter Ivan Thomas can be reached at ithomas@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
