Assemblyman 1967–1978 Arthur Eve

eve held construction of suny-buffalo north campus secure minorities construction apprenticeship access.

eve elected new york state assembly in 1966 following several years of service independent ward leader in buffalo. remained in assembly until 2002, sitting in 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd, 193rd , 194th new york state legislatures. eve rose prominence in mid-1960s during buffalo s civil disturbances , rights. expanded notability during attica prison riots. during buffalo riot of 1967, eve attempted organize formal meetings in order avert physical confrontations. eve fought against union policies disallowed minority participation in apprentice programs led high paying union jobs on state construction sites. threatened new york governor nelson rockefeller lie down in front of bulldozers @ 1 of these sites. in 1968, delayed construction on state university of new york @ buffalo s amherst campus push through agreement new york state , unions promote minority access construction industry. protests supporters of eve s effort caused rockefeller call eleven-month construction moratorium starting in march 1969.

eve brokered negotiations adam clayton powell jr. state office building.

in april 1969, construction of adam clayton powell jr. state office building (originally known harlem state office building) @ 125th street , seventh avenue became political quagmire. originally, rockefeller had proposed 20-story office building , 10-story cultural , civic center, legislature approved funding office building. eventually, there protesting harlem community halted construction. eve brokered discussions between rockefeller , state senator basil paterson, represented disgruntled harlem community.

during eve s first term assemblyman, led effort obtain initial $500,000 ($3.6 million of 2017) of funding establish state university of new york system s seek/educational opportunity program. since 1970s, colleges in new york state have administered arthur o. eve higher education opportunity program assist students may otherwise unable attend college because of educational , financial circumstances. later, in 1988, received kennedy center distinguished leadership in arts-in-education award.

attica correctional facility

in late 1960s, eve drove constituent attica state prison, 35 miles (56 km) buffalo. after observing prison s conditions, began introduce prison reform legislation state assembly. since legislators fearful of political backlash , avoided prison reform issues, eve became primary channel through prisoners forward complaints , requests. compassion prisoners recognised them. example, in months following eight-hour november 4, 1970 seizure of auburn correctional facility, eve legislator named recipient of prisoner complaints.

—eve on use of force retake attica correctional facility after attica prison riot.

eve served observer , negotiator in wake of 1971 attica prison riot. believing situation called people credible both prison population people involved , observing situation outside prison, joined tom wicker , john dunne, among others, in entering prison hear inmates demands. eve first mediator arrive @ scene of rebellion. first elected official enter prison yard following riot in 42 prisoners taken, , led september 11 tour requested visitors seized cellblock d other areas of prison. prisoners requested direct communication commissioner of corrections, russell g. oswald, , specific individuals hear demands, naming louis farrakhan, huey newton, , william kunstler; kunstler agreed serve legal counsel. primary prisoner demand that, upon surrendering control of prison guards, not beaten. farrakhan refused attend situation in person, however, eve felt turning point in negotiations. eve has expressed belief governor rockefeller responsible massacre subsequently occurred in prison, , rockefeller made deliberate decision escalate conflict knowing there loss of life. after negotiations stalled on demand amnesty, rescue operation saved 29 hostages , led 10 inmate deaths. eve critical of rockefeller s decision not come observe prison , negotiations rather pursue tactical measures: think governor rockefeller ought indicted. in 1992 attica civil-liability trial, eve testified on behalf of inmates. in march 2001, new york governor george pataki appointed eve attica task force met families of attica prison employees survived 1971 uprising , negotiated reparations.

in february 1971, eve sponsored 2 bills. 1 called minimum of 0.5% of construction funds allocated on-the-job training construction workers. other initiative have buffalo public schools decentralized new york city public schools had been prior year.

in 1974 elections, new york state democratic chairman, joseph crangle, attempted block eve obtaining democratic nomination. after 1974 election, eve senior assemblyman among blacks , puerto ricans. following 1974 elections in 15 of 18 newly democratic seats non-new york city democrats, upstate delegation credited giving democrats majority. year marked year in upstate democrats demanded there division of democratic minority leader, democratic deputy minority leader, assistant minority leader, minority whip, , ranking member of ways , means committee, had been given new york city officials. incoming governor hugh carey interested in geographic division of key positions in order promote party unity. eve sat on 1978 medicaid reimbursement evaluation committee.