Political career Arthur Eve

1 political career

1.1 assemblyman 1967–1978
1.2 1977 mayoral campaign
1.3 deputy speaker era 1979–2003
1.4 political themes

political career
assemblyman 1967–1978

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.

1977 mayoral campaign

on march 3, 1977, buffalo s incumbent mayor stanley makowski announced not seek reelection in may; on same day, eve announced candidacy post. despite numerous successes @ fostering communication, described militant civil rights leader. eve s primary campaign described frank prial of new york times campaign against crangle rather handpicked candidate, leslie foschio. eve declared intentions add incentive voter registration drive, , modeled campaign after carl stokes 1967 mayor of cleveland election, used decentralized election districts. although expected finish no better third in four-way race, believed in strategy take 90 percent of black vote , 10 percent of rest. 30% of 425,000 buffalo residents black @ time. eve s candidacy blossomed during 4 televised democratic debates. eve capitalized on jimmy griffin s late campaign strategy of describing mayor job simple jobs. eve , supporters supposedly registered 10,000 new black voters.

eve became first african-american win democratic party s buffalo mayoral primary election. eve won primary democratic nomination 25,538–23,579 (approximately 37%–34%) margin on griffin. griffin subsequently became conservative party s nominee; third-placed primary finisher foschio threatened enter general election. eve supported erie county democratic chairman joseph crangle, hoped prevent third democrat, such foschio, running in general election endorsing eve publicly, eve campaigned without crangle s backing or of democratic party. eve spurned chairman crangle s endorsement because endorsement have caused him associated crangle machine. subsequently distanced himself crangle announcing not supporting chairman s bid re-election in 1978. 1977 buffalo mayoral primary had had voter turnout of 77–80% in black community, highest ever african american community in northeast, , surpassed nationwide in terms of african american voter turnout 1967 mayor of cleveland election of carl stokes.

deputy speaker era 1979–2003

by 1978 eve had attained title of deputy majority leader. eve, had been chairperson of black , puerto rican legislative caucus in 1975 , 1976, appointed deputy speaker of new york state assembly during 1979 legislative session. because of lack of minority representation in either chamber of new york state legislature, deputy speaker, eve highest-ranking black legislator while in office. in 1979, democratic majority fell 90–60 86–64, while caucus assembly membership had grown 15 16. meant caucus had stronger position obstruct legislation withholding votes, since 76 votes necessary legislation pass. in 1980, eve resumed chairmanship of black , puerto rican legislative caucus. following year, eve elected unanimously committee study state election law when complained no blacks on committee though said complaint should have not been taken effort lobby position.

eve , fellow democrat griffin remained political rivals throughout careers. in 1982, griffin , new york city mayor ed koch, each of whom had first been elected mayor of 1 of new york state s 2 largest cities in 1977, considering running governor , new york state lieutenant governor. eve adamantly opposed ticket, speaking in support of mario cuomo. eventually, griffin decided not pursue statewide office. in 1983, deputy speaker eve no longer caucus chairman.

in 1984, eve joined james f. notaro, liberal party of new york chairman create coalition better buffalo , sole intention of identifying candidate democratic , liberal party lines unseat griffin. following cuomo s 1982 new york state governors general election victory, eve became critical of cuomo s supply side approach budget balancing, , acknowledged cuomo voice of opposition represented interests such public housing. eve served adviser jesse jackson during 1984 presidential campaign, , after jackson named 2 delegates 1984 democratic party platform committee, named eve first alternate. in 1984, eve among involved in controversy on use of state plane attend dinner paterson. questions arose whether community event or political event due possibility funds raised @ dinner might used mayoral campaign. after cuomo succeeded pataki, eve continued voice opposition attempts balance state s budget cutting taxes. in 1985, eve sponsored legislation provide scholarships underprivileged , fund precollege enrichment programs described president of associated medical schools of new york dr. robert friedlander landmark.

in 1986, eve contender replace stanley fink speaker of new york state assembly, black , puerto rican caucus not unified in efforts endorse candidate. minority assembly members voted brooklyn s mel miller due influence of downstate party organizers. eve outspoken in opposition status quo; in 1988, opposed 3 incumbents new york state board of regents. in june 1988, eve spearheaded group of 12 black state ticket committemembers protested absence of black on state ticket of cuomo, stan lundine , herman badillo, voting candidate, not joined in protest manhattan leaders david dinkins , herman farrell. in november 1988, among few lawmakers vote against budget cuts , first call delay in enactment. eve s outspokenness attracted opposition own interests, did later same year. during 1988 re-election campaign, encountered opposition minority ranks within legislature, caused alleged involvement in orchestration of campaign against queens, ny democrat cynthia jenkins. result, campaigned on behalf of eve s opponent dorsey glover; jenkins prevailed in primary election. during 1988 democratic party presidential primaries, eve endorsed jackson on al gore , michael dukakis. in 1993, endorsed h. carl mccall, president of new york city board of education, new york state comptroller in race against carol bellamy, fernando ferrer, bronx borough president, assemblyman robin schimminger, , joel giambra. in both 1989 , 1993, eve considered running mayor. wife opposed 1989 campaign. in 1993, felt have opportunity have buffalo mayor had working relationship if anthony masiello become mayor, , he, therefore declined run endorse masiello.

in 2000, eve challenged crystal peoples-stokes, member of grassroots , majority leader of erie county legislature. race described new york times toughest election contest of eve s political career. during race, eve s 18th , final new york state assembly election campaign, peoples depicted him part of antiquated old guard. eve responded summoning political connections including new york state comptroller h. carl mccall, united states representative charles b. rangel, new york state assembly speaker sheldon silver, representative maxine waters , son eric, veteran new york state campaign manager. peoples-stokes s democratic primary election challenge successful, , credited energizing minority voters elect byron brown new york state senator.

in 2000, eve proposed pataki declare march 10 harriet tubman day, in honor of african-american abolitionist helped bring emancipation of many slaves. in 2001 eve began efforts have day declared state holiday, legislation failed passage in new york state senate. tubman had lived on 50 years in auburn, new york, harriet tubman house located. movement commemorate spread birthplace state, maryland. eve continued efforts in 2002, legislation did not pass until 2003, after retirement.

political themes

eve recognized leader on every issue s important families , according al gore, , services new york state black , puerto rican legislative caucus, committee of public officials attempted resolve conflict @ attica state prison. eve s major emphasis on @ bottom of society; believes nation should judged how attends needs of lowest citizens—the homeless, chronically poor, , working poor, among whom blacks numbered disproportionately.

eve campaigned increased availability of health care services. legislated against hate crimes , advocated against expansion of legalized gambling casinos tax economically disadvantaged, although gambling legislation nevertheless approved. eve noted vast majority of lottery tickets bought in lower income bracket, , advocated greater representation in new york state jury pools economically disadvantaged. urged restraint in banking deregulation.