[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 112 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF ARCHIE SPIGNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 28, 2021

  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the honorable 
life of Archie Spigner, whom I will remember as a distinguished 
constituent, friend, and mentor. Archie was and will always be my 
Jackie Robinson. The road for Black political leaders in my district, 
in Queens and in New York City is a much smoother one today because 
Archie paved that road for us. However, metaphorical roads were not the 
only ones he dedicated his life to.
  Archie knew the streets of Southeast Queens better than anyone I've 
ever met. As a public servant for over 20 years, Archie spent his 
career building better roads, as well as better schools, train lines, 
senior programs, housing programs, and sewers. It was often said that 
the roads to public office in our neighborhoods ran through Archie. His 
life was truly dedicated to our community, and his accomplishments are 
evidence.
  Born in South Carolina during the height of Jim Crow and segregation, 
Archie leaves this Earth as the godfather of politics in Queens and 
boasts several Black elected officials including myself that called him 
``mentor''.
  While studying parliamentary procedure he became a steward at a shoe 
factory which led to his career advocating for the common worker. As a 
labor organizer, he met A. Philip Randolph, one of the principal 
architects of the March on Washington. He founded the Queens Branch of 
the Negro American Labor Council right out of his living room. His work 
as an organizer put him in close contact with his political mentors 
including Assembly Member Guy R. Brewer and State Supreme Court Justice 
Kenneth Browne.
  While attending Queens College of the City of University of New York 
where he would earn his bachelor's degree, he worked as the liaison to 
the African American community for Queens Borough President Sidney 
Leviss. Soon after the New York City Council was expanded, Archie was 
elected to represent the 27th District, where he would go on to serve 
for 27 years. During his tenure, he chaired three committees: The 
Legislative Office of Budget Review, Economic Development, and Housing 
and Buildings. His work with the budget review office led to the 
creation of the ever-important independent budget office. He also 
championed some of the borough's first Business Improvement Districts 
and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Programs while on the 
Economic Development Committee.
  Somehow he managed to have ``free'' time and spent it serving as 
Deputy Majority Leader and Co-Chair of the Queens Delegation. Archie 
spent every moment he could helping his community and his 
accomplishments are all over Queens. He established mandatory 
sensitivity trainings for every police precinct in the city. He helped 
create York College, along with many new middle and high schools. He 
codified protections against red lining and worked on a number of 
infrastructure projects, including the incorporation of the E train 
extension, new sewers, street rehabilitation, and the New Social 
Security building. The systemic problems being grappled by this House 
today were no strangers to Archie, and he dedicated a career in public 
office to alleviating those burdens that continuously plague 
underserved communities. Mostly, however, Archie just wanted to help 
his neighbors.
  Before I first ran for Congress, Archie told me, ``make sure you 
always help people, be honest with people, and stay on the ground.'' 
After his tenure as a City Council Member, Archie went back to his 
neighborhood and became a district leader in the Queens County 
Democratic Party and was head of the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic 
Club, named after his old mentor. Cementing his mark on the community, 
I introduced a bill in 2004 to rename a St. Albans post office after 
him, which at the time, was the only commemoration of its kind to be 
ever given to a living person. At the commemorating ceremony, 
schoolchildren sang, ``if Archie Spigner works for you, clap your 
hands,'' which was a line greeted with roaring applause.
  The Book of Matthew tells us that ``when the Son of Man comes in his 
glory,'' he will sit on his throne and judge both the living and the 
dead, saying the following to those who are to be saved: ``Come, you 
who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom 
prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and 
you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something 
to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and 
you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and 
you came to visit me.'' I do not find it difficult to imagine what kind 
of person from our time will be destined to join in God's glory. I have 
had the pleasure of knowing someone so vehemently dedicated to 
improving the lives of their fellow man. That person was Archie 
Spigner. He pursued criminal justice and equities in economic and 
housing opportunities that demonstrated a passion for loving his 
neighbor as he would himself. He worked for reform in his community so 
that more could prosper and share in the promise of this country. He 
was both an idol American and Christian, and it is an honor to have 
known him.

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