[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23329-23330]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. DAVID DINKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Saturday, August 4, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, my 
brother, Mr. David Dinkins, for his public service career, and to 
congratulate him on his 80th birthday. I feel it quite appropriate to 
honor David by highlighting his accomplishments and the contributions 
he has made, and continues to make, to the city of New York and this 
great Nation.
  David Dinkins, born July 10, 1927, in Trenton, NJ, moved to Harlem in 
1953 and has been an integral part of New York since then. He served 
his country during World War II in the United States Marine Corps, and 
later by entering the world of politics.
  Mr. Dinkins graduated from Howard University in 1950. With politics 
on his mind, he decided to further pursue his education at Brooklyn Law 
School in 1953. Mr. Dinkins went on to start a family, marrying Ms. 
Joyce Burrows and raising 2 children, Donna and David Jr., in Harlem.
  With the support of his family and friends, Mr. Dinkins became more 
involved in politics. With friends, including Basil Paterson, Percy 
Sutton, and myself, we became pioneers in the politics of New York 
City, eventually being named the ``gang of four.'' David went on to 
become very influential, swiftly moving up in New York's political 
structure.
  Mr. Dinkins has held numerous positions in New York including: New 
York State Legislature, and New York city clerk. He was elected 
Manhattan Borough president in 1985 which was a sign of his 
determination, as this was his third run for office. Mr. Dinkins later 
ran for mayor, and was elected on November 7, 1989, becoming the first 
African American to serve as the mayor of New York City.
  Inheriting a city in distress, including a budget deficit close to $2 
billion dollars and a seemingly uncontrollable crime rate, David 
Dinkins had his hands full. The city also faced racial tensions that 
needed attention quickly, which Mayor Dinkins provided. Mayor Dinkins 
was able to soothe the city amidst times of turmoil, stemming from 
disagreements across ethnicities, which were very common during his 
tenure as mayor. Mr. Dinkins left office after turning the budget 
deficit into a surplus, and acting as the peacemaker in the city.
  As a professor of public affairs at Columbia University, Mr. Dinkins 
continues to work for others by providing young adults with an 
education. He is to be commended for his achievements. David Dinkins is 
a dear friend, and serves as an inspiration to me, as well as many 
others. As Americans, we should honor him by joining his family in 
celebration of his 80th birthday.

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