The New York Observer » David Dinkins

Shindigger: New York’s Literary Lion Turns 100!

On a damp evening in May, the great and the gray trooped up the marble stairs of one of New York City's most hallowed institutions, the New York Public Library, for its centennial celebration. A smorgasbord of talent had been hired to showcase the library's varied nature, including an outdoor electric harpist, the Abyssinian Baptist Read More

Walcott’s Donations: Mostly to David Dinkins

A bit more about the man tapped to run the country's largest school system. Before entering City Hall with Bloomberg in 2002, Dennis Walcott was a recognized figure in city politics, joining a lawsuit to block fare hikes by the MTA, and appearing on NY1 to discuss, among other things, civil disobedience and police brutality.

But, Read More

Framing the Marriage Argument

The latest videos from the Human Rights Campaign released today feature former mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins.

"I'm a New Yorker who supports marriage equality" Koch says. "Join me as a New Yorker for marriage equality," Dinkins says in his video.

The phrases I've often heard in this debate - "same-sex marriage" and "Read More

Levine Knocks Espaillat Over Dinkins Comments

Last week, we reported that at a press conference to endorse Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, former Mayor David Dinkins rambled off-script a bit and said:

But it is important, it is so very important, particularly for the people of this district who vote on Tuesday to recognize how important it is to understand that the city Read More

David Dinkins Endorses Adriano Espaillat Because ‘Most People In The City Are Going To Look More Like Us Than Others’

Former Mayor David Dinkins was in rare form at an endorsement press conference for state Senate candidate Adriano Espaillat, telling reporters:

I grew up in Harlem where we taught that New York City is a melting pot. Well I don't agree with that. I have always said that we are a gorgeous mosaic. We have as Read More

Former Mayor Dinkins For Schneiderman

After a morning in which they rolled out a series of endorsements in Western New York, state Senator Eric Schneiderman just announced an endorsement from former New York City mayor David Dinkins in his campaign for attorney general.

"I am pleased to endorse Eric Schneiderman, a man of principle and integrity, and a progressive leader Read More

Eye Opener: The Mobile Sandwich Pod

The Post feels it has prompted a carding crackdown. [NYP]

James Dolan writes country songs that target his enemies. [NYT]

Emergency rooms crowded in the wake of the St. Vincent's closing. [WSJ]

Candace Bushnell's got two more books coming. [AP]

Well, Dave Dinkins likes Obama, for one. [NYDN]

Linda Stein, Read More

Powell Hires

Adam Clayton Powell IV's congressional campaign will soon be hiring Jaime Estades, a Democratic operative who most recently worked on Bill Thompson's mayoral campaign, and got his start helping elect David Dinkins as mayor.Estades will be the "campaign coordinator," Powell told me.Estades first day is on the job is Monday.On Saturday, Powell is expected Read More

Monserrate Using Dinkins, Pu-Folkes on Web Site

Hiram Monserrate got in trouble recently for poaching Barack Obama's slogan and logo.

Now, on his web site, Monserrate features not only a picture of former Mayor David Dinkins--who has not endorsed anyone in this race--but also a two-year-old campaign video featuring Bryan Pu-Folkes, a local activist who no longer supports Monserrate.

I have a Read More

Paterson’s Back-Up Plan, Maybe

ALBANY—At the end of his remarks at a holiday fund-raiser last night, David Paterson made a simple declaration: "I am running for governor in 2010."

"If it doesn't work out, I'm going to go on The View. They need a little affirmative action on The View," Paterson said to laughs, according to one Read More

Paterson’s Back-Up Plan, Maybe

ALBANY—At the end of his remarks at a holiday fund-raiser last night, David Paterson made a simple declaration: "I am running for governor in 2010."

"If it doesn't work out, I'm going to go on The View. They need a little affirmative action on The View," Paterson said to laughs, according to one attendee. Sherri Read More

Dinkins Wanted More From Obama

Bill Thompson supporters continue firing shots at those they say could have and should have done more to help out. The latest is from David Dinkins.

From The Post:

“The president should’ve done more. He found time to go to Virginia, he found time to go to New Jersey and he should’ve been here,” Read More

Baseball and the Heart of New York City

My parents moved to Brooklyn in 1955 when I was almost two years old, and by the time I was four, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had played their last home games in the five boroughs. Until Casey Stengel and the Mets arrived in 1962, the only baseball team in town was the Read More

Bill Lynch: ‘Giuliani Is Going Back to The Old Days’

One of the people Rudy Giuliani was aiming at when he talked to an audience of Jews in Brooklyn about the prospect of crime returning to 1993 levels was David Dinkins. (Dinkins, who was the mayor until the end of 1993, when he lost to Giuliani, hasn’t returned my call for comment.)

Another is Bill Read More

Siegel: ‘Neither Morally Defensible Nor Politically Sensible’

Fred Siegel, a historian and Giuliani biographer, said the former mayor’s appearance on the campaign trail “is a very good idea but the way he’s been used is not a good idea.”

Siegel was referring to Giuliani’s appearance with Michael Bloomberg in Borough Park yesterday where the former mayor warned about a return to New Read More