Talk:David Dinkins
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Okay, there seems to be an 'edit war' going on here, and it's silly.
Question: is the current photo (color image) in the Public Domain? It was not listed as such when I checked.
Quill 21:40, 7 Nov 2004 (UTC)
Image:Frmr_NYC_Mayor_David_Dinkins_with_plaque.jpg Since there seems to be a question over the current pic, I uploaded this PD pic to commons--might want to use it, especially if someone can remove the flag growing out of his head (and arse). Niteowlneils 03:34, 24 Nov 2004 (UTC)
If you wanna help, try to rewrite his biography from [1]. It's very interesting, so I think someone who know better english than I should rewrite it. Darwinek 18:34, 24 Nov 2004 (UTC)
- Sorry, 'rewriting' other people's work is unethical and I won't do it. Quill 07:56, 26 Nov 2004 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] Place of Birth
A web search reveals several sites claiming his place of birth to be Trenton, New Jersey. I'm going to take a chance and add that, as no place of birth is currently mentioned. --Do Not Talk About Feitclub (contributions) 11:27, 31 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] 'influential clique'?
The second paragraph describes him as being part of an influential clique of african-americans. Especially considering the Wikipedia definition of clique, that description seems POV to me.--Anchoress 23:07, 10 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Neutrality
After browsing this page, I find it hard-pressed to find anything outright positive Dinkins did. The 'Mayoralty' section has precious few details aside from events that Dinkins seemingly had little blame in causing. As well, I deleted a particularly racist statement about him supposedly getting a free pass for being black. Puh-leeze. =//Turnquest 07:22, 19 April 2007 (UTC)
- Just added an NOPV tag. Seems overly negative all the way through, and plenty of unverified claims. Hopefully, someone who knows a bit more about the man will spot that and clean it up a little. Paj.meister 19:10, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Big Picture=
I don't have the source, but I remember reading a story in Newsweek or Time about the Big Reduction in Crime during Guliani's time as mayor. The article said the new effective policing tactics implemented by Bratton would have been impossible without the extra police Mayor Dinkins hired during his term. In other words, the big decrease in crime in NYC had two components:
More Police - implemented by Dinkins Better Policing - implemented by Guliani and Bratton
The current article here completely ignores this important piece of information. And paints an overly simplistic picture (Dinkins Bad / Guliani Good) of the transition of NYC from a high crime city to a low crime city.
If Dinkins had not increased the police department, it is doubtful that Guiliani / Bratton could have been as successful. (Republicans rarely raise taxes for anything - even public safety). I know this because here in L.A. today, Bratton is all but begging the city government to hire more police. But our Democratic controled government is too afraid to raise taxes to do it. (The conversavites are "lurking" just off stage in case they do!) California / L.A. is not as blue as portrayed in the media. Neither is NYC.
[edit] "Men's Room Attendant" Slur and Racial Tensions
Many in New York City referred to him as the "Men's Room Attendant" -a blatantly racist appelation. Shouldn't this be included? 71.249.13.251 20:17, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
He was referred to as a "washroom attendant" to be exact, primarily by Bob Grant and others like Rudy Guiliani (it has been rumored). Why is this racist? You've never seen white washroom attendants?? It was really a question of his background and what he has done to deserve to be Mayor of one of the largest cities in the world. Dinkins was a "nobody" in terms of politics and his brief stint as mayor reaffirmed this view. --24.189.35.249 (talk) 19:49, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
- To the best of my knowledge, the only peson who ever publically referred to Mayor Dinkins as a "Men's Room Attendant" was WABC radio talk show host Bob Grant. 24.168.116.248 05:57, 12 September 2007 (UTC)
Giuliani *encouraged* the racial tensions that intensified in New York during that time. The slur referred to above was made at a rally by police officers Giuliani spearheaded. See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18108850/site/newsweek/ . Many New Yorkers, especially black and Latino New Yorkers but also whites and Asians believe Giuliani got into office by encouraging racial division in the city. This could be why New Yorkers continue to have such a low opinion of him: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/05/14/2007-05-14_bloomy_tops_rudy_in_battle_of_the_titans-2.html
Giuliani referenced Dinkins frequently and seemed to compare accomplishments, (possibly due to questions about Giuliani taking credit for crime reduction that began under Dinkins). Giuliani would not refer to Dinkins by name on these occassions however, referring to him as "my predecessor".
Dinkins also was criticized for attempting to heal racial tensions in New York City during the Flatbush boycott of Korean green-grocer Red Apple, despite pressure from some political activists in the African American community: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061FF73F5D0C718DDDAC0894D8494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fF%2fFood
[edit] Death?
As of 11:13 pm ET on March 16, this article states that Dinkins died on March 7. I can't confirm that he is alive, but there has been no news coverage whatsoever of his "death" - and the links used as references for his "death" lead to blank pages on the websites of WABC and WNBC. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.119.89.184 (talk) 03:15, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
- It's vandalism and it's been reverted. Thank you. — Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 04:15, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] He's not dead!
He was at David Paterson's swearing in! I'm changing it now - that's really horrible whoever did this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.81.81.105 (talk) 19:20, 18 March 2008 (UTC)
