Howard L. Lasher

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Howard L. Lasher
Howard L. Lasher

Howard L. Lasher
In office
1972 – 1993
Constituency Brooklyn’s 46th Assembly District
In office
1993 – 2002
Succeeded by Domenic M. Recchia
Constituency New York City's 47th Council District
Born 1944
United States
Died March 11, 2007
Ocean Parkway, New York
Political party Democratic
Spouse Susan Lasher
Children 5
Residence New York State
Occupation Politician
Religion Judaism

Howard L. Lasher (1944 - 2007) was an American Democrat politician from New York State. He was the first orthodox Jewish person elected to state office in New York State[1].

Contents

[edit] Political fixture

Lasher was a political fixture in Brooklyn, New York for over thirty-five years - first as a member[2] of the New York State Assembly, from 1972-1993[3], and later as a City Councilman from Brooklyn[4][5]. He had represented Brooklyn's 47th District on the City Council[6], representing Coney Island, Brighton Beach and the surrounding communities[1].

[edit] New York Deprogramming Bill

Lasher was the principal author of the "New York Deprogramming Bill."[7] While holding hearings in the Assembly on the bill on the treatment of children in destructive cults, Lasher was reportedly harassed[8]. The bill was structured with specific regard for groups such as Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. Sponsors of the legislation contended that these and other groups practice brainwashing and other forms of coercive persuasion among their followers[7]. The New York State Assembly approved the bill 77-64[9], and it was subsequently passed by the New York State Senate 35-23[10]. However, in July 1981 New York State Governor Hugh Carey vetoed the bill, and it was not signed into law[7]. The legislation had also been known as the "guardianship bill"[9][11].

In 1981, Lasher became the first recipient of the Leo J. Ryan Award, named in honor and memory of the first United States Congressman to die in the line of duty, Leo Ryan[12].

[edit] Council member

While a Council Member, Lasher funded the reconstruction of Brighton Playground, in 1995[13]. As an Assemblyman, Lasher served as Chairman of New York State Governor Mario Cuomo's Insurance Committee[14].

In November 2000, Lasher helped fund a $2 million reconstruction of the playground area of Calvert Vaux Park, a 73-acre park in New York City, named for English architect Calvert Vaux[15].

[edit] Later years

Lasher did not run in the 2001 Brooklyn City Council elections due to term limits, but his wife did. Susan Lasher received 2,999 votes to winner[16] Domenic M. Recchia's 4,509[6].

Howard Lasher died in his Ocean Parkway, New York home, on March 11, 2007[1].

[edit] Education

Source[1]

[edit] Publications

New York State
  • Public hearing on treatment of children by cults (transcript). Assemblyman Howard Lasher, Chairman. August 9-10, 1979. New York State Assembly.
  • Budget proposal to eliminate $3.75 million from preventive services / Howard L. Lasher to Governor Carey, Howard L. Lasher, The Assembly, State of New York, Committee on Child Care 1977
Articles
  • Early Childhood Education Journal, Volume 6, Number 4 / June, 1979, Page 5, "Letter Box."

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Legislator Howard Lasher dies at 62 - City and state pol fought for disadvantaged in decades-long career.", Park Slope Courier, Gary Busio, March 16, 2007., Courier-Life Publications.
  2. ^ Frances McIntyre, Arnold Smith, New York Times, May 3, 1998
    "His father was an executive assistant to former State Assemblyman Howard L. Lasher of Brooklyn."
  3. ^ Candidate Statements, New York City Campaign Finance Board, Susan Lasher, City Council, 47th Council District, retrieved 1/22/07.
  4. ^ "Brooklyn Councilman, a Political Fixture, Faces Fight in Primary", August 28, 1997, The New York Times, Jonathan P. Hicks.
  5. ^ New York City Economic Development Corporation, August 22, 2000, Press Release
    Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was joined today by City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, City Council Member Howard L. Lasher, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance Robert M. Harding, New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President Michael G. Carey, New York Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon, and Joan Hodges, wife of legendary baseball great Gil Hodges, to celebrate the start of construction on the permanent home of the New York Mets' minor league baseball team.
  6. ^ a b New York City District 47, Gotham Gazette, Primary Election Results.
  7. ^ a b c "Carey Kills Bill Allowing Removal of 'Coerced' Members from Cults", The New York Times, July 20, 1981, Section B, Page 7, Column 5.
  8. ^ The Leo J. Ryan Award, October 27, 2001, Awards Presentation
    "Congressman Ryan was caring, and he was courageous. The first Leo J. Ryan award was given, as I said, twenty years ago, in the fall of 1981. A bit of irony here: I was the first presenter. Sometimes it seems longer than that. That first award went to an assemblyman from New York State, Harold Lasher. Howard Lasher had become concerned about the care of children in destructive cults. So he held hearings in New York City. He was harassed, and that is probably a very mild word when I think back on it. But he persevered, and he presented legislation to the New York State legislature."
  9. ^ a b The Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York, "Anti-Cult Bill Stirs Debate on Constitutionality", June 23, 1981.
  10. ^ "NY Senate Passes Bill on Cult Deprogramming", Garden City Newsday, Keeler, July 1, 1981, New York.
  11. ^ "Albany Panel to Weigh Bill on Cult-Member Guardians", Charles Austin, The New York Times, May 22, 1981
  12. ^ 2001 Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation Conference, October 26-28, 2001, theme: "Cults and Terrorism: Abuse of the Vulnerable."
  13. ^ Brighton Playground, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, July 07, 1998
  14. ^ Cuomo Bill Seeks Insurance for the AIDS Exposed, New York Times, February 27, 1991, Kevin Sack.
    Insurance industry officials and key legislators said today that it would be unfair to non-AIDS patients to make them share the high cost of insuring those with the disease. "If you do this you'll bring the cost of insurance up and you'll exclude people who can no longer afford the insurance," said Assemblyman Howard L. Lasher, Democrat of Brooklyn, the chairman of the Insurance Committee. Mr. Lasher said the bill "would have almost no chance in the Senate."
  15. ^ Calvert Vaux Park, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, November 07, 2001.
  16. ^ How The Promise Of Campaign 2001 Played Out, Mark Berkey-Gerard, Gotham Gazette, 2001.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Leonard Simon		 New York State Assembly, 46th District
1973–1993		 Succeeded by
Jules Polonetsky
Preceded by
Samuel Horwitz		 New York City Council, 47th District
1994–2001		 Succeeded by
Domenic Recchia