Betsy Gotbaum
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Betsy Gotbaum | |
---|---|
2nd Public Advocate of New York City | |
In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009 | |
Mayor | Michael Bloomberg |
Preceded by | Mark Green |
Succeeded by | Bill de Blasio |
Parks Commissioner of New York City | |
In office February 5, 1990 – December 31, 1993 | |
Mayor | David Dinkins |
Preceded by | Henry Stern |
Succeeded by | Henry Stern |
Personal details | |
Born | Elisabeth Flower June 11, 1938 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses | Timothy Hogen
(m. 1960; div. 1967)Peter Lewis (m. 2017) |
Children | 1 |
Education | Connecticut College George Washington University (BA) Columbia University (MEd) |
Elisabeth A. Gotbaum (née Flower; born June 11, 1938[1]) is an American civil servant, politician and a former New York City public advocate. She was elected Public Advocate for New York City in 2001 and reelected in 2005. She was the third woman elected to a citywide post in NYC history. The other two were Carol Bellamy, who served as city council president from 1978 to 1985, and Elizabeth Holtzman, who served as comptroller from 1990 to 1993. Gotbaum is a Democrat and currently serves as Executive Director of Citizens Union.
Early life and education
Flower attended
Political career
Gotbaum became involved in civic affairs in the 1970s, while serving on the staff of former mayor
After leaving the Parks Department in 1994, Gotbaum became President of the New-York Historical Society, a position she held until launching her campaign for Public Advocate in 2001. When she took over, the Historical Society was closed to the public and on the verge of bankruptcy after years of mismanagement. Gotbaum rescued the institution from financial collapse, renovated its landmark building, and recalled its collections from various warehouses. In November 2000, she opened the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture. She instituted exhibitions, education and public programs for a diverse and ever-increasing audience, leaving the society with a $33 million endowment. Gotbaum resigned from the Historical Society to run for the Office of the Public Advocate.[citation needed]
2001 race for Public Advocate
In 2001, Gotbaum finished first in the Democratic primary and then defeated Norman Siegel in the Democratic runoff. She was unopposed in the general election. As Public Advocate she focused on education policy, along with women's issues, child welfare, affordable housing and senior services. She was known to work with Mayor Michael Bloomberg on certain issues, but she battled Bloomberg on mayoral succession issues.[citation needed] In return, Bloomberg sought to eliminate the office altogether in 2002 and reduced its budget. At the request of the New York State Legislature, Gotbaum created a Commission on School Governance to examine mayoral control before it expires in 2009.[citation needed]
2005 race for Public Advocate
In the September 13, 2005, Democratic primary, Gotbaum beat civil rights advocate Norman Siegel, and real estate broker Michael Brown came in third with fifteen percent of NYC's vote. She was unopposed in the general election. She took the oath of office for a second term on January 1, 2006.[citation needed]
2009 race for Public Advocate
Despite the extension of New York City term limits, which made Gotbaum eligible for a third term, she decided not to run for reelection.[3]
Personal life
Her second husband,
On September 28, 2007, her stepdaughter-in-law, Carol Gotbaum, died in custody shortly after she was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, after getting into a confrontation with gate crews who refused to allow her to board a plane to Tucson, Arizona.[6] In May 2008, the family filed a lawsuit against the City of Phoenix.[7][8]
References
- ^ Date of birth, familysearch.org; accessed August 11, 2014.
- ^ Betsy Gotbaum profile, community.seattletimes.nwsource.com, February 16, 2004.
- ^ Gotbaum declines to run for a third term, The New York Times, October 28, 2008.
- ^ Profile, The New York Times.
- ^ Bellush and Bellush, Union Power and New York: Victor Gotbaum and District Council 37 (1984).
- ^ WRITER, ADAM NICHOLSDAILY NEWS STAFF (September 30, 2007). "Betsy Gotbaum's daughter-in-law dies in Phoenix airport". nydailynews.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ Eligon, John (May 8, 2008). "Gotbaums Sue Phoenix Over Airport Death". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ Court document nytimes.com