Stanley Simon
Stanley Simon | |
---|---|
10th Borough President of The Bronx | |
In office January 5, 1979 – March 11, 1987 | |
Preceded by | Robert Abrams |
Succeeded by | Fernando Ferrer |
Member of the New York City Council for the 8th district | |
In office January 3, 1973 – December 29, 1978 | |
Preceded by | Bertram Gelfand |
Personal details | |
Born | The Bronx, New York, U.S. | March 3, 1930
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | New York University Brooklyn Law School |
Stanley Simon (born March 3, 1930) is an American lawyer and politician from
In 1987, he was convicted of Federal racketeering charges along with Rep. Mario Biaggi and Robert Garcia in connection with the Wedtech scandal.[1]
Biography
Simon was born in The Bronx in 1930. He graduated from New York University and the Brooklyn Law School. He became active in politics and held legislative positions as well as becoming a district leader for the Democratic Party in The Bronx.[2]
In 1973, he won a seat on the New York City Council to replace Bertram Gelfand, who resigned to become a judge.[3] He was also the head of the Bronx Bar Association during this period.[2]
Throughout his career, he aligned himself with Stanley M. Friedman, a powerful Bronx political figure who had served as deputy mayor under Abraham Beame.[2][4] Although Friedman held no elective office in his career, he controlled judicial appointments and advanced interests of politicians who supported him. In 1978, Simon supported Friedman in his bid for the head of the Bronx Democratic Party.[2]
The following year, after Bronx Borough President Robert Abrams was elected New York Attorney General, Friedman advanced Simon for the interim post.[2][4] The eight city council members from the Bronx elected him as the interim President in a racially divided vote.[5] He later won the election in November 1979 to fulfill the remainder of Abrams’ term.
Despite a reformist effort to defeat him, he won re-election easily in 1981 over
He had a tougher challenge in 1985. With an increasing Latino population in the Bronx, José E. Serrano, a New York assemblyman and future Congressman, came within 4,000 votes of defeating him in the Democratic primary.[9]
Conviction
In 1987, Simon, aware that he had been under investigation and that charges against him were pending, resigned from his post.
He was convicted of racketeering and extortion in 1988 and received a five-year sentence.[13] He served his sentence at Allenwood Federal prison camp. After two years, Judge Constance Baker Motley reduced his sentence, which made him eligible for immediate parole. He left prison in July 1991.[14]
Years later, the archives of
References
- ^ "Biaggi Convicted in Wedtech Case; Simon Also Guilty". New York Times. 1988-08-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Simon's Political Career Had a Traditional Start". New York Times. 1987-03-12.
- ^ "City Council Will Meet Today To Pick New Minority Leader". New York Times. 1973-01-03.
- ^ a b "Stanley Simon Is Held Most Likely Successor To Abrams in Bronx". New York Times. 1978-11-10.
- ^ "Simon Is Elected for Interim Term As Borough President of the Bronx". New York Times. 1979-01-06.
- ^ "Stein is Re-elected, 2 to 1, in Contest Against Dinkins". New York Times. 1981-11-04.
- ^ "Bronx Insurgent Democrats Split on Barring Simon Renomination". New York Times. 1986-06-07.
- ^ Lynn, Frank (1981-08-25). "Smith Ruled Off Primary Ballot in Mayoral Race". The New York Times.
- ^ "Voting Totals in City Primary". New York Times. 1985-11-06.
- ^ "Bronx Chief Quits and Friedman Gets 12-year Sentence". New York Times. 1987-03-12.
- ^ "Former Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon Indicted". Associated Press. 1987-04-01.
- ^ "Friedman is Sentenced to 12 Years in Corruption Case". New York Times. 1987-03-12.
- ^ "Biaggi Gets Eight-Year Sentence". Washington Post. 1988-11-19.
- ^ "Freed From Prison, Simon Returns to Bronx and Weeps in Joy". New York Times. 1991-07-12.
- ^ "Thoughts From Koch on a 'Fool and a Simpleton'". New York Times. 2013-02-12.