Notes on 1991 State of the City Speech by Mayor David Dinkins

Notes on 1991 State of the City Speech by Mayor David Dinkins

Baruch College School of Public Affairs | Civic and Political Speech-Making in New York City

Lauren Katz

January 17, 2016

Interpretive Summary

Mayor David Dinkins’ 1991 State of the City speech addressed several serious challenges facing the city and recent successes, while employing recurring themes. The obstacles facing the city—racial conflict, crime and violence, budget deficits, crumbling infrastructure, AIDS, the homeless—are woven throughout the speech. Dinkins’ acknowledges the city’s racial and religious tensions and homophobia by celebrating examples of unity and cross-cultural cooperation. Nelson Mandela and South Africa also play a key role in this discussion. At other points in the speech, Dinkins mentions the Arabian Peninsula and Eastern Europe to reinforce that New York is not the only place on earth facing challenges and looking toward a brighter future.

Dinkins reviews the city’s financial crisis frankly, acknowledging that “all New Yorkers will feel the pain” of social service cuts “right down to the bone.”The speech references cuts that have already taken place and thanks private donors for funding special programs.Dinkins speaks about partnerships with the state and federal government, but also laments their abandonment, harsh demands, and lack of understanding. The speech maintains a positive tone, continuing to emphasize recent successes or new programs like the Urban Institute, drug abuse programs, and police force expansion (“Big-City Mayors”;Treaster; Blumenthal). In addition to reviewing the new Safe City, Safe Streets initiative, Dinkins discusses the “carnage” being caused by a “childhood arms race” and describes how the entire country could come together to support gun control.

Throughout the speech, Dinkins attempts to transform the city’s weaknesses (less funding, smaller government, weaker economy) into strengths (creative/responsive government, lower cost of living, strong growth potential). The speech’saspirational character builds to the concluding sections, in which Dinkins speaks about children and honors diverse community heroes. In several sections of the speech, the descriptive style evokes strong visuals. In asectionon commerce, Dinkins mentions Kennedy Airport, the docks in Brooklyn and Staten Island, and Wall Street. He situates New York at the center of world commerce, existing for centuries, having servedas the pass-through to Europe after the Second World War, and now to the new frontiers of Eastern Europe and South Africa. During the section on gun control advocacy, Dinkins describes people “from the streets of Atlanta and Boston, from the neighborhoods of Portland and Providence, from Austin and Chicago,” all converging together on the steps of the Capitol. By listing the cities in that order (up the East Coast, from west to east, and up through Middle America) the audience can visually picture the map described.

Dinkins’ examples of cross-cultural collaboration also paint a vivid picture of diversity and the “gorgeous Mosaic”, explained further below.Given the names Mark Carpenter, Tyrone Chung, and Roger Robinson one can picture a multi-racial group of men. By mentioning the Haim children from Crown Heights, the audience is also likely to make the association with the Jewish community and picture the children in modest dress with religious accoutrement (“5 Children Saved”).

Throughout the speech Dinkins employs the ideograph and common theme of freedom, creating a common thread that ties each sections of the speech to the next. The speech’s organization and flow reinforce Dinkins’ lofty goals. However, his reliance on the cliché images of children reaching for the stars and platitudes about a brighter future leave the audience craving a more concrete vision.

Relevant Background

Mayor David Dinkins’ personal experiences shaped his political and rhetorical style. Dinkins was inaugurated in 1990—the first African American mayor of New York City—and delivered his first State of the City Address in 1991. Dinkins grew up in Trenton, New Jersey with his father, a barber and active community volunteer, and stepmother, a school teacher (McQuiston). Dinkins’ mentioned that his stepmother had a master’s degree and served as one of his role modelsof what African American’s could achieve (“Learning About Black Heroes”).

In 1945, Dinkins enlisted in the Marines in anticipation of being drafted. While traveling to Camp Lejeune for basic training, Dinkins had his first encounters with segregated busing. He also recalled instances of harassment and discrimination from his training instructors that had a lasting impact (“My Military Days”).

While Dinkins served as a New York State Assemblyman, he helped found the Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) program with Percy Sutton and Shirley Chisholm. He credits this program, which provides funding to low-income students to attend City University of New York, as one of his greatest achievements. I suspect this experience, working collaboratively with other politicians on an initiative dedicated to youth achievement, influenced his later commitments to partnerships and children (Shirley Chisolm Project).Dinkins credits the 1977 mayoral candidacy of Percy Ellis Sutton, the African-American Manhattan Borough President from 1966-1977, for paving the way for Dinkins’ own election (Martin;“Standing On the Shoulders”).

In the context of the 1991 State of the City Address, it is useful to know that David Dinkins was intimately involved in New York’s economic divestment from South Africa, designed to force South African to end apartheid (“Bio – David N. Dinkins”).Dinkins was even pressured by powerful business leaders like David Rockefeller to lift the sanctions on South Africa, but he remained firm until apartheid ended (“Growing Pains”). As the speech mentions, Nelson Mandela traveled to New York City in 1990. Mayor Dinkins actively urged Mandela to come to New York during his tour of the U.S. (Kifner).

As additional background about the gun violence situation, in August of 1990 gun related crime had reached an all-time high (Kelly).Dinkins had proposed an illegal gun amnesty program to reduce the supply on the streets (“Dinkins to Announce”). The State of the City also references a police officer who was treated at Kings County Hospital, which may be a reference to Harry Ortiz (“Officer Out”) or Troy Patterson (“3 Youths”).Gun control was on the national agenda, especially after a 1989 shooting in Stockton California that killed five children and wounded 30 (“Five Children”). Discussions were underway on major gun control legislation on handguns and assault weapons, which passedin 1993 and 1994 respectively (“Brady Campaign”).

Context, Delivery & Ceremony

During his first year in office, Mayor Dinkins had announced multiple cuts to city staff and services to address the looming fiscal crisis (Buder, “Budget Cutbacks”) but was criticized for an “ambiguous and inconsistent” response (Barbanel). In the week before the speech, Dinkins had negotiated a new contract with two of the city’s unions, which was criticized for costing the city $233 million (“Another Misguided Labor Pact”). Days before the State of the City Address, the press reported that the relationship between Mayor Dinkins and Governor Mario Cuomo was strained. The Governor had threatened to take control of New York City’s Financial Control Board in order to address spending and the budget deficit. Dinkins alludes to tensions in the speech, though also emphasized partnership (Kolbert).

Previously,State of the City Addresses were delivered at the end of Januaryas a follow-up to the newly proposedbudget. Given the city’s financial troubles, the proposed budget required a review of further cutbacks. Dinkins’ State of the City was scheduled at the beginning of January, before his budget announcement, which provided a greater opportunity to discuss his optimism and vision before the details of his budget were released (Barbnel).

New York Times journalist Josh Barbanelwrote an excellent description of the ceremony of the State of the City Address.

Mr. Dinkins began speaking at 5:04 P.M. at a podium set up in the City Council Chamber, before a backdrop of American and New York City flags. Sixteen palm trees and ferns were trucked in from a Parks Department greenhouse from Forest Park in Woodhaven, Queens, for the occasion.

He received sometimes polite applause 11 times, until the final moments, when he listed the recipients of his "gorgeous mosaic” award. When he paused for applause and none followed, he said, “I think you should applaud them.”. . . Reflecting, perhaps, the lonely and difficult choices a mayor must make, many who cheered Mr. Dinkins at his inauguration were absent.

Media and Public Reaction

Media coverage criticized Dinkins’ State of the City for lacking substance. The speech focused on grand ideas and ambiguous pledges, instead of the detailed, well-informed plans (Barbanel).Todd Purdum commented that Dinkins avoided mentioning the tensions with Governor Cuomo and the City Council, or possible changes in his own staff.

A New York Times editorial suggested that Dinkins’ hope and optimism were uncomfortably received, given the city’s dire circumstances.

He speaks of hope, but so great are the city's struggles that his State of the City speech this week was less convincing than dutiful. It could hardly have been otherwise. A relentlessly growing budget deficit means that his only options are painful ones. And that may be why Mr. Dinkins used his speech, traditionally a public relations opportunity, to offer more hopes than plans, and to spend more time praising New Yorkers than promising what he can do for them (“Sophomore Year”).

Fellow New York City leaders acknowledged Dinkins’ efforts and shortcomings. “Peter F. Vallone, Speaker of the City Council, said the Council would stand beside Mr. Dinkins in his efforts to solve the city's fiscal problems. ‘This is a very difficult time to make a speech and rally people," he said, "but the Mayor has the best of intentions’” (Barbanel).City Council President Andrew J. Stein said, "When you listen to David Dinkins, you really feel his heart is in the right place. But this is the time for forceful and decisive action and movement, and he has to take it over the next year. A speech is a speech, but he has to act boldly and decisively” (Purdum).

Speechwriters

The speechwriters for Dinkins’ 1991 State of the City Address were Press Secretary Albert Scardino and Chief Speech Writer Maria Laurino (Barbanel).

Scardino founded The Georgia Gazette and won a Pulitzer Prize for his editorial writing,before starting the New York Times (Prial).Scardino resigned from the Mayor’s staff a month after the State of the City Address (“Press Secretary Resigns”). He later went on to serve as an Executive Editor of The Guardian in London, media commentator, and business executive. As of 2016, Scardino is the Chairman of the Board at Immunovaccine, Inc., a medical research and pharmaceutical company that produces vaccines (Immunovacccine).

Laurino wrote for The Village Voice before joining the Dinkins administration (Barbanel). She has published numerous articles, essays, and three books. As of 2016, she teaches creative writing at NYU and serves as Assistant to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (New York University).

References & Significance

Blue Ribbons:At the beginning of Dinkins’ speech, he mentions that “eight months ago . . . you wore blue ribbons to declare your respect for our differences.”This is a reference to the rally for unity at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine raised later in the speech. On May 18, 1990the boy who admitted to being the ringleader of a deadly attack on 16 year-old Yusuf Hawkins in 1989, was acquitted of murder (Kurtz). The African-American community in Bensonhurst, with the support of Reverend Al Sharpton, organized protests in the streets (“In Bensonhurst”). In response to the protests and racial tensions, a community gathering was organized by the Mayor’s office for the evening of May 22 and announced during a press conference that morning (“Dinkins Rally”; “No Headline”). During that press conference, Schools Chancellor Joseph A. Fernandez wore a blue ribbon and urged others to do the same as a symbol of harmony. The idea for the blue ribbons is credited to Gerard Papa, president of Flames, a youth organization in Brooklyn (“Ribbons for Racial Harmony”).

Gorgeous Mosaic:Dinkins honors several New Yorkers for “heroic act[s], or by fostering dialogue and understanding” with a “gorgeous mosaic” award. The phrase “gorgeous mosaic” appeared in Dinkins’ speeches during the campaign and his Inaugural Address. Following the Inauguration, the New York Times publisheda commentary discussing the phrase and labeled it “the metaphor of the moment” (“The Mosaic Thing”).

Corrosion of our Bridges:Dinkins’ statement about “the corrosion of our bridges” may have been a reference to the Manhattan Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge subway lineresumed service in September 1990, and then was halted in December due to the bridge’s disrepair (Hevesi). My research also revealed that the day of the State of the City speech, the New York Times broke the story that city officials, including the city's Deputy Transportation Commissioner for bridgesDavid Steinberger, had warned superiors not to resume subway service because of the bridge’s condition (“New York Reopened”). Steinberger leaked internal memos to theNew York Times for that article, leading to an investigation and his dismissal from the Department of Transportation (“Memos Not Released”).

Grand Central & the Homeless:Twice, Dinkins mentions helping the homeless at Grand Central Terminal, in addition to other mentions of the homeless. In the 1980s, Grand Central was home to a large homeless population and became a symbol of the city’s homeless problem. The death of a homeless women, known by many as Mama Doe, at Grand Central on Christmas Dayin 1985 raised public attention (Nagourney and Weiss) and led homeless advocate George McDonald to found The Doe Fund. In November 1990, Dinkins and Governor Cuomo committed to provide funding, outreach services, and housing placement support for the homeless, which is referenced in the speech (“Help for Grand Central’s Homeless”). McDonald was later appointed by Dinkins to serve on the city’s Commission on Homelessness (Stern).

Jessica Guzman:In 1990, 10 year old Hispanic girl Jessica Guzman went missing and was found dead one week later. The Bronx community, includingAfrican-American Reverend Jerry Mosby, mobilized in search of the girl while she was missing. Following her death, Mayor Dinkins released a statement saying: “Every loss of life is a tragedy. When it is a child of Jessica's age, the tragedy is magnified” (Golden).

People and Places

Dinkins’ cites numerous names and places throughout the speech for a variety of purposes. He lists places around New York to connect with his listening audience and paint a more vivid picture with his examples. In addition to mentioning Grand Central Station (Manhattan), he references Kings County Hospital (Brooklyn), and Springfield Gardens High School (Queens) to show his connection to all boroughs. When describing advocates against gun violence, he includes a crisscrossing list of cities to reinforce a mental picture of support from the entire country. The “gorgeous award” winners are all examples of different minorities working together.

Dinkins includes a section on private sector support in order publically thankbillionairephilanthropist Henry Kravis’s support of a drug crisis initiative, the [Aaron] Diamond Foundation for pledging $8 million for an AIDS Research Center (Lambert), and the Lilia Wallace-Readers Digest Fund for its $6.3 million gift for the preservation of New York parks (Teltsch).

In addition to South Africa, Dinkins references two other international locations—the Arabian Peninsula and Eastern Europe—to connect to global current events. Both locations also reinforce the common them of freedom and hope. Iraq had invaded Kuwait in November of 1990, and the State of the City Address was delivered one week before the deadline for withdrawal and a looming declaration of war (“Iraq Inviades Kuwait”; Taylor). The address also took place between thefall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, making Dinkins’ description of Eastern Europe (“where the lantern of liberty has only recently begun to glow again”) both apt and prescient.

Dinkins discusses working, as well as his frustrations, with President George H. W. Bush and Governor Mario Cuomo. Through synecdoche, these executives represent the whole of New York State or the U.S. federal government. Alternatively, Dinkins also employs metonymy by referring to the cities Albany and Washington, as opposed to the leaders or governments from those locations.