By Bob Harris
When I became involved in civics about 30 years ago, I met the leaders of the six civic councils which comprised the Federation of Civic Councils.
DeVoy was the president of the Central Queens Allied Civic Council, which is comprised of civic associations. Listed in the program of the Fifth Civic Convention of the Federation of Civic Councils of the Borough of Queens in 1972 were other civic council presidents, such as William A. Fells, Civic Council of Southern Queens; Arthur Cooperman, Eastern Queens Civic Council; Albert Falloni North Shore Council of Home Owners; Nicholas Campay, Queens County Civic Council and Julia E. Jerry, United Civic Council.
In 1972 Judge Joseph Modugno and Max M. Lome, George J. Regan, Al Greenblatt, Sol Grosso, Thomas Caligiuri and Julius Feigenbaum were listed on the program. They all had been or were to be leaders of the civic council. Queens Borough President Donald Manes issued a civic proclamation and U.S. Senator James Buckley spoke.
The platform of the 1972 Queens Federation of Civic Councils Convention was concerned with preserving the neighborhood school, preventing violence in the schools, supported the merit system in hiring educational personnel, was against methods of changing real estates taxes which would raise taxes, for mandatory jail sentences for multiple criminal offenders, prohibit interstate mail sale of firearms, deplored the rising crime rate, against scatter site housing, supported zoning to reflect the type of houses, was for a means of positive identification of people receiving welfare checks, called for no more bond issues which increase debt, against corporations created by the City Council without a referendum, expressed lack of confidence in the Public Service Commission, was concerned about a possible power shortage.
Also, the federation was for a strong local borough government, stronger civic representation on local community boards, abolishing the City Planning Commission and substituting a Queens Planning Board with members elected by the voters, a Federal Narcotics Task Force in each county in New York City, all children to enter college based on merit and ability, bus shelters to be built where needed, state lotteries earmarked for education to actually be used for education, and since Manhattan is almost completely concrete or steel there was a plea for light, air and grass. Note that we have achieved some of these goals.
These are the kind of activities that Joe DeVoy has been honored for. It is good that he will be remembered, and in doing so we remember all of the other volunteer civic association leaders who fought so hard for so many for what they believed in.
Regretfully only the United Civic Council and the Eastern Queens Civic Council were left a few years ago. Others who came after them with new ideas and youthful energy have today formed the Queens Civic Congress, which was created out of the civic associations that were active then and which are still active today. The volunteer civic leaders are still there, only the names have changed. Regretfully some of the same problems are still here…but we will persist…. you can be sure of that!
Good and Bad News of the Week
As I write this column the election count continues. It will eventually end. One interesting result of the uncertainty is that people have not yet made Inaugural plans. Perhaps, because of all the delay, people will not spend so much money on a big party. Perhaps people will then donate money to a favorite school or other worthy cause instead of on a big party.
