TWU Mourns Former Mayor David Dinkins, 93
TWU Local 100 is mourning the passing of former Mayor David Dinkins, a close friend of Local 100 leaders and members over the decades, and the first and only black Mayor in the history of New York City. Mayor Dinkins was 93 and died at his home in Harlem just a month after his beloved wife of 67 years, Joyce Elizabeth Burrows Dinkins, passed away.
TWU strongly supported Mr. Dinkins in his run for Mayor in the Democratic primary in 1989 against long-time Local 100 foe, Ed Koch, and then again in the general election against Rudolph Giuliani. The union again supported the Mayor in his close loss for reelection in 1993 to Giuliani.
The union remained close with the former Mayor over the years. He was a frequent visitor to Transport Hall, and was a special honoree at the union’s Black History Celebration in 2017.
Local 100 President Tony Utano said: “Mayor Dinkins’ passing is a sad day for Local 100 members and all of New York. He was a force for good in our City; a true unifier who effectively fought to bridge the racial and ethnic divides in our City and our country with intellect, kindness and humanity. His death is a great loss at a time when America desperately needs leaders who would espouse Mayor Dinkins’ theme of our society as a ‘gorgeous mosaic.’ He will be sorely missed.”
In 2017, Mayor Dinkins gave the keynote address to TWU Local 100 at our Black History celebration in Harlem. In this speech, he described how former Manhattan Borough President and broadcast executive Percy Sutton, and then Harry Belafonte, encouraged him to run for Mayor. He says: “If you want to seek public office because you want to see your name in lights, you’re not properly motivated. If you want to seek office to help people, that’s all right.”
“You have given me an opportunity to serve this great city,” he tells the Union audience. “When I went to school in Harlem I was told that the City is a melting pot. But I say it’s not a melting pot. Instead it’s what I call a gorgeous mosaic. People come from all of the world to make this city great.
“And I know there are some folks who don’t realize the contributions made by colored folks to this City and to the nation. But the White House was built with slave labor. What’s important is that we see good in the generation following us and give them the opportunity to achieve its potential. We owe them that.”
Read Mayor Dinkins' obit in the Daily News here.
