Howard L. Lasher
Encyclopedia
Howard L. Lasher was an American
politician of the Democratic party New York State. He was the first Orthodox Jew elected to state office in New York State.
, from 1973–1993, and later as a City Councilman from Brooklyn. He had represented Brooklyn's 47th District on the City Council, representing Coney Island
, Brighton Beach
and the surrounding communities.
s, Lasher was reportedly harassed. The bill was structured with specific regard for groups such as Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church
. Sponsors of the legislation contended that these and other groups practice brainwashing and other forms of coercive persuasion among their followers. The New York State Assembly
approved the bill 77-64, and it was subsequently passed by the New York State Senate
35-23. However, in July 1981 New York State Governor Hugh Carey
vetoed the bill, and it was not signed into law. The legislation had also been known as the "guardianship bill".
In 1981, Lasher became the first recipient of the Leo J. Ryan Award
, named in honor and memory of the first United States Congressman to die in the line of duty, Leo Ryan
.
Mario Cuomo
's Insurance Committee.
In November 2000, Lasher helped fund a $2 million reconstruction of the playground area of Calvert Vaux Park, a 73 acres (295,420.8 m²) park in New York City
, named for English architect Calvert Vaux
.
Howard Lasher died in his Ocean Parkway
, New York
home, on March 11, 2007.
Articles
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Democratic party New York State. He was the first Orthodox Jew elected to state office in New York State.
Political fixture
Lasher was a political fixture in Brooklyn, New York for over thirty-five years - first as a member of the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, from 1973–1993, and later as a City Councilman from Brooklyn. He had represented Brooklyn's 47th District on the City Council, representing Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
and the surrounding communities.
New York Deprogramming Bill
Lasher was the principal author of the "New York Deprogramming Bill." While holding hearings in the Assembly on the bill on the treatment of children in destructive cultDestructive cult
A destructive cult is a religion or other group which has caused or has a high probability of causing harm to its own members or to others. Some researchers define "harm" in this case with a narrow focus, specifically groups which have deliberately physically injured or killed other individuals,...
s, Lasher was reportedly harassed. The bill was structured with specific regard for groups such as Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
. Sponsors of the legislation contended that these and other groups practice brainwashing and other forms of coercive persuasion among their followers. The New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
approved the bill 77-64, and it was subsequently passed by the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
35-23. However, in July 1981 New York State Governor Hugh Carey
Hugh Carey
Hugh Leo Carey was an American attorney, the 51st Governor of New York from 1975 to 1982, and a seven-term United States Representative .- Early life :...
vetoed the bill, and it was not signed into law. The legislation had also been known as the "guardianship bill".
In 1981, Lasher became the first recipient of the Leo J. Ryan Award
Leo J. Ryan Award
The Leo J. Ryan Award was established by the Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation in honor of Congressman Leo J. Ryan; the only United States Congressman to be killed in the line of duty. He was assassinated in Guyana, while investigating Jonestown and The Peoples Temple. Ryan was posthumously awarded...
, named in honor and memory of the first United States Congressman to die in the line of duty, Leo Ryan
Leo Ryan
Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative from California's 11th congressional district from 1973 until he was murdered in Guyana by members of the Peoples Temple shortly before the Jonestown Massacre in 1978.After the Watts Riots...
.
Council member
While a Council Member, Lasher funded the reconstruction of Brighton Playground, in 1995. As an Assemblyman, Lasher served as Chairman of New York State GovernorGovernor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
's Insurance Committee.
In November 2000, Lasher helped fund a $2 million reconstruction of the playground area of Calvert Vaux Park, a 73 acres (295,420.8 m²) park in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, named for English architect Calvert Vaux
Calvert Vaux
Calvert Vaux , was an architect and landscape designer. He is best remembered as the co-designer , of New York's Central Park....
.
Later years
Lasher did not run in the 2001 Brooklyn City Council elections due to term limits, but his wife did. Susan Lasher received 2,999 votes to winner Domenic M. Recchia's 4,509.Howard Lasher died in his Ocean Parkway
Ocean Parkway (Brooklyn)
Ocean Parkway is a broad boulevard in the west central portion of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City.-Route description:Ocean Parkway extends over a distance of about five miles , running almost north to south from the vicinity of Prospect Park to Brighton Beach...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
home, on March 11, 2007.
Education
Source- Brooklyn Law SchoolBrooklyn Law SchoolBrooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
- Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn CollegeBrooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
- Yeshiva University High School for BoysYeshiva UniversityYeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
Publications
New York State- Public hearing on treatment of children by cults (transcript). Assemblyman Howard Lasher, Chairman. August 9–10, 1979. New York State Assembly.
- Budget proposal to eliminate $3.75 million from preventive services / Howard L. Lasher to Governor Carey, Howard L. Lasher, The Assembly, State of New York, Committee on Child Care 1977
Articles
- Early Childhood Education Journal, Volume 6, Number 4 / June, 1979, Page 5, "Letter Box."
External links
- The Leo J. Ryan Award, October 27, 2001, Awards Presentation, mentions first award given to Lasher
- 'Senate will cave' - commentary on Senate reaction to rent regulation vote from Assemblyman Howard Lasher of Brooklyn, New York, New York, Real Estate Weekly, June 23, 1993 by Therese Fitzgerald
- Housing key to communities Assemb. Lasher tells ABO - New York State Assemblyman Howard Lasher addresses Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, Real Estate Weekly, May 26, 1993