Phil Reed
Encyclopedia
Phil Reed was a New York City Council
Member from 1998 to 2005, when term limits forced him out of office. He represented Council District 8, encompassing Manhattan neighborhoods of East Harlem and Manhattan Valley
, and a portion of the South Bronx
, as well as Randall's Island
/ Wards Island and Central Park
. He was the first openly
gay
African-American New York City Council Member. From 2002 to 2005 he was the chair of the Council's Committee on Consumer Affairs.
Reed was born in New York on February 21, 1949. He dropped out of Ohio Wesleyan University
and received conscientious objector
status during the Vietnam War. Prior to joining the Council, Reed worked for ten years as a sales representative for Otis Elevator Company
in San Francisco. After returning to New York City, he was the project director at the East New York HIV/AIDS Project, and as the Director of Public Affairs for the Hetrick-Martin Institute
. In 1981, he first developed symptoms that were ultimately diagnosed as HIV. From mid-1995 to early 1997, he underwent 18 months of chemotherapy for multiple myeloma
, a virulent form of bone marrow cancer.
Reed had earlier run and lost bids for the New York State Senate
and the City Council. In 1997, Adam Clayton Powell IV
ran for Manhattan Borough President
, and Reed won a five-way race in the Democratic Party primary to fill Powell's vacant seat. He won the 1997 general election with 75% of the vote, outpacing four challengers led by Republican George L. Espada who had 18% of the vote.
While in office, Reed gained attention for his work to prevent childhood asthma
, a serious problem in his district. He also concentrated on measures to increase affordable housing and refurbish neighborhood parks. Reed vigorously opposed Mayor Rudy Giuliani
's plan to relocate the Museum of the City of New York
from its location in East Harlem to the Tweed Courthouse
in downtown Manhattan. Mayor Michael Bloomberg
ultimately scrapped this plan, moving the New York City Department of Education
to the Tweed Courthouse instead.
Reed lived on the Upper West Side
and died at age 59 on November 6, 2008 of complications of pneumonia
that resulted from leukemia
.
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
Member from 1998 to 2005, when term limits forced him out of office. He represented Council District 8, encompassing Manhattan neighborhoods of East Harlem and Manhattan Valley
Manhattan Valley
Manhattan Valley is a neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, bounded by West 110th Street to the north, Central Park West to the east, West 96th Street to the south, and Broadway to the west...
, and a portion of the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
, as well as Randall's Island
Randall's Island
Randall's Island is situated in the East River in New York City, part of the borough of Manhattan. It is separated from Manhattan island on the west by the river's main channel, from Queens on the east by the Hell Gate, and from the Bronx on the north by the Bronx Kill. It is joined to Wards...
/ Wards Island and Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. He was the first openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
African-American New York City Council Member. From 2002 to 2005 he was the chair of the Council's Committee on Consumer Affairs.
Reed was born in New York on February 21, 1949. He dropped out of Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
and received conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
status during the Vietnam War. Prior to joining the Council, Reed worked for ten years as a sales representative for Otis Elevator Company
Otis Elevator Company
The Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
in San Francisco. After returning to New York City, he was the project director at the East New York HIV/AIDS Project, and as the Director of Public Affairs for the Hetrick-Martin Institute
Hetrick-Martin Institute
The Hetrick-Martin Institute is a New York City based non-profit organization devoted to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth. The institute was founded in 1979 as the "Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth" by Dr. Emery Hetrick, a...
. In 1981, he first developed symptoms that were ultimately diagnosed as HIV. From mid-1995 to early 1997, he underwent 18 months of chemotherapy for multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
, a virulent form of bone marrow cancer.
Reed had earlier run and lost bids for 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...
and the City Council. In 1997, Adam Clayton Powell IV
Adam Clayton Powell IV (politician)
Adam Clayton Powell IV , was a member of the New York State Assembly. From 1992-1997 he served as New York City Council Member representing East Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side and the South Bronx. Since 2000, Powell has represented the 68th Assembly District, which includes parts of Harlem...
ran for Manhattan Borough President
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
, and Reed won a five-way race in the Democratic Party primary to fill Powell's vacant seat. He won the 1997 general election with 75% of the vote, outpacing four challengers led by Republican George L. Espada who had 18% of the vote.
While in office, Reed gained attention for his work to prevent childhood asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, a serious problem in his district. He also concentrated on measures to increase affordable housing and refurbish neighborhood parks. Reed vigorously opposed Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
's plan to relocate the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
from its location in East Harlem to the Tweed Courthouse
Tweed Courthouse
The building is composed of a central section with two projecting wings, with an addition in the center on the south facade. The entry portico on the main Chambers Street facade rises three and a half stories from a low granite curb, supported by four Corinthian columns...
in downtown Manhattan. Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
ultimately scrapped this plan, moving the New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
to the Tweed Courthouse instead.
Reed lived on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
and died at age 59 on November 6, 2008 of complications of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
that resulted from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.
Sources
- New York City Council Information Page
- Empire State Pride Agenda 2001 Primary Voter Guide
- Gotham Gazette
- Corruption Is Not Dead At the Tweed Courthouse
- Bloomberg Scuttles Museum's move to Tweed Courthouse
- Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats Bio Page
- http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/images/2003_images/candidate_photos/CD08_Reed_DC.jpg
