Stanley Myer Isaacs (1882–1962) was a Republican politician from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

who served as

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

Borough President from 1938 to 1941 and later as a member of the

New York City Council The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of New York City in the United States. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The council serves as a check against the mayor in a mayor-council government mod ...

from 1942 to 1962. He was Minority Leader of the council from 1950 to 1962. An advocate for social justice, Isaacs is perhaps best known for his support for

housing Housing refers to a property containing one or more Shelter (building), shelter as a living space. Housing spaces are inhabited either by individuals or a collective group of people. Housing is also referred to as a human need and right to ...

and the work he did with Mayor

Fiorello LaGuardia Fiorello Henry La Guardia (born Fiorello Raffaele Enrico La Guardia; December 11, 1882September 20, 1947) was an American attorney and politician who represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as the 99th mayor of New Y ...

, whom he helped to get elected. Stanley Isaacs is also remembered for his role in exposing the shady financial arrangements between park commissioner

Robert Moses Robert Moses (December 18, 1888 – July 29, 1981) was an American urban planner and public official who worked in the New York metropolitan area during the early to mid-20th century. Moses is regarded as one of the most powerful and influentia ...

and the restaurant Tavern in the Park's owner Arnold Schleifer during the "Battle for Central Park", in April 1956. This exposure would lead to further questioning of Moses, and eventually to the fall of the system of political patronage he led in the city. A graduate of both Columbia College and New York Law School, Isaacs was born in Manhattan to a family of English-Jewish descent. His paternal grandfather,

Samuel Myer Isaacs Samuel Myer Isaacs (January 4, 1804May 19, 1878) was a Dutch-born American educator, philanthropist and rabbi. He was the second Jewish spiritual leader in the United States to teach in English instead of Hebrew or German. Early life and educat ...

, was rabbi at Temple Shaaray Tefila. His father, Myer S. Isaacs, along with his grandfather, published ''The'' ''Jewish Messenger''.Stanley Isaacs Documents, Photographs and Artifacts at the La Guardia and Wagner Archives http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/SearchFromUrl.aspx?&Phrasetype=1&SearchType=0&KeyWord=stanley+and+isaacs&Photos=1&Docs=1&OH=1&Video=1&Art=1

References

1882 births 1962 deaths 20th-century American lawyers American people of English-Jewish descent Columbia College (New York) alumni Housing reformers Housing rights activists from New York City New York City Council members New York Law School alumni New York (state) Republicans Politicians from Manhattan 20th-century New York (state) politicians {{NewYork-politician-stub