Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Time to honor Former New York Mayor David Dinkins is now
Happy Birthday, David Norman Dinkins.
New York City’s first African-American mayor reached 90 years old on Monday and received a deserved birthday celebration as people recalled his impressive life.
Dinkins grew up on Spring St. in Trenton with parents Sarah “Sally” Lucy and William Dinkins, Jr. His parents separated when he turned six years old as Dinkins and his father moved to Harlem.
They eventually returned to Trenton with Dinkins graduating from Trenton Central High School in 1945. The Chambers St. education institution still existed as one of the state’s top schools.
Dinkins eventually defeated three-term incumbent New York City Mayor Ed Koch and three other challengers in a Democratic primary then bested Republican mayoral candidate Rudy Giuliani in the November 1989 election.
What makes the Dinkins story more incredible involves former City of Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer who grew up on Spring St. Imagine, two men from the capital city who became the first African-American mayors for two of our nation’s most important cities. Palmer reminisced. “Mayor David Dinkins had had such a positive impact on my life. He was my mom’s childhood friend and the friendship they had became a real blessing to me,” Palmer said.
Palmer served five terms as Trenton mayor with his first starting in 1990.
“But David Dinkins had supported me even before then when I ran successfully for freeholder. As a mayoral candidate, he walked the city with me after he became mayor of New York. I don’t win the election without Mayor Dinkins.”
“I remember my first U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. Honestly? I was nervous and intimidated, especially since I followed former (Trenton) Mayor Arthur Holland. Mayor Dinkins announced me as “his mayor” and told me to sit down next to him. That meant so much.”
Actually, Dinkins has represented the City of Trenton on the national and world stage. Dinkins’ life deserves honor and no better time than the present exists for his life to be celebrated here in Trenton.
Forget naming a street after one our city’s most celebrated sons. David Dinkins deserved a building and it’s not out of the question to consider renaming Trenton Central High School after the Trenton icon.
In fact, city officials and residents should consider former Mayor Palmer, Edith Savage-Jennings, Leslie Hayling, Sr., Tal Brody, Carmen Armenti and others as people worthy of significant remembrances.
We should not wait until people to pass away before they receive celebration for contributions made to Trenton or as city ambassadors in other parts of the nation and world.
By the way, Hayling, Sr. continued the incredible history of Spring St. when he became a Tuskegee Airman. Imagine that! Two first African American mayors and a member of the famous black air squadron were raised on Spring St.
Spring St. currently lists as one of the city’s crime ravaged neighborhoods. Palmer said Dinkins would understand current issues there.
“I think Mayor Dinkins, he would understand what happened there. He understands the consequences of poverty. However, he also would have hope that they would turn this around with the right leadership and inclusive partnerships. He certainly would not give up on Spring St.,” Palmer said.
Palmer said Dinkins never has forgotten his roots.
“He’s a Trentonian,” Palmer said. David Dinkins is a major supporter of our city’s National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) program. I know that he will support any and positive initiative that helps Trenton.”
It’s time we pay tribute to David Dinkins and other worthy Trentonians.
Let’s open up this conversation and include any Trenton resident you believe deserves special recognition. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@ trentonian.com. Follow on Twitter@ laparker6.