Public Employee Press

Former Local 1359 President passes

Edward A. Roberts, who was president of Rent Regulation Services Employees Local 1359 in the late 1980s, died Nov. 11. He was 65.

Roberts, known to friends and colleagues as Ed, was born in Trinidad, where he was raised by his mother and grew up in poverty. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1966 and joined the army during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he graduated from City College and earned a law degree from St. John's University Law School.

He went to work for the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (now Homes and Community Renewal) where he was the first African-
American attorney on the team that authored the Rent Stabilization Code for the State of New York. While at the agency, Roberts became an active union member, and in 1986 members elected him as the president of Local 1359.

Roberts is remembered by his surviving family, friends, and union brothers and sisters as a compassionate member of the community and a union leader who fought hard for members.