Public Employee Press

DC 37 mourns friend and ally James Davis, slain at City Hall

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

James E. Davis, a first term New York City Council member from Brooklyn, was a political maverick whose life was violently cut short July 23 at City Hall by an assassin’s bullet.

The murder in the council chamber shocked the city, leaving an overwhelming sadness — as when a mother loses a son, or a family their dearest brother.

“James was a devoted public servant and a great friend of this union,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. He was at City Hall to introduce a resolution calling for workplace violence protection for city employees.

For DC 37, Mr. Davis was a solid ally in City Hall. He stood up for union causes and working family issues because he believed the little man — and woman and child — counted. How they lived and earned their living and the daily struggle to preserve dignity in their lives mattered deeply to him. After working as a Corrections and Police Officer, Mr. Davis took his concerns to the streets.

He launched the Stop the Violence —Love Yourself campaign in 1990 to end the senseless street violence decimating communities in Brooklyn and nationwide. After losing by only 600 votes in an underfunded Assembly race, he won the Crown Heights/Fort Greene City Council seat in 2001. “I didn’t get DC 37’s endorsement,” Mr. Davis told this reporter with a smile, “but your members love me and they vote.”

Bold and unafraid
Mr. Davis took on powerful corporations, powerful institutions and powerful politicians. In office, he took the lead on issues like workplace and domestic violence and Police Dept. civilianization.

“He took a stand and was not afraid,” said Eddie Rodriguez, president of Clerical-Administrative Local 1549. “He stood tall for DC 37. We could always count on him. The people came first.”

Local 1457 President Alex Parker recalled that when Mr. Davis read a PEP article exposing workplace violence in the juvenile centers, “He phoned on Good Friday, 2002, and said, ‘I see that all these women got beat up. I want to help. Tell me what I need to do.’ ”

“James held the commissioner’s feet to the fire on safety,” Mr. Parker said. Mr. Davis pressed for an operational, working relationship between the union and the agency. “He understood that ultimately the children would benefit.”

Before hearings, Mr. Davis loved to warm up the crowd of Local 1457 members with jokes like a talk show host. Often he was the only official there. “He was not just a suit looking for votes,” Mr. Parker said, “but a visionary who brought light to difficult issues before they became sexy.”

James Davis loved the spotlight. It shone on him brightly, but he was always willing to share it. He loved people, loved his job as a City Council member and loved working uncompromisingly to make a difference.

“We will miss what might have been when we think about the dynamism that fueled James Davis and would have carried him so much further in public service,” said Ms. Roberts.

We will miss his love of a grand entrance, his movie star grin, his sincere tenacity for right. On Aug. 19, the City Council adopted an anti-workplace violence resolution in memory of James E. Davis.