Howard L. Lasher

Infobox_Politician


name = Howard L. Lasher
width =
height =
caption = Howard L. Lasher
birth_date = 1944
birth_place = United States
death_date = death date|2007|3|11|mf=y
death_place = Ocean Parkway, New York
party = Democrat
residence = New York State
occupation = Politician
religion = Judaism
relations =
spouse = Susan Lasher
civil partner =
children = 5
office = Assemblyman, New York State
term_start = 1972
term_end = 1993
predecessor =
successor =
constituency = Brooklyn’s 46th Assembly District
majority =
office2 = City Councilman
term_start2 = 1993
term_end2 = 2002
predecessor2 =
successor2 = Domenic M. Recchia
constituency2 = New York City's 47th Council District
majority2 =
office3 =
term_start3 =
term_end3 =
predecessor3 =
successor3 =
constituency3 =
majority3 =
footnotes =
website =

Howard L. Lasher (1944 - 2007) was an American Democrat politician from New York State. He was the first orthodox Jewish person elected to state office in New York State.

Political fixture

Lasher was a political fixture in Brooklyn, New York for over thirty-five years - first as a member [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E1DC133EF930A35756C0A96E958260 Frances McIntyre, Arnold Smith] , "New York Times", May 3, 1998
"His father was an executive assistant to former State Assemblyman Howard L. Lasher of Brooklyn."] of the New York State Assembly, from 1972-1993 [ [http://www.nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/primary_2001/cd_statements/cd47_slasher.htm Candidate Statements] , New York City Campaign Finance Board, Susan Lasher, City Council, 47th Council District, retrieved 1/22/07.] , and later as a City Councilman from Brooklyn ["Brooklyn Councilman, a Political Fixture, Faces Fight in Primary", August 28, 1997, "The New York Times", Jonathan P. Hicks.] [New York City Economic Development Corporation, August 22, 2000, Press Release
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was joined today by City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, City Council Member Howard L. Lasher, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance Robert M. Harding, New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President Michael G. Carey, New York Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon, and Joan Hodges, wife of legendary baseball great Gil Hodges, to celebrate the start of construction on the permanent home of the New York Mets' minor league baseball team.] . He had represented Brooklyn's 47th District on the City Council [http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/dist47.html New York City District 47] , "Gotham Gazette", Primary Election Results.] , representing Coney Island, Brighton Beach and the surrounding communities.

New York Deprogramming Bill

Lasher was the principal author of the "New York Deprogramming Bill.""Carey Kills Bill Allowing Removal of 'Coerced' Members from Cults", "The New York Times", July 20, 1981, Section B, Page 7, Column 5.] While holding hearings in the Assembly on the bill on the treatment of children in destructive cults, Lasher was reportedly harassed [ [http://www.xenutv.com/panels/cultinfo-2001-award.htm The Leo J. Ryan Award] , October 27, 2001, Awards Presentation
"Congressman Ryan was caring, and he was courageous. The first Leo J. Ryan award was given, as I said, twenty years ago, in the fall of 1981. A bit of irony here: I was the first presenter. Sometimes it seems longer than that.

That first award went to an assemblyman from New York State, Harold Lasher. Howard Lasher had become concerned about the care of children in destructive cults. So he held hearings in New York City. He was harassed, and that is probably a very mild word when I think back on it. But he persevered, and he presented legislation to the New York State legislature."] . The bill was structured with specific regard for groups such as Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. Sponsors of the legislation contended that these and other groups practice brainwashing and other forms of coercive persuasion among their followers. The New York State Assembly approved the bill 77-64"The Buffalo News", Buffalo, New York, "Anti-Cult Bill Stirs Debate on Constitutionality", June 23, 1981.] , and it was subsequently passed by the New York State Senate 35-23"NY Senate Passes Bill on Cult Deprogramming", "Garden City Newsday", Keeler, July 1, 1981, New York.] . However, in July 1981 New York State Governor Hugh Carey vetoed the bill, and it was not signed into law. The legislation had also been known as the "guardianship bill" ["Albany Panel to Weigh Bill on Cult-Member Guardians", Charles Austin, "The New York Times", May 22, 1981] .

In 1981, Lasher became the first recipient of the Leo J. Ryan Award, named in honor and memory of the first United States Congressman to die in the line of duty, Leo Ryan [http://www.xenutv.com/panels/cultinfo-2001.htm 2001 Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation Conference] , October 26-28, 2001, theme: "Cults and Terrorism: Abuse of the Vulnerable."] .

Council member

While a Council Member, Lasher funded the reconstruction of Brighton Playground, in 1995 [ [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=157 Brighton Playground] , New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, July 07, 1998] . As an Assemblyman, Lasher served as Chairman of New York State Governor Mario Cuomo's Insurance Committee [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D0CE2DE1E3CF934A15751C0A967958260 Cuomo Bill Seeks Insurance for the AIDS Exposed] , "New York Times", February 27, 1991, Kevin Sack.
Insurance industry officials and key legislators said today that it would be unfair to non-AIDS patients to make them share the high cost of insuring those with the disease. "If you do this you'll bring the cost of insurance up and you'll exclude people who can no longer afford the insurance," said Assemblyman Howard L. Lasher, Democrat of Brooklyn, the chairman of the Insurance Committee. Mr. Lasher said the bill "would have almost no chance in the Senate." ] .

In November 2000, Lasher helped fund a $2 million reconstruction of the playground area of Calvert Vaux Park, a 73-acre park in New York City, named for English architect Calvert Vaux [ [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=11724 Calvert Vaux Park] , New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, November 07, 2001.] .

Later years

Lasher did not run in the 2001 Brooklyn City Council elections due to term limits, but his wife did. Susan Lasher received 2,999 votes to winner [ [http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/promises_problems.html How The Promise Of Campaign 2001 Played Out] , Mark Berkey-Gerard, "Gotham Gazette", 2001.] Domenic M. Recchia's 4,509.

Howard Lasher died in his Ocean Parkway, New York home, on March 11, 2007 [http://www.parkslopecourier.com/site/tab7.cfm?newsid=18091417&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=552853&rfi=6 "Legislator Howard Lasher dies at 62 - City and state pol fought for disadvantaged in decades-long career."] , "Park Slope Courier", Gary Busio, March 16, 2007., Courier-Life Publications.] .

Education

Source
*Brooklyn Law School
*Brooklyn College
*Yeshiva University High School for Boys

Publications

;New York State
*"Public hearing on treatment of children by cults" (transcript). Assemblyman Howard Lasher, Chairman. August 9-10, 1979. New York State Assembly.
*"Budget proposal to eliminate $3.75 million from preventive services / Howard L. Lasher to Governor Carey", Howard L. Lasher, The Assembly, State of New York, Committee on Child Care 1977;Articles
*"Early Childhood Education Journal", Volume 6, Number 4 / June, 1979, Page 5, "Letter Box."

References

ee also

*Congressman Leo J. Ryan
*New York State Assembly

External links

* [http://www.xenutv.com/panels/cultinfo-2001-award.htm The Leo J. Ryan Award] , October 27, 2001, Awards Presentation, mentions first award given to Lasher
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_n45_v39/ai_13991563 'Senate will cave'] - commentary on Senate reaction to rent regulation vote from Assemblyman Howard Lasher of Brooklyn, New York, New York, "Real Estate Weekly", June 23, 1993 by Therese Fitzgerald
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_n41_v39/ai_13942595 Housing key to communities] Assemb. Lasher tells ABO - New York State Assemblyman Howard Lasher addresses Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, "Real Estate Weekly", May 26, 1993