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Howard L. Lasher

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Howard L. Lasher
Assemblyman, New York State
In office
1972–1993
ConstituencyBrooklyn’s 46th Assembly District
City Councilman
In office
1993–2002
Succeeded byDomenic M. Recchia
ConstituencyNew York City's 47th Council District
Personal details
Born1944
United States
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSusan Lasher
ResidenceNew York State
OccupationPolitician

Howard L. Lasher is an American Democrat politician from New York State.

Lasher has been a "political fixture" in Brooklyn, New York for over thirty-five years - first as a member[1] of the New York State Assembly, from 1972-1993[2], and later as a City Councilman from Brooklyn[3][4]. He had represented Brooklyn's 47th District on the City Council[5]. While a Council Member, Lasher funded the reconstruction of Brighton Playground, in 1995[6]. Also during his time as a Council Member, Lasher served as Chairman of New York State Governor Mario Cuomo's Insurance Committee[7].

Lasher was the principal author of the "New York Deprogramming Bill."[8] While holding hearings in the Assembly on the bill on the treatment of children in destructive cults, Lasher was reportedly harassed[9]. The bill was 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[8]. The New York State Assembly approved the bill 77-64[10], and it was subsequently passed by the New York State Senate 35-23[11]. However, in July 1981 New York State Governor Hugh Carey vetoed the bill, and it was not signed into law[8]. The legislation had also been known as the "guardianship bill"[10].

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[12].

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[13].

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[14] Domenic M. Recchia's 4,509[5].

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

  1. ^ 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."
  2. ^ Candidate Statements, New York City Campaign Finance Board, Susan Lasher, City Council, 47th Council District, retrieved 1/22/07.
  3. ^ "Brooklyn Councilman, a Political Fixture, Faces Fight in Primary", August 28, 1997, The New York Times, Jonathan P. Hicks.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b New York City District 47, Gotham Gazette, Primary Election Results.
  6. ^ Brighton Playground, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, July 07, 1998
  7. ^ Cuomo Bill Seeks Insurance for the AIDS Exposed, New York Times, February 27, 1991, Kevin Sack.
  8. ^ a b c "Carey Kills Bill Allowing Removal of 'Coerced' Members from Cults", The New York Times, July 20, 1981, Section B, Page 7, Column 5.
  9. ^ 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."
  10. ^ a b The Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York, "Anti-Cult Bill Stirs Debate on Constitutionality", June 23, 1981.
  11. ^ "NY Senate Passes Bill on Cult Deprogramming", Garden City Newsday, Keeler, July 1, 1981, New York.
  12. ^ 2001 Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation Conference, October 26-28, 2001, theme: "Cults and Terrorism: Abuse of the Vulnerable."
  13. ^ Calvert Vaux Park, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, November 07, 2001.
  14. ^ How The Promise Of Campaign 2001 Played Out, Mark Berkey-Gerard, Gotham Gazette, 2001.

See also

Political offices
Preceded by
Unknown
 Assemblyman, New York State
1972 – 1993 		Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Unknown
 City Councilman, Brooklyn, New York
1993 – 2002 		Succeeded by
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