Ira J. Palestin
Ira J. Palestin | |
|---|---|
 Palestin c. 1945 | |
| Member of the New York City Council from The Bronx At-Large | |
| In office January 1, 1946 – December 31, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ira Jacob Palestin September 4, 1899 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 30, 1997 (aged 97) |
| Resting place | Westchester Hills Cemetery |
| Political party | American Labor (before 1944) Liberal (after 1944) |
| Spouse |
Beatrice Kleban (m. 1928) |
| Alma mater | City College of New York Columbia Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Ira Jacob Palestin (September 4, 1899 – April 30, 1997)[1] was a Jewish-American American Labor and Liberal Party lawyer and politician who served on the New York City Council from 1946 to 1949, representing the Bronx.[2] When Palestin was elected in 1945 alongside Louis P. Goldberg, they became the first elected officials of the Liberal Party of New York.[3]
Born in New York City in 1899, Palestin served in World War I and attended the City College of New York and Columbia Law School. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1924 and practiced law for over 20 years. During World War II, he served as a volunteer appeals attorney for the Office of Price Administration.[4]
Palestin's first encounter with electoral politics came in 1943, when he was nominated for State Supreme Court by the American Labor Party.[5] He declined the nomination as he felt he wasn't prominent enough for the candidacy.[6] Two years later, he ran for City Council in the Bronx on the Liberal Party ticket and was elected to a four-year term. He was aided by the city's electoral system of proportional representation, rising from eith place to fifth as ballots from fellow Liberal Howard C. Cadwell and Independent Gertrude W. Klein transferred to him as they were eliminated.[7] He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1946, and for Bronx Borough President in 1949 and 1953.[2]
In 1955, Palestin was appointed to the New York State Tax Commission by Governor W. Averell Harriman,[8] serving until 1966, when he reisgned to re-enter law practice.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ira Jacob Palestin". findagrave.com. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Palestin, Ira J." ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Soyer, Daniel (2021). Left in the Center: The Liberal Party of New York and the Rise and Fall of American Social Democracy. Cornell University Press. p. 51. ISBN 9781501759888. JSTOR 10.7591/j.ctv1hw3x50.2.
- ^ Hartman, Myron D. (1959). New York Red Book, 1959-1960. Albany: Williams press. p. 417. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Right-Wingers Nominated By ALP for Bench". The Buffalo News. Buffalo. 24 August 1943. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Aurelio aided by gangster, Hogan claims". Daily News. New York. 29 August 1943. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "P. R. Works Well In New York, Says Hallett". The Herald Statesman. Yonkers. 12 December 1945. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "PALESTIN NAMED TO STATE TAX JOB; Leading Member of Liberal Party May Face Senate Snag on Confirmation". The New York Times. New York. 9 March 1955. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Palestin Resigns N.Y. State Tax Post". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield. 8 September 1966. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Ira J. Palestin at Wikimedia Commons- Our Campaigns - Palestin, Ira J.
