Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Samantha I. Lugo (212) 788-9364
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani tonight joined the National Arts Club (NAC) in honoring Herman Badillo for his important contributions to improving the standards of education in New York City. Mr. Badillo, a Special Advisor to the Mayor on education issues and Vice-Chair of the CUNY Board of Trustees, was awarded NAC's Education Committee's Medal of Honor for Education at the Club's annual dinner.
" It's a pleasure and an honor to be here tonight to pay tribute to Herman Badillo, a lawyer, an innovator, an educator, a leader, and an advocate for young people throughout the City of New York," the Mayor said.
"Herman understands that in order to improve teaching and learning, we have to pursue the best solutions with real intellectual honesty. By bringing his strong, clear, intelligent voice to the table, he keeps lifting the level of discourse to the highest possible plane - encouraging everyone to recall that education is about fostering and encouraging excellence, achievement, and true opportunity - not satisfying the political needs of the moment," the Mayor added.
"Under Herman's leadership, the courageous vote by CUNY's Board of Trustees on Tuesday night sent the powerful message that CUNY is starting the important and difficult process of restoring its reputation as one of the great public institutions of higher learning in the country. I hope that Herman's example will inspire the political leaders of the next century in New York City," the Mayor concluded.
Joining the Mayor at the tribute were Mr. Badillo's wife, Gail; the Comissioner of the Department of Employment, Antonio Pagan; the President of the 14th Street Business Improvement District, David Gmatch; Jerry Cammarata, member of the New York City Board of Education; and the President of the National Arts Club, Aldon James.
Herman Badillo was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He came to New York City at the age of eleven. A magna Cum laude graduate from the City College of New York, and the Brooklyn Law School, Badillo's long and outstanding career in public service began in 1962 when he was appointed as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Relocation. He was the first full Commissioner of Hispanic origin in the history of New York City. He served as Bronx Borough President, Deputy Mayor of the City of New York under Mayor Ed Koch, as well as Member of the House of Representatives from 21st Congressional District.
In 1994, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani appointed Mr. Badillo to the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. In 1997, he was appointed to be CUNY's Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Mayor's Task Force on CUNY. Mr. Badillo practices private law in the law firm of Fischbein, Badillo, Wagner and Harding.
The National Arts Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, was founded with the purpose of highlighting the accomplishments of American artists, and to provide an outlet for free discussion and community for them. The club has always offered full membership to women. A National Historic Landmark, the NAC is used regularly for community, cultural, and artistic events. The National Arts Club is a nationally recognized patron of the arts, praised for its status as a popular educational institution of longstanding value.