Bill Text: NY J01538 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Richard Gibbs upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 21, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-21 - ADOPTED [J01538 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01538-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1538

BY: Senator COMRIE

        HONORING  Richard  Gibbs  upon the occasion of his
        designation for special recognition by the New  York
        State Office for the Aging on May 21, 2019

  WHEREAS,  Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge
to the increasingly active roles they play  in  today's  society;  their
past  contributions  and  future  participation are a vital part of, and
valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is  justly  proud  to  honor  Richard
Gibbs  upon  the  occasion of his designation for special recognition by
the New York State Office for the Aging at its Annual Older New Yorkers'
Day Celebration on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Hart Theatre Lounge  in
The Egg, Albany, New York; and

  WHEREAS, Each May, the New York State Office for the Aging pauses to
acknowledge  the outstanding contributions made by older citizens during
National Older Americans Month; and

  WHEREAS, Members of older generations have helped  build  and  shape
our  Nation  to  be  the  greatest  in the world; they have defended our
freedoms and values to ensure that those who come after  them  may  have
better  lives; nowhere in the Nation is the legacy of their efforts more
visible and more a part of the lives of all citizens than  here  in  the
State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, As the founder/president of the 415 Lefferts Avenue Tenants
Association,  Richard Gibbs spent much time representing elderly tenants
in Court for landlord disputes; the Association  was  awarded  the  1977
Self  Help Neighborhood Award for converting a vacant lot into a sitting
area for residents; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Gibbs was President of the  Queens  Community  Club
for  five  years;  with  other  NAACP members, he picketed for community
based jobs at various sites, including Aqueduct Raceway (Resort  World);
participated in a protest against private developers attempting to seize
the  St. Albans Veterans Administration Hospital property; and worked on
voter registration drives, and transported people in need  of  rides  to
their voting polls; and

  WHEREAS, As President of the Independent Real Estate Brokers Council
(IREB),  Richard Gibbs fought against redlining by banks, and counselled
many, especially older adults, against mortgage scams; and

  WHEREAS, As a member of two senior center boards, Richard  Gibbs  is
still  advocating for seniors; for approximately five years, he provided
LaGuardia Community College students  summer  internships  at  his  real
estate office; and

  WHEREAS,  Richard  Gibbs  has  also  participated  in  several youth
mentoring programs and, as an Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity  member,  he
awards  an  annual $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior
involved in community volunteerism; and


  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  80 year-old Richard Gibbs provides workshops
on what to do "when stopped by the police" and is an  active  member  of
the Community Partner Program with the 113th Precinct; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Gibbs was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; he
served his country as a member of the United States Air Force from April
1958  to  June  1962;  he  then  moved to Manhattan and entered Columbia
University in 1965; and

  WHEREAS, Richard Gibbs met his  future  wife,  Brenda,  at  Columbia
University  who  had  come to New York to pursue her master's degree; he
was called  to  the  New  York  City  Police  Department  in  1966,  and
subsequently  left  Columbia University and return to Brooklyn to attend
the Policy Academy; and

  WHEREAS, Brenda and Richard were married in 1968, and  together  are
the proud parents of three children, Gigi, Peter, and Brendan; and

  WHEREAS,  Working  nights  and  weekends  on  the  Police Force gave
Richard Gibbs little time to spend with his young children, so  he  left
the  Police  Department and went to work at the Court as a Court Officer
where he was able to spend more time with his family; and

  WHEREAS, Currently, Richard and Brenda  Gibbs  reside  in  the  same
house in Queens they bought 40 years ago; and

  WHEREAS,  Rare  indeed  is  the  impressive  dedication  shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Richard Gibbs  has  displayed
throughout his life; and

  WHEREAS,  Richard  Gibbs,  a  very  active  and industrious man, has
inspired  and  enriched  the  lives  of  those  he  serves  through  his
volunteerism,  generously  sharing  the  wisdom  gained  over  years  of
experiencing life to its fullest; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Richard  Gibbs  upon  the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 21,  2019;
and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Richard Gibbs.