Bill Text: NY K00952 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Honoring Dr. Gerald Benjamin upon the occasion of his retirement after more than 50 years of distinguished service as a professor

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-07-20 - adopted [K00952 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00952-Introduced.html

---

Assembly Resolution No. 952

BY: M. of A. Cahill

        HONORING  Dr. Gerald Benjamin upon the occasion of
        his  retirement  after  more  than   50   years   of
        distinguished service as a professor, researcher and
        dedicated public servant

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize the
lasting achievements and legacies of those individuals who substantially
contribute to  the  education,  welfare  and  quality  of  life  of  our
communities, its citizenry and the entire State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Dr. Gerald Benjamin upon the occasion of his retirement after more  than
50  years  of  distinguished  service  as  a  professor,  researcher and
dedicated public servant; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Gerald Benjamin began his illustrious  career  at  SUNY
New  Paltz  in  1968  as an Assistant Professor of Political Science; he
eventually rose to Chairman of  the  Department  of  Political  Science,
Presiding Officer of the Faculty and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts
and  Science,  reimagining  and  implementing  new  programs  of  study,
expanding the existing faculty, diversifying  the  campus,  as  well  as
providing  oversight  to  the  work  of  both the Institute for Disaster
Mental Health and The Legislative Gazette; and

  WHEREAS,  His  vision  and  dedication  to   the   University   were
memorialized   in  2002  when  Dr.  Gerald  Benjamin  was  designated  a
Distinguished Professor by the SUNY Board of  Trustees,  and  chosen  in
2008 to be Associate Vice President for Regional Engagement and Director
of the Center for Research, Regional Engagement and Outreach at SUNY New
Paltz  -  fittingly  renamed  The  Benjamin  Center  for  Public  Policy
Initiatives at SUNY New Paltz in 2015 for its founder -  the  powerhouse
research  institution  that  provides  immense  assistance for important
civic matters and approaches to local government and regional  solutions
in the Hudson Valley and beyond; and

  WHEREAS,  In  demonstrating  his  tremendous  altruism,  Dr.  Gerald
Benjamin honorably enlisted to defend our nation, serving in the  United
States  Army from 1970-1972, and ascending to the senior rank of Captain
in the Medical Service Corps; and

  WHEREAS, After being elected to the  Ulster  County  Legislature  in
1981, Dr. Gerald Benjamin rose to lead his colleagues as Majority Leader
from  1985-1991,  and eventually the entire Legislative Body, serving as
Chairman from 1991-1993, which was the Chief Executive  of  the  County,
the highest elected position at the time; and

  WHEREAS,  Recognized  early  as the preeminent scholar and expert on
New York State and local governments, Dr. Gerald Benjamin has  acted  in
critical positions such as Principal Research Advisor to a New York City
Charter  Commission,  Director  of the Center for the New York State and
Local Government Studies at SUNY's Rockefeller Institute of  Government,

and   Research   Director   of   the   Temporary   State  Commission  on
Constitutional Revision - an appointment by Governor Mario Cuomo; and

  WHEREAS,  His contributions to the region and the state were further
acknowledged by a unanimous appointment by the Ulster County Legislature
in 2004 to Chair the  Ulster  County  Charter  Commission  -  ultimately
creating  the  form  of  government  now  in  effect  -  and when he was
appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer  in  2007  to  the  New  York  State
Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness; and

  WHEREAS, With acclaim and success following him internationally, Dr.
Gerald  Benjamin  was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Tokyo and
the Japanese Foreign Ministry School, a Serbelloni Fellow  in  Residence
at  the  Rockefeller  Foundation  Study Center in Bellagio, Italy, and a
Visiting Professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Gerald Benjamin has been a fount  of  knowledge  and  a
primary  resource to policymakers and students alike, having authored or
edited at least 15 books and countless more reports, essays and articles
on public policies, institutions and  operations,  garnering  widespread
respect, accolades and notoriety; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the intent of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the  maintenance  of  high  standards  in  their
profession,  certainly  have  earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor Dr. Gerald Benjamin upon the occasion of his retirement after more
than  50  years  of distinguished service as a professor, researcher and
dedicated public servant, and to  celebrate  his  lasting  influence  in
reforming state and local governments across New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Gerald Benjamin.