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Former Council Member and District Leader Archie Spigner. Councilman
Donovan Richards/FB
Williams, Adams pay tribute to
former Councilman Archie Spigner
By Nelson A. King
Caribbean American New York City
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
and Brooklyn Borough President Eric
Adams on Friday paid tribute on former
Council Member and District Leader
Archie Spigner, who died on Oct. 29 in
Queens. He was 92.
Spigner (Aug. 27, 1928 – Oct. 29,
2020) was an African-American legislator,
who served in the New York City
Council from 1974 to 2001. He was born
in Orangeburg, SC.
“The Queens community, and the
entire city, have lost an iconic leader
with the passing of former Council
Member and District Leader Archie
Spigner,” Williams, the son of Grenadian
immigrants, told Caribbean Life.
“I offer my prayers of peace, comfort
and condolence to his family and community.
“As the first Black man elected to the
City Council from Queens, he served as
both a groundbreaking leader in his own
right and a driver of progress for Black
leaders to come who benefitted from his
guidance and example,” he added. “He
was a trailblazer who became a mentor,
a pioneer who became a steward, and
his dedication to the people of Queens
was enduring and absolute across his
decades of service.
“I am honored to have been able to
get to know him, and to have chaired
the Housing and Buildings Committee
over which he presided for years,” Williams
continued. “The Dean’s impact
will long continue on the people of
our city and Southeast Queens in particular,
on generations of leaders he
inspired and empowered, and on all
those who were lucky enough to have
his presence in our lives.”
Adams said he was “truly sorry for
the loss of my close friend Archie Spigner,
the ‘Dean of Southeast Queens.’
“He was the consummate organizer
and a distinguished public servant, a
man who was instrumental in advancing
the welfare of our city’s Black community
and uplifting its leaders into
roles that made change possible.,” he
said.
“Archie was a respected advisor to
me for many years, dating back to my
years in 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement
Who Care,” Adams added. “On behalf
of Deputy Borough President Chaplain
Lewis-Martin and our entire borough,
my heart goes out to his wife Leslie and
the entire Spigner family.”
Councilman Donovan Richards, the
Democratic representative for the 31st
District and Democratic nominee for
Queens Borough President in Tuesday’s
general elections, said Southeast
Queens lost “a trailblazer and a giant.”
“Archie Spigner paved the way
for Black leadership in Queens and
beyond,” said Richards, whose district
includes portions of Arverne, Bayswater,
Broad Channel, Cambria
Heights, Edgemere, Far Rockaway,
Howard Beach, Jamaica, John F.
Kennedy International Airport, Laurelton,
Rockaway Beach, Rosedale, South
Ozone Park and Springfield Gardens.
“He never forgot where he came
from, and continued to advocate for
our community till the end,” he added
about Spigner. “He understood the significance
of building institutions and
political power for the betterment of
our community.
“Future generations will never truly
understand the sacrifice and significance
of his contributions. May we
ensure they never forget!” Richards
continued. “Archie, I will miss the mentorship,
laughs, frankness, and times
we shared like so many of my colleagues
in government and beyond.
“As I reflect on my journey, I know
it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for
your tenacity to push us all towards
greatness,” he said. “Thank you, Sir.
The work you started continues.”
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