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Ruth Messinger

Ruth W. Messinger (born November 6, 1940) is an American politician, social worker, and nonprofit executive known for her progressive advocacy in New York City government and later for Jewish-led international development work.^[1]^[2] Messinger began her elected career representing Manhattan's Upper West Side on the New York City Council from 1978 to 1990, where she focused on improving public education, supporting children and families, and advancing affordable housing initiatives.^[3]^[4] She then served as Manhattan Borough President from 1990 to 1997, championing small business protections, neighborhood preservation efforts by local activists, and continued emphasis on social justice priorities amid the city's fiscal and crime challenges of the era.^[5]^[2] In 1997, Messinger secured the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City—the first woman to do so—but was defeated in the general election by incumbent Republican Rudy Giuliani.^[6]^[7] Transitioning to nonprofit leadership, she presided over the American Jewish World Service from 1998 to 2016 as its second president, expanding its grantmaking to support grassroots organizations combating poverty and injustice in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, drawing on Jewish values of repair and ethical responsibility.^[8]^[2] Now serving as the organization's Global Ambassador, Messinger continues to mobilize resources and advocacy for human rights in the developing world.^[8]^[9]

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Ruth Wyler Messinger was born on November 6, 1940, in Manhattan's Upper West Side to Wilfred Wyler, an accountant, and Marjorie G. Wyler.^[1]^[10] Her family represented the third generation of New Yorkers, with great-grandparents who had immigrated from Poland and Germany in the nineteenth century and from Romania somewhat later.^[1] Raised in a middle-class Jewish household on the Upper West Side during the 1940s and 1950s, Messinger grew up alongside her sister amid progressive influences that shaped her early worldview.^[10] Her parents instilled liberal democratic values through family discussions often centered on social justice issues, reflecting their commitment to activism and civic engagement.^[11] Marjorie Wyler had briefly pursued a teaching career at Queens College in the 1930s before it was curtailed, likely due to contemporary restrictions on married women in public employment, and later supported her husband's advanced accounting education.^[12] From childhood, Messinger exhibited a serious demeanor and no-nonsense approach, traits her mother attributed to an innate sense of responsibility fostered in the home environment.^[11] This upbringing in a politically engaged family laid the groundwork for her later involvement in public service, emphasizing empirical problem-solving and community-oriented ethics over abstract ideology.^[4]

Academic and Professional Training

Messinger attended the Brearley School, an elite private girls' preparatory school in Manhattan, where she distinguished herself intellectually during her early teens.^[2] She graduated from Radcliffe College, the women's coordinate institution of Harvard University, in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, earning membership in Phi Beta Kappa for academic excellence.^[13] ^[1] Following her undergraduate studies, Messinger obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1964, during which she spent time living and working in rural western Oklahoma.^[8] ^[5] This graduate training equipped her for roles in social services, reflecting her interest in addressing societal challenges through direct intervention.^[13] Her early professional career centered on social work and community education. After completing her MSW, Messinger worked as a social worker in Oklahoma and, upon returning to New York, as a caseworker, community school teacher, neighborhood organizer, and college administrator, roles that involved grassroots engagement and local advocacy prior to her entry into elective politics.^[7] ^[1]

Political Career

New York City Council Tenure (1978–1990)

Ruth Messinger was elected to the New York City Council in the Democratic primary on September 8, 1977, receiving 21,767 votes in her district on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and assumed office in January 1978.^[14] ^[5] As the Democratic nominee in a overwhelmingly Democratic city, she won the general election unopposed by significant opposition. Her district encompassed progressive neighborhoods on the Upper West Side, where she advocated for community-driven social change over her 12-year tenure ending in 1989.^[2] Messinger served on key committees including Education, General Welfare, and Transportation, using these roles to address local priorities.^[15] She championed policies on child care expansion, public school improvements, tenants' rights protections, women's equity issues, environmental safeguards, park preservation, and homeless services, often amplifying grassroots voices from her district.^[16] These efforts reflected her commitment to social welfare programs amid New York City's fiscal recovery from the 1970s crisis. A landmark accomplishment was her pivotal role in enacting New York City's first anti-discrimination law for gays and lesbians, passed by the Council on March 21, 1986, in a 21-14 vote.^[17] As a longtime sponsor since at least 1978 and floor manager for the bill—which banned bias in housing, employment, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation—Messinger provided the deciding vote and led advocacy efforts after years of defeats.^[18] ^[19] ^[1] The legislation, Intro. 2, had been introduced in 1971 but faced repeated opposition until this breakthrough.^[20] Messinger concluded her Council service in 1989 upon winning the Democratic nomination for Manhattan Borough President, defeating incumbent Andrew Stein in the primary and securing the general election.^[21] ^[5] Her tenure established her as an industrious legislator focused on equity and community needs, though critics later noted her progressive stances sometimes clashed with fiscal conservatives during the Koch administration.^[16]

Manhattan Borough President (1990–1997)

Ruth Messinger was elected as the Democratic nominee for Manhattan Borough President in the November 7, 1989, general election, defeating Republican Henry Hewes with over 90% of the vote in the heavily Democratic borough.^[22] She succeeded David Dinkins, who had been elected mayor earlier that year. Messinger was sworn into office on January 1, 1990, marking her as the first woman to serve in the position.^[23] During her seven-year tenure, Messinger prioritized public education, advocating for enhanced funding and resources to address overcrowding and infrastructure needs in Manhattan's schools, which served approximately 100,000 students at the time.^[5]^[4] She supported neighborhood activists in preserving historic districts, such as Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side, by opposing large-scale developments that threatened community character and affordable housing stock.^[5] In her capacity to review land-use applications and appoint members to the 12 community boards, Messinger emphasized resident input to balance growth with preservation amid Manhattan's booming real estate market in the early 1990s.^[5] Messinger continued her longstanding commitment to social justice, pushing for policies to aid low-income residents amid rising homelessness and the ongoing AIDS crisis, which affected over 20,000 Manhattanites by 1995.^[2] She also championed protections for small businesses, advocating against excessive regulations that could stifle economic vitality in diverse commercial corridors like those in Harlem and Chelsea.^[4] Reelected without opposition in 1993, her term ended in 1997 when she pursued the Democratic nomination for mayor.^[1]

1997 Mayoral Campaign and Defeat

Ruth Messinger entered the 1997 Democratic primary for New York City mayor as the frontrunner, leveraging her position as Manhattan Borough President to position herself as a progressive advocate for expanded social services and community investment. In the first primary round on September 2, she received 39% of the vote, falling short of a majority and forcing a runoff against Reverend Al Sharpton, who garnered 32% amid controversy over his activism and past associations.^[24] Messinger won the September 23 runoff decisively, becoming the first woman to secure the Democratic nomination for mayor, with her campaign emphasizing criticism of incumbent Rudy Giuliani's austerity measures and a pledge to restore funding for housing, education, and welfare programs while moderating some liberal stances to broaden appeal.^[6] In the general election campaign against Giuliani, Messinger focused on portraying the mayor's governance as abrasive and inequitable, particularly challenging his welfare reforms, aggressive policing tactics under Commissioner William Bratton, and budget cuts that she argued disproportionately harmed vulnerable populations. She participated in debates, including a October 9 televised event moderated by Dennis Walcott, where she pressed Giuliani on accountability and inclusivity, though he largely deflected attacks by highlighting measurable gains in city management.^[25] Messinger attempted to shift rightward on issues like fiscal responsibility—endorsing aspects of welfare work requirements and school choice—to counter perceptions of her as an unyielding liberal, but critics within and outside the Democratic Party viewed these moves as insufficient to distance her from the party's base amid Giuliani's rising popularity.^[16] On November 4, 1997, Giuliani defeated Messinger handily, securing re-election with a 16 percentage point margin in a city where registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by approximately 5 to 1.^[26] ^[27] This outcome marked only the second time in 60 years a Republican won a second mayoral term, reflecting voter approval of Giuliani's first-term achievements, including a halving of the homicide rate from 1990 peaks through "broken windows" enforcement and organizational reforms at the NYPD, alongside economic revitalization that boosted employment and tourism.^[28] Analysts attributed Messinger's defeat primarily to Giuliani's incumbency advantage in an "era of good feeling" fostered by tangible improvements in public safety and livability, which overshadowed her critiques and limited crossover appeal despite her primary victory over more polarizing figures like Sharpton. Democratic strategists noted formidable obstacles, including Giuliani's high approval ratings—polls showed him leading by double digits throughout—and Messinger's struggle to present a compelling alternative vision that resonated beyond core progressive constituencies, as voters prioritized empirical results over ideological contrasts.^[29] Her campaign's emphasis on reversing specific Giuliani policies, such as police accountability measures she deemed overly punitive, failed to sway a electorate crediting the administration with reversing decades of urban decline.^[30]

Post-Political Career

Presidency of American Jewish World Service (1998–2016)

In 1998, following her defeat in the New York City mayoral election, Ruth Messinger assumed the role of president and CEO of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), an organization founded in 1985 to support grassroots human rights and development initiatives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from a Jewish ethical perspective.^[2] ^[1] During her tenure, AJWS emphasized funding for local partners addressing poverty, discrimination, and violence, while mobilizing the American Jewish community for advocacy on global issues such as child labor, women's rights, and disaster relief.^[8] ^[2] Messinger oversaw substantial organizational expansion, increasing AJWS's annual budget from approximately $3 million to more than $60 million by 2016, which enabled the distribution of over $270 million in grants to more than 1,000 partner organizations across dozens of developing countries.^[31] ^[1] ^[8] Key initiatives under her leadership included campaigns to combat the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, where AJWS provided over $5 million to grantees in Darfur and Chad for life-saving efforts and atrocity documentation between 2003 and the mid-2010s.^[2] She also launched programs to engage Jewish donors, rabbis, and institutions in tikkun olam (repairing the world) efforts, such as post-earthquake relief in Haiti in 2010 and advocacy against human trafficking.^[2] ^[32] Messinger's strategic focus shifted AJWS toward greater emphasis on systemic advocacy, including policy influence in Washington, D.C., and partnerships with interfaith and secular groups, though critics within Jewish philanthropy circles occasionally noted the organization's alignment with progressive causes potentially strained relations with more conservative donors.^[33] By her departure, AJWS had established itself as a prominent player in international development, with Messinger credited for professionalizing operations and elevating its profile through high-level networking.^[34] ^[32] In July 2016, after 18 years, Messinger stepped down, transitioning to the role of global ambassador while handing leadership to her deputy, Robert Bank, amid reports of a smooth succession and sustained organizational momentum.^[31] ^[34] She cited personal reflection on long-term impact and the readiness of internal leadership as factors in her decision, having rejected earlier retirement overtures to complete major projects.^[31]

Global Ambassador Role and Recent Activities (2016–Present)

In July 2016, Ruth Messinger stepped down as president and CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) after 18 years and assumed the role of the organization's inaugural Global Ambassador.^[8] In this capacity, she focuses on mobilizing American Jews, rabbis, interfaith leaders, and faith-based communities to advocate for human rights, combat poverty, and support oppressed populations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.^[8]^[2] Messinger's activities emphasize grassroots advocacy and philanthropy, encouraging donors to address global injustices through AJWS programs that promote self-led development and civil society strengthening in the Global South.^[2] She engages in public speaking and outreach to foster commitments to tikkun olam (repairing the world), including participation in study tours such as a 2016 AJWS trip to Cambodia alongside actor Mandy Patinkin to highlight grassroots human rights efforts.^[35] Additional roles supporting her advocacy include international human rights work with AIDS-Free World, serving as inaugural Social Justice Fellow at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and as Social Justice Activist-in-Residence at the JCC of Manhattan; she also contributes to the World Bank's Moral Imperative Working Group on Extreme Poverty.^[8] Since 2020, Messinger has continued high-profile engagements on intersecting issues of justice and displacement. In September 2022, she discussed democracy, political engagement, and her 1997 mayoral campaign at an American Jewish Historical Society lunch program.^[36] She participated in Berkley Center working groups on child rights, family values, and hospitality to displaced persons, aligning with AJWS's focus on refugee advocacy. In March 2025, at a World Jewish Congress event on women, conflict, and peace, Messinger highlighted research demonstrating that including women in peace processes increases their durability and success rates.^[37] These efforts underscore her ongoing role in bridging Jewish values with global humanitarian action.^[38]

Policy Positions and Criticisms

Ruth Messinger has advocated for social justice through international human rights initiatives, emphasizing poverty alleviation and support for marginalized communities in developing countries. As president of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) from 1998 to 2016, she oversaw the distribution of more than $300 million in grants to over 1,000 grassroots organizations across dozens of countries, focusing on empowering local partners to address systemic inequalities rather than imposing external solutions.^[10] In 2006, she launched AJWS's Sudan Relief and Advocacy Fund to deliver humanitarian aid to refugee camps and press for policy changes amid the Darfur crisis.^[39] Her social justice efforts are framed through Jewish ethical imperatives, such as tikkun olam (repairing the world) and the biblical mandate to aid the stranger, which she promotes as a basis for global citizenship and response to oppression.^[40] Messinger has drawn from her formative experiences in the civil rights movement, viewing it as integral to her Jewish-American identity and a model for confronting injustice.^[41] In philanthropy, she and her husband have prioritized funding for organizations combating poverty and racism, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and Equal Justice Initiative.^[42] In Jewish causes, Messinger integrates advocacy by mobilizing rabbinic and faith-based networks to support human rights abroad, arguing that Jewish tradition compels action against global poverty and persecution.^[43] As AJWS Global Ambassador since 2016, she engages U.S. Jewish communities in advocacy campaigns, including education on antisemitism's rise and its intersections with international justice.^[8] Additional roles include serving as inaugural Social Justice Fellow at the Jewish Theological Seminary's Louis Finkelstein Institute, where she teaches on leadership and moral courage in justice work, and board positions with groups like the Aegis Trust for genocide prevention and AIDS Free World for health-related rights.^[44]^[45]

Critiques of Political Stances and Effectiveness

Messinger's tenure as Manhattan Borough President from 1990 to 1997 elicited mixed evaluations from City Council members, with some Democratic representatives praising her advocacy for local issues while others faulted her for lacking leadership on broader citywide challenges.^[16] Critics contended that her approach emphasized aggressive government intervention, such as earlier pushes for commercial rent control, which they deemed reckless and emblematic of an overly ideological liberalism that prioritized symbolic gestures over pragmatic outcomes.^[16] Her steadfast advocacy for minority constituencies was accused of pandering, assuming group preferences without sufficient empirical grounding in diverse voter priorities.^[16] In her 1997 mayoral bid against incumbent Rudy Giuliani, Messinger's campaign was critiqued for failing to generate broad enthusiasm or demonstrate executive readiness, culminating in a decisive defeat where Giuliani secured re-election with a substantial margin in a city with a Democratic voter registration advantage.^[27] ^[28] Observers noted her limited name recognition among voters and inability to consolidate support from key Democratic constituencies, including major labor unions that either remained neutral or endorsed Giuliani, signaling doubts about her electability and policy viability.^[46] Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan reportedly dismissed her as a perennial "loser," reflecting intra-party skepticism toward her track record of primary struggles despite extensive preparation.^[46] Policy stances drew fire for perceived extremism, including her 1991 protest against U.S. military action in Iraq by picketing the White House, which opponents highlighted as evidence of isolationist tendencies misaligned with national security realities.^[47] Giuliani labeled her positions "extreme," particularly on crime and fiscal matters, arguing they underestimated the causal links between lax enforcement and urban disorder prevalent in pre-Giuliani New York.^[47] Although Messinger moderated some views—such as endorsing Donald Trump's Riverside South development in 1992 and supporting workfare reforms—this evolution surprised left-leaning allies but failed to dispel perceptions of inconsistent ideological anchoring, contributing to her alienation of moderate Democrats.^[47] Her association with the Democratic Socialists of America and involvement in anti-police protests further fueled attacks portraying her as out of step with voters prioritizing public safety amid declining crime rates under Giuliani's administration.^[48]

Personal Life

Marriage, Family, and Work-Life Balance

Ruth Messinger married her first husband, physician Eli Messinger, in the early 1960s, with whom she had three children: sons Daniel Solomon Messinger and Adam Carl Messinger, and daughter Miriam Sara Messinger.^[2]^[23] The couple divorced in the mid-1980s.^[49] Messinger remarried on January 1, 1990, to Andrew Lachman, then a New York City schools aide, in a ceremony attended by her three children from the prior marriage.^[23] Lachman, an educator, remained her spouse for 36 years until his death on June 7, 2025.^[50] Her children pursued independent paths; by 1997, Messinger described herself publicly as the mother of two married heterosexual sons and a daughter in a committed same-sex relationship.^[51] The family expanded over time, with Messinger becoming a grandmother to eight grandchildren and great-grandmother to at least two great-grandchildren by the early 2020s.^[8] She has maintained close ties with her extended family, including sharing living arrangements at times, such as with a granddaughter pursuing graduate studies in social work.^[52] Messinger has acknowledged sacrificing work-life balance during her political career, stating in a 2022 interview, "I would be the first to say I had no work-life balance," while crediting her demanding schedule with instilling values of persistence in social change for her daughter Miriam.^[53] Despite this, she integrated family considerations into her professional transitions, such as her post-political focus on global advocacy, which allowed more flexibility amid her role as matriarch to a large family.^[4]

Health and Later Reflections

Messinger has maintained robust health and vitality into her mid-eighties, continuing to engage in global advocacy and public activism without reported major illnesses. In 2016, at age 76, she was characterized as a "force of nature," sustaining high energy levels with minimal sleep, regular biking, and frequent international travel to support human rights initiatives.^[2] Her ongoing participation in events, such as protests against perceived ethnic cleansing in 2025, underscores this enduring physical resilience.^[54] In later reflections, Messinger has emphasized Jewish ethical imperatives like tikkun olam (repairing the world) and collective responsibility, crediting influences such as her mother, Marjorie Wyler, and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel for shaping her commitment to social justice over electoral politics.^[2]^[55] She has candidly acknowledged the trade-offs of her career, stating, "I would be the first to say I had no work-life balance," yet affirmed its value in modeling persistence for her daughter and others in pursuit of change.^[53] A recurring theme in her interviews is resilience amid setbacks, encapsulated in her assertion that "despair is not a strategy," reflecting a philosophy of proactive engagement rather than resignation.^[55]

References

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Messinger, in Trend, Puts the Spotlight on a Relative
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