New York: An Expensive Civics Lesson

"An Expensive Civics Lesson"

It was literally an eleventh-hour rescue for the city of Yonkers. Convening at 11:55 p.m. last Friday, the city council finally agreed to comply with a federal judge's order to build 800 units of moderate-income housing in predominantly white neighborhoods. On Friday escalating fines imposed by Judge Leonard Sand had hit $1 million a day, and 447 Yonkers employees -- nearly one-quarter of the work force -- faced dismissal Saturday morning under a "doomsday" plan devised by the state-appointed Emergency Financial Control Board. Libraries were to be closed, building-maintenance operations reduced, and street-cleaning service cut in half. And that would have...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!