David Scondras

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = David Scondras (9501944121).jpg

| caption = Scondras (ca.1984–1987)

| name = David Scondras

| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|01|05}}

| birth_place = Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|21|1946|01|05}}

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| website =

| occupation =

| residence = Cambridge, Massachusetts

| party = Democrat

| otherparty = Democratic Socialists of America

| spouse = Robert Krebs

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

B.A. Harvard University
M.A. Northeastern University

}}

| title = Member of the Boston City Council for District 8

| term_start = 1984

| term_end = 1993

| predecessor = District created

| successor = Thomas M. Keane Jr.

}}

David Scondras (January 5, 1946 – October 21, 2020) was a member of the Boston City Council, having held the District 8 seat from 1984 through 1993. He was the city's first openly gay city council member.

Early life

Scondras was born in 1946 in Lowell, Massachusetts,Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 1 p.12 and graduated from Lowell High School.Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 1 p.6 He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard College in 1968 and later earned and a master's degree in economics from Northeastern University, where he taught mathematics and economics.{{cite news |title=Short Circuits |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 24, 1989}}

Community activism

In 1968, Scondras moved to Fenway–Kenmore, where he worked at a neighborhood service center for the elderly.{{cite news |last1=Ashbrook |first1=Tom |title=Scondras for Neighborhood Preservation |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 21, 1986}} In 1971 he and Northeastern University graduate nursing student Linda Beane co-founded the Fenway Community Health Center.{{cite journal |last1=Batza |first1=Katie |editor1-last=Bell |editor1-first=Jonathan |title=A Clinic Comes Out |journal=Beyond the Politics of the Closet |date=2020 |isbn=978-0-8122-9672-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ureDwAAQBAJ |access-date=13 August 2023}} Scondras also co-founded the Symphony Tenants Organizing Project, a neighborhood advocacy group. After a deadly fire in 1976, the group began an investigation into arsons in the Symphony Road area that led to the conviction of 33 persons as part of an arson-for-profit ring.{{cite news |last1=Canavan |first1=Jack |title=How One |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 1, 1978}}{{cite news |title=Candidates for the City Council; David Scondras |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 16, 1981}} He later organized the Committee to Save Boston following the 1982 Boston arson spree.{{cite news |last1=Ball |first1=Joanne |title=Attack launched on Hub arson |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 17, 1982}} In 1972, he was part of a lawsuit that blocked urban redevelopment in the Fenway and created a precedent requiring environmental impact statements for large urban renewal projects. He also lobbied for the creation of the Boston Housing Court and in 1974 chaired a citizen's advisory committee to screen candidates for a judgeship on the court.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Richard |title=Daher sworn as second housing court judge |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 28, 1974}}

Political career

Scondras ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1981, the last election when all seats were at-large.{{cite news |title=4 NEW MEMBERS ON COUNCIL |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/294099196 |date=November 4, 1981 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-access=limited |via=pqarchiver.com }} He ran successfully in November 1983, winning the seat for District 8 (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Mission Hill, and Fenway–Kenmore) and becoming the first openly gay Boston City Council member.{{cite news |title=A LOOK AT THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL; DAVID SCONDRAS |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/294208705 |date=November 17, 1983 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-access=limited |via=pqarchiver.com }}{{cite web |url=http://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2013/10/boston-mayors-race-then-and-now/ |title=Boston Mayor's Race: Then and Now |first=Mark |last=Krone |website=bostonspiritmagazine.com |date=October 10, 2013 |accessdate=February 22, 2018}} He was one of a few members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected to public office.Democratic Left, vol. 8 no. 1 (January 1990), page 7.

In 1984, Scondras was the chief sponsor of the ordinance that created Boston's human rights commission.{{cite news |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Larry |title=Boston Council Approves Rights Bill; Nearly Unanimous Vote a Pleasant Surprise |work=Gay Community News |date=July 7, 1984}} In 1985, he spoke out in support of David Jean and Donald Babets, whose foster children were taken from them because they were gay.{{Cite book |last=Briggs |first=Laura |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/748287033 |title=Somebody's children : the politics of transracial and transnational adoption |date=2012 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-5147-4 |location=Durham |pages=247 |language=en |oclc=748287033}} In 1993 he sponsored the Family Protection Act, which allowed same-sex couples that shared basic living expenses to register as domestic partners and receive health insurance benefits and hospital visitation and bereavement rights given to heterosexual spouses.{{cite news |last1=Sciacca |first1=Joe |title=Council redefines family Act extends city benefits to partners |work=Boston Herald |date=January 28, 1993}}

He was re-elected to four two-year terms, before being defeated in the November 1993 election by Thomas M. Keane Jr. by just 27 votes (3,649–3,622).{{cite news |title=Council winner declared today |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/294828196 |date=November 17, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-access=limited |via=pqarchiver.com }}{{cite news |title=Scondras concedes; will form think tank |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/294818283 |date=November 23, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-access=limited |via=pqarchiver.com }} Leading up to that election, a tape of rambling, slurred calls Scondras made to 9-1-1 was leaked to WHDH radio host Howie Carr. Scondras stated he had been taking codeine for a broken leg when he made the calls.{{cite news |title=Fenway residents stand by Scondras: But explanation of his actions sought |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62160303/fenway-residents-stand-by-scondras-but/ |date=April 23, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=26 |first=Adrian |last=Walker |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Canellos |first1=Peter S. |title=Tape of Scondras' calls to 911 line is leaked; police order an inquiry |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 15, 1993}}{{cite news |title=Scondras places self under scrutiny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62160445/scondras-places-self-under-scrutiny/ |date=April 25, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=29 |first=Peter S. |last=Canellos |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} He failed to receive the endorsement of Boston's LGBT-oriented newspaper, Bay Windows, who wrote that he was "out of step with the changing gay community."{{cite news |title=Gay weekly refuses to endorse Scondras Says councilor 'out of step' with constituents |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/294809447 |date=October 28, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 25, 2018 |url-access=limited |via=pqarchiver.com }}

Legal issues

In 1988, Scondras, Chicago alderman Helen Shiller, and three others were arrested in Chicago during a protest against the city's policies on the homeless.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17781504/alderman_arrested_at_homeless_site/ |title=Alderman arrested at homeless site |agency=AP |newspaper=The Times |location=Munster, Indiana |date=October 15, 1988 |accessdate=February 25, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}}

In 1996, Scondras was charged with indecent sexual assault after he allegedly groped a 16-year-old boy in a Back Bay movie theater. Scondras was beaten by the youth and suffered a broken nose, jaw, and lost three teeth.{{cite news |last1=Chacon |first1=Richard |title=Charged with sex assault, Scondras criticizes police |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 26, 1996}}{{cite news |title=Scondras a victim of gay-bashing, friend says: Former city councilor to file countercharge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62160649/scondras-a-victim-of-gay-bashing/ |date=August 28, 1996 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=25 |first1=Geeta |last1=Anand |first2=John |last2=Ellement |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} The charges were dropped later that year because the alleged victim refused to testify.{{cite news |last1=Mulvihill |first1=Maggie |title=Sexual assault charge dropped against Scondras |work=Boston Herald |date=December 7, 1996}}

In 2007, Scondras pleaded guilty to child enticement, stemming from a 2006 event in Lawrence, Massachusetts.{{cite press release |url=http://www.mass.gov/essexda/media/press-releases/2007-press-releases/former-boston-city-councilor-pleads-guilty-to.html |title=Former Boston City Councilor Pleads Guilty To Child Enticement |website=mass.gov |date=August 21, 2007 |accessdate=February 25, 2018 |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318142456/http://www.mass.gov/essexda/media/press-releases/2007-press-releases/former-boston-city-councilor-pleads-guilty-to.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17781648/excouncilman_pleads_guilty_to_teensex/ |title=Ex-councilman pleads guilty to teen-sex charge |newspaper=The News-Press |location=Fort Myers, Florida |date=August 22, 2007 |accessdate=February 25, 2018 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032352/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17781648/excouncilman_pleads_guilty_to_teensex/ |url-status=live }} He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, ordered to surrender his computer and register as a sex offender, and stay off the Internet and away from children younger than 16.{{cite news|title=Ex-Hub city councilor Scondras must register as sex offender|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=August 22, 2007|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2007/08/ex_hub_city_councilor_scondras_must_register_sex_offender|accessdate=March 4, 2018|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304173154/http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2007/08/ex_hub_city_councilor_scondras_must_register_sex_offender|url-status=live}} Scondras later sued the city of Lawrence, charging them with cruel and unusual punishment and assault and battery.{{cite news |url=http://www.universalhub.com/node/28054 |title=David Scondras charges police brutality in lawsuit over 2006 teen-sex arrest |website=universalhub.com |date=October 3, 2009 |accessdate=February 25, 2018 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032339/http://www.universalhub.com/node/28054 |url-status=live }} In his autobiography, Scondras characterized the event as "being beaten and arrested for not having sex with a boy who did not exist."Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 1 p.5 His lawsuit was dismissed in 2011 because it lacked sufficient evidence.{{cite news|last=Harmacinski|first=Jill|title=Two Lawrence police brutality cases tossed|newspaper=The Eagle-Tribune|date=March 19, 2011|url=http://www.eagletribune.com/news/two-lawrence-police-brutality-cases-tossed/article_7b5d8cad-9162-5ba8-9e92-446d55cf5608.html|accessdate=March 4, 2018}}

Later life

After leaving the city council, Scondras moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he ran an HIV/AIDS nonprofit and was active with a neighborhood advocacy group.{{cite news |last1=Ballou |first1=Brian R. |last2=Levenson |first2=Michael |title=Former city councilor is arrested on sex charge |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 11, 2006}} He was the author of a four-book autobiography titled Angels, Liars, and Thieves, released from 2015 through 2017. Scondras died in October 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/29/metro/former-city-councilor-david-scondras-dies-74/ |title=Former Boston city councilor David Scondras dies at 74 |first=Jeremy C. |last=Fox |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=October 29, 2020 |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030234356/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/29/metro/former-city-councilor-david-scondras-dies-74/ |url-status=live }}

Works

{{cite book |title=The Beginning: Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 1 |last=Scondras |first=David |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2015 |isbn=978-1522927327 }}
{{cite book |title=The Kiss: Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 2 |last=Scondras |first=David |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2016 |isbn=978-1543089905 }}
{{cite book |title=The Coup: Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 3 |last=Scondras |first=David |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2016 |isbn=978-1543092721 }}
{{cite book |title=The Long Way Home: Angels, Liars, and Thieves, Book 4 |last=Scondras |first=David |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2017 |isbn=978-1544927657 }}