Manfred Ohrenstein

The son of a furniture merchant, Ohrenstein was born in Mannheim, Germany, on August 5, 1925, to Polish-born Jewish parents.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/nyregion/manfred-ohrenstein-dead.html|title = Manfred Ohrenstein, Liberal Lion of N.Y. Legislature, Dies at 99|last = Roberts|first = Sam|authorlink = Sam Roberts (journalist)|date = November 27, 2024|accessdate = November 27, 2024|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}}[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/ohrenstein-a-career-that-began-with-reform.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times. "Ohrenstein: A Career That Began With Reform" (September 17, 1987)] In 1938, Ohrenstein and his family fled Nazi Germany and settled in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Ohrenstein graduated from Brooklyn College in 1948 with a B.A degree, cum laude. He thereafter attended Columbia Law School from 1948 to 1951, where he was designated as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and graduated with the degree of Juris Doctor. From 1952 to 1954, Ohrenstein served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps. After leaving active duty he continued to serve in the military as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1954 to 1960. On leaving active duty he was appointed as an assistant district attorney by the Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan and served from 1954 to 1958.{{cite journal |date=1961|title=The New York Red Book|journal=|edition=1st |location= Albany, N.Y.|publisher=Williams Press |page= 86|issn=0196-4623}} He left the New York District Attorney's office in 1958 to resume the practice of law in New York City and in 1983 helped form the law firm of Ohrenstein & Brown, LLP.[http://www.oandb.com/home.html Ohrenstein & Brown, LLP Web site] In addition to New York State, he wa+s admitted to practice before the Court of Military Appeals[https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Court-of-Appeals-AF.html Renamed in 1994 as the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces] and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He also became active in New York politics and in 1960 was elected to the New York State Senate representing the West Side of Manhattan. In 1975 he became the Democratic leader of the New York State Senate.{{cite news |last= Greenhouse |first= Linda |date=January 4, 1975 |title= State Democrats Name Ohrenstein Leader in Senate|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE4DF1E3AEF33A25757C0A9679C946490D6CF|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= November 23, 2015 }} In 1980 he also served as chairman of the New York Delegation to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Jimmy Carter for president.

He left the New York Senate at the end of 1994 to resume the practice of law. Thereafter he was appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani as a member of the Mayor's Task Force on the City University of New York{{Cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/cuny/home.html |title=Mayor's Advisory Task Force on the City University of New York NYC.gov Web site |access-date=2015-11-28 |archive-date=2016-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808015522/http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/cuny/home.html |url-status=dead }} and subsequently to the Mayoral Task Force on the New York City Board of Elections.[http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2001a/pr155-01.html Mayor Giuliani Announces The Formation Of A Taskforce To Evaluate Needs Of The NYC Board Of Elections Press Release NYC.gov Web site] He was the vice chairman and a co-founder of the Museum of Jewish Heritage,[http://www.mjhnyc.org/a_leadership.html Museum of Jewish Heritage Leadership Web site] and vice president of the New York Insurance Federation.[http://www.ifny.org/board-directors-c5.html Board of Directors of the Insurance Federation of New York, Inc web site] Ohrenstein was a member of the board of the New York City chapter of the American Jewish Committee and the advisory board of the Baruch School of Public Affairs.

Ohrenstein and his wife, Dr. Marilyn Bacher, had two children. He died at his home in Manhattan on November 18, 2024, at the age of 99.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/new-york-ny/manfred-ohrenstein-12084995 |title=Manfred Ohrenstein |website=Dignity Memorial |access-date=November 22, 2024}}

In 1960, Ohrenstein emerged as one of the major leaders of the New York City Democratic reform movement. He joined forces with Eleanor Roosevelt{{cite news | last= Phillips | first= Wayne | date= May 30, 1960 | title= De Sapio and Insurgents Clash in West Side Contests | url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/05/30/99496498.pdf | newspaper = The New York Times | access-date= October 8, 2015 }} and former governor and U.S. Senator Herbert H. Lehman to organize the Committee for Democratic Voters.{{cite news |last= Dales|first= Douglas |date= April 7, 1960 |title= Rep.Teller's Bid Assailed by Ryan |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/04/07/99342415.html?pageNumber=26 |newspaper= The New York Times |access-date= October 10, 2015 }} The New York Post called Manfred Ohrenstein a "standout example of the new young leadership that is spearheading the drive to reform the Democratic Party."{{cite news |last= Uhlig |first= Mark A. |date=September 17, 1987 |title= Ohrenstein: A Career That Began With Reform |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/ohrenstein-a-career-that-began-with-reform.html|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= October 17, 2015 }}

The principal objective of this organization was to oust Carmine DeSapio, the leader of the New York County Democratic organization,{{cite news |last= Phillips|first=Wayne |date= May 30, 1960|title= West Side Primary a Test For Lehman and De Sapio |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/05/30/99496498.html?pageNumber=1|newspaper= The New York Times| access-date=October 8, 2015}} otherwise known as Tammany Hall, and elect a Democratic reform leader as county leader. To assist in achieving this objective and to elect a liberal to the New York State Senate, Ohrenstein became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 25th district of the New York State Senate against the incumbent State Senator John H. Farrell, who was supported by DeSapio.

Ohrenstein defeated Farrell in the Democratic primary. He then won the general election with about 57 percent of the vote. In a 1965 editorial, The New York Times said "Senator Manfred Ohrenstein is an outstanding Reform legislator who puts principle first."

{{cite news |date=October 25, 1965 |title= The State Senate|url= http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/10/25/95912694.html?pageNumber=36|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= October 16, 2015 }} He easily won reelection (often by lopsided margins) until he retired in 1994. Ohrenstein briefly represented the 29th District after a special election in 1965 (when State Senate and Assembly district lines were reapportioned), but the following year was elected to represent the 25th district again. After district boundaries were redrawn after the 1970 census, Ohrenstein began representing the 27th district, which he held until his retirement. He sat in the 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th and state legislatures. In the senate, Ohrenstein compiled a liberal voting record by supporting anti-discrimination measures protecting gays and lesbians and supporting strict rent control laws.

In 1975, Ohrenstein was elected Senate minority leader by his Democratic colleagues. He held the position until his retirement. This was a major victory for the New York City Democratic Reform Movement. He was opposed in this election by the Democratic Governor Hugh Carey and by the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, Patrick J. Cunningham.{{cite news |last= Lynn |first= Frank|date=January 6, 1975 |title= Ohrenstein's Victory Is a Major Defeat for Carey|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03E3D61038E43BBC4E53DFB766838E669EDE|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= October 16, 2015 }} Several of the new Democratic members of the New York Senate had prevailed as challengers to the incumbents in the primary election of 1974 and voted for Senator Ohrenstein despite the opposition of the then state leadership of the Democratic Party.{{cite news |last= Greenhouse |first= Linda |date=January 4, 1975 |title= State Democrats Name Ohrenstein Leader in Senate|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE4DF1E3AEF33A25757C0A9679C946490D6CF|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= October 16, 2015 }}

Ohrenstein was a major advocate of legislation to abolish the death penalty in New York. In 1965, he introduced Bill S.639 to abolish capital punishment in the state;{{cite book |date = January 6, 1965|title = New York Legislative Record and Index|location = 100 South Swan Street, Albany, N.Y.|publisher = The Legislative Index Company}} the bill was passed by the legislation and signed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller on June 1, 1965.{{cite book |date = January 6, 1965|title = Journal of the Senate of the State of New York|location = Albany, N.Y.|publisher = William Press|page =1769 }}

Ohrenstein was a chief sponsor of S.8556, a bill to legalize abortion in New York.{{cite news |last= Farber |first= M.A.|date=January 24, 1973 |title=Abortions at Any Time Sought in State|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/24/archives/abortions-at-any-time-sought-in-state.html|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 26, 2016 }} Ohrenstein introduced this bill on March 5, 1970. It was co-sponsored by Senator D. Clinton Dominick III, a Republican. It passed the Senate on March 18, 1970 and an amended version of the bill was subsequently passed by the legislature and signed by the governor on April 11, 1970.{{cite book |date = January 7, 1970|title = New York Legislative Record and Index|location = 100 South Swan Street, Albany, N.Y.|publisher = The Legislative Index Company}} Three years later the U.S. Supreme Court issued Roe v. Wade.{{cite news |last= Perez-Pena |first= Richard|date=April 9, 2000 |title='70 Abortion Law: New York Said Yes, Stunning the Nation|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/09/nyregion/70-abortion-law-new-york-said-yes-stunning-the-nation.html|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 26, 2016 }}

Ohrenstein became the chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health in 1965. He was instrumental in passing legislation (Bill A.6033){{cite book |date = January 5, 1966|title = New York Legislative Record and Index|location = 100 South Swan Street, Albany, N.Y.|publisher = The Legislative Index Company|page =1041 }} to provide greater state aid for the construction of local mental health facilities.{{cite news |date=July 11, 1965 |title=Laws Modernized On Mental Care; Governor Signs Bills to Help Community Facilities|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0DE2DA133CE733A25752C1A9619C946491D6CF|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 26, 2016 }} It was signed into law by the governor on August 2, 1966.{{cite book |date = January 5, 1966|title = Journal of the Senate of the State of New York, Volume II|location = Albany, N.Y.|publisher = William Press, Inc|page =3088 }}

Ohrenstein was also chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Higher Education. Under his leadership this committee achieved major reforms (Bill A.6125) in the administration and financing of the City University of New York.{{cite book |date = January 5, 1966|title = New York Legislative Record and Index|location = Albany, N.Y.|publisher = The Legislative Index Company|page =1051 }} A New York Times editorial supported Senator Ohrenstein's recommendations: "After much vacillation Governor Rockefeller has come to the support of the well-conceived legislative plan to assure the fiscal soundness of the City University. The bill follows closely the recommendations that emerged from hearings conducted by State Senator Manfred Ohrenstein."{{cite news |last= Editorial |date=June 24, 1966 |title=Educational Gateway|url= http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1966/06/24/82815707.html?pageNumber=36|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 26, 2016 }}

In his thirty-four years in office, Ohrenstein also championed rent regulations,{{cite news |last= Fowler|first=Glen |date=January 26, 1977 |title=Albany Rent Bills Seeks to Continue Stabilization on 45,000 City Units|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/01/26/121663315.pdf|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 30, 2016 }}[https://www.nytimes.com/1969/10/10/archives/45000-midincome-housing-units-get-80-city-tax-exemption.html The New York Times. "45,000 Mid-Income Housing Units Get 80% City Tax Exemption" (October 10, 1969)]{{cite book |date = January 9, 1974|title = New York Legislative Record and Index|location = 100 South Swan Street, Albany, N.Y.|publisher = The Legislative Index Company|page = S 872}} welfare and civil rights reforms.{{cite news |last= Illson|first=Murray |date=June 11, 1972 |title=Civil Liberties Hails 4 in Legislature for Vote Record|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/11/archives/civil-liberties-hails-4-in-legislature-for-vote-record.html|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 30, 2016 }}

Immediately upon taking office as minority leader on January 1, 1975, Senator Ohrenstein, as one of the four legislative leaders representing the Senate and Assembly, became involved in the successful bailout{{cite book |last= Lachman|first= Seymour P.|date= 2014|title= Mr. New York: Lew Rudin and His Love for the City |location= Albany, N.Y|publisher= Excelsior Editions/ State University of New York Press|page=74 |isbn=9781438451978}} from the near bankruptcy of the New York State Battery Park Authority and later of the City of New York itself during the 1975/76/77 legislative sessions.{{cite book|last= Lachman|first= Seymour P.|date= July 2010|title= The Man Who Saved New York: Hugh Carey and the Great Fiscal Crisis of 1975|url= https://archive.org/details/manwhosavednewyo0000lach/page/162|location= Albany, N.Y|publisher= Excelsior Editions/ State University of New York Press|pages= [https://archive.org/details/manwhosavednewyo0000lach/page/162 162–163]|isbn= 9781438434537}}{{cite news |last= Pérez-Peña|first=Richard |date= August 7, 2011|title= Hugh Carey, Who Led Fiscal Rescue of New York City, Is Dead at 92 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/nyregion/hugh-carey-who-led-fiscal-rescue-of-new-york-city-dead-at-92.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=Aug 7, 2011}} In his public papers, Governor Carey acknowledged Senator Ohrenstein's efforts: "I fully support the efforts of Senator Ohrenstein and the Democratic minority of the Senate to provide New York City with the taxing authority it needs to maintain the services so essential to its well-being."{{cite book |date = June 29, 1975|title = Public Papers of Hugh L. Carey, Fifty-First Governor of the State of New York|url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/284115496/Gov-Carey-Public-Papers-Bailout-1975?secret_password=7b1Zby40fsvlmJ9ioRPY|location = Albany, N.Y.|publisher = State of New York|page =1014 }} Senator Ohrenstein and Republican Majority Leader of the Senate Warren Anderson successfully achieved bipartisan support for these landmark measures.{{cite news |last= Greenhouse |first= Linda|date=July 4, 1977 |title=Albany Compromise Gives City $330 Million in Taxes|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C02E4D9133BEE34BC4C53DFB166838E669EDE|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= January 26, 2016 }} These measures also included the creation of the New York State Financial Control Board {{cite web |url=http://www.fcb.state.ny.us/ |title= State of New York Financial Control Board|author= |access-date= January 31, 2016 }} and other reforms of the New York City budget process.{{cite web |url=https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy1213archive/eBudget1213/agencyPresentations/appropData/FinancialControlBoardNewYorkState.html |title= Mission, Financial Control Board, New York State|author= |access-date= January 31, 2016 }}

On September 16, 1987, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau indicted Ohrenstein on 564 counts of conspiracy, grand larceny, and other charges related to a scheme to use hundreds of thousands of dollars in state money to assist Democratic State Senate candidates in 1986.[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/legislator-charged-in-564-counts-in-new-york-payroll-abuse-case.html?scp=142&sq=?pagewanted=1 The New York Times "Legislator Charges in 564 Counts in New York Payroll Abuse Case" September 17, 1987] Morgenthau alleged that Ohrenstein and his two codefendants, Democratic State Senator Howard E. Babbush of Brooklyn, and Frank Sanzillo, a top aide employed by Ohrenstein, used public money to pay for campaign workers, and that legislative staffers continued to collect their salaries while working full-time on political campaigns. Despite the indictment, Ohrenstein, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was easily reelected in 1988 and continued to serve as minority leader.

On November 27, 1990, the New York State Court of Appeals dismissed 445 counts against Ohrenstein, stating that "the point we are making in this case is that at the time the defendants acted, their conduct was not prohibited in any manner."{{cite court |litigants= The People &C., Appellant, v. Manfred Ohrenstein, Et Al. 77 N.Y.2d 38|vol=1 No. 181 page 52|reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Court of Appeals of the State of New York |date=November 27, 1990 |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/nyctap/I90_0212.htm|accessdate= February 3, 2016 |quote= the point we are making in this case is that at the time the defendants acted, their conduct was not prohibited in any manner}}[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/28/nyregion/new-york-court-limits-grounds-for-prosecuting-a-top-legislator.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times "New York Court Limits Grounds for Prosecuting a Top Legislator" (November 28, 1990)] On September 5, 1991, at Morgenthau's request, a state judge in Manhattan dismissed the remaining counts against Ohrenstein.[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/05/nyregion/judge-drops-final-charges-for-legislator.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times "Judge Drops Final Charges For Legislator" (September 5, 1991)]"

In 1992, New York State Comptroller Edward V. Regan awarded Ohrenstein $1.3 million in legal costs (but disallowed $480,000).[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/26/nyregion/partial-reimbursement-for-ohrenstein-legal-bills.html?pagewanted=1 The New York Times "Partial Reimbursement for Ohrenstein Legal Bills" (November 26, 1992)]

Ohrenstein decided not to seek re-election in 1994.{{cite news |last= Sack |first= Kevin |date=April 20, 1994 |title= Ohrenstein Will Give Up His Senate Post in Albany|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/20/nyregion/ohrenstein-will-give-up-his-senate-post-in-albany.html|newspaper= The New York Times|access-date= February 3, 2016 }} After leaving elected office he engaged in the full-time practice of law at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.[https://rmfpc.com/attorneys/21157-2/ Ruskin Moscou Faltischek Web site] as part of the firm's municipal and government affairs department.

In 1994, Ohrenstein was honored in the Congressional Record by U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney. She called him a brilliant intellect who is "driven above all by what he believes is right. His progressive values are rock solid. In 34 years of public service, his commitment to equal opportunity for women and minorities, a woman's right to choose, education and civil rights has never wavered."{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r103:E06OC4-B466:|title=Senate Minority Leader Manfred Ohrenstein Honored For Lifetime Of Service|author=Hon. Carolyn B. Maloney|date=October 6, 1994|publisher=Thomas Congressional Record 103rd Congress|access-date=January 31, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.oandb.com/manfred-ohrenstein-profile.html Manfred Ohrenstein biography at Ohrenstein & Brown, LLP Web site]
• [http://www.lawyercentral.com/Manfred-Ohrenstein-Interactive-Profile--20-482739.html Lawyer Central Profile]

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{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
25th District | before = John H. Farrell | years = 1961–1965 | after = William T. Conklin}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
29th District | before = Joseph E. Marine | years = 1966 | after = Eugene Rodriguez}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
25th District | before = William T. Conklin | years = 1967–1972 | after = Paul P. E. Bookson}}

{{succession box | title = New York State Senate
27th District | before = Sidney A. von Luther | years = 1973–1994 | after = Catherine Abate}}

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{{succession box | title = Minority Leader in the New York State Senate | before = Joseph Zaretzki | after = Martin Connor | years = 1975–1994}}

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Category:1925 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent

Category:Brooklyn College alumni

Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators

Category:Jewish state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States

Category:Jurists from Mannheim

Category:Politicians from Manhattan

Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature