David Dinkins Circle

David Dinkins Circle. Dedicated September 2, 2008. , David Dinkins , The 106th Mayor of the City of New York and the first African-American to hold that position. Dinkins distinguished himself as an attorney, New York State Assemblyman, New York City Board of Elections President, City Clerk, and Manhattan Borough president before his 1989 election to the mayoralty. A professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University since 1994, he has served as a member of New York City Global Partners and the Council of Foreign Relations. He has also served on boards of directors of many non-profit institutions, including Children’s Health Fund, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and Coalition for the Homeless., A tennis player and fan, Dinkins is a lifetime member of the USTA and the American Tennis Association and has served six two-year terms on the USTA Board of Directors. He has also served on the boards of USTA Serves, the Professional Tennis Registry, the New York Junior Tennis League, NYJTL Youth Centers, Inc., and the New York City Sports Commission, and has been inducted into the USTA Eastern Section’s Hall of Fame. Dinkins assumed a leading role among city business and civic leaders during the 1970’s in facilitating relocations of the US Open to the USTA National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows Park. Later, as Mayor, his vision and leadership were instrumental in keeping the US Open in New York, as he negotiated a 99-year lease with the USTA and helped to arrange financing to expand the event and construct Arthur Ashe Stadium., Dinkins’ unwavering support has helped to make the US Open one of the world’s greatest sporting events – a showcase for the sport of tennis and for the City of New York.