LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring David R. Jones, Esq. for 25 years of
distinguished service to the Community Service Society of New York

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
David R. Jones, Esq. for 25 years of distinguished service to the Commu-
nity Service Society of New York on Thursday, September 15, 2011, in New
York City; and
WHEREAS, The Community Service Society of New York is a 165 year-old
institution that has been on the cutting edge of public policy inno-
vations to support poor New Yorkers in their quest to be full partic-
ipants in the civic life of New York City; and
WHEREAS, David Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Community Service Society of New York (CSS), a nonpartisan, not-for-pro-
fit organization that promotes economic advancement and full civic
participation for low-income New Yorkers; he is an outspoken advocate
for low-income New Yorkers, writes bi-weekly newspaper columns in the
NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS and EL DIARIO/LA PRENSA and a weekly blog on the
Huffington Post website that serve to educate the public and government
officials on issues of importance to minority and impoverished communi-
ties; and
WHEREAS, David Jones has led CSS since 1986; from 1983 to 1986, he
served as Executive Director of the New York City Youth Bureau and he
was Special Advisor to Mayor Koch from 1979 to 1983 with responsibil-
ities in race relations, urban development, immigration reform, and
education; and
WHEREAS, A highly respected New York City leader on issues of urban
poverty and economic advancement, David Jones was appointed by Mayor
Bloomberg to several commissions, including his transition committee; he
is Chair of the Advisory Board of New York City's Independent Budget
Office and a member of the Advisory Council of the New York City Depart-
ment of Health & Mental Hygiene; he is a board member of the Scherman
Foundation and is also Chairman of the Board of the Nation Institute;
and
WHEREAS, From 1996 to 2000, David Jones was Chairman of the Board of
Carver Federal Savings Bank, the largest African-American managed bank
in the United States; he served for 12 years on the board of trustees of
Wesleyan University and is now a Trustee Emeritus; he also served on the
board of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and was Vice
Chairman of the Primary Care Development Corporation, which finances
health care programs and facilities in medically underserved communi-
ties; and
WHEREAS, David Jones is a founding member of the Upper Manhattan
Empowerment Zone and for seven years was President of Black Agency Exec-
utives, a group of black leaders of major New York City human service
agencies; for over 10 years he served as a member of the board of direc-
tors of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund; and
WHEREAS, While receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan
University, David Jones interned for the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy
in Washington, D.C.; he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law
School in 1974, afterwards clerking for Judge Constance Baker Motley of
the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and was a
recipient of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Among David Jones's many awards is an honorary Doctor of
Humane Letters from the City University of New York; prior to his
nonprofit and public service careers, he specialized in corporate anti-
trust cases and contract litigation at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine &
Moore; and
WHEREAS, Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community of Brooklyn, New
York, David Jones is a member of the New York State and Federal Bars;
and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Valerie and their two
children, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and
rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, David Jones's distinguished record
merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor David R. Jones, Esq. for 25 years of distinguished service to the
Community Service Society of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to David R. Jones, Esq.