Nurse Claire Shulman got into government through the predominantly non-partisan world of social councils. In 1986, she went down in history as the first woman to become the president of Queens. During her 16-year tenure, she ensured that every voter’s voice was heard. C. Shulman was one of the few in Queens who pursued such a committed and effective public service. Learn more about this path breaker and fearless activist at queensyes.com.
A registered nurse
The future president was born on February 23, 1926, in Brooklyn. After completing school, she enrolled in Adelphi University. Shulman was one of the first women to join the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, which opened in 1943 (now the College of Nursing & Public Health). After receiving her degree, Claire got a job at Queens Hospital Center. There, she met her future husband, Dr. Melvin Shulman.
The 17th President of Queens
In 1955, Shulman became a member of the Bayside Mother’s Club. She was fully involved in community matters of Queens, especially focusing on land utilization and municipal services. Claire established her authority in the community and headed its board in 1966.
In 1972, she was appointed as the director of community boards under Queens’ president, Donald Manes, and in 1980, she became his deputy. In 1986, Manes became involved in a corruption scandal. As it turned out later, he used political appointments and favors as a source of massive kickback schemes. On January 28 of that year, Claire was appointed as the interim borough president. Manes officially resigned on February 11.
The scandal became a national sensation and the most high-profile case of corruption in New York in decades. Manes remained isolated until March 1986. In January, he attempted to commit suicide by cutting his wrists. At first, he claimed that two men had stolen his car and attacked him, but then he confessed that he cut himself. On the night of March 13, Donald stabbed himself in the heart with a large kitchen knife and died. By the way, less than three years later, Morton Manes, Donald’s twin brother, tried to kill himself in the same way.
Shulman served as the president of Queens from February 11, 1986, to January 1, 2002. She was unable to run for re-election in 2001 because of term limits. Her successor was Helen Marshall, the first African-American president of the borough.
A determined advocate for the community
Some politicians were unsure if a woman would have the political savvy to effectively advocate for Queens in the turbulent realm of city politics. Other critics argued that voters would find it difficult to believe that Shulman did not participate in Manes’ crimes. However, it turned out the community was not concerned about it. Claire defeated her opponent by a margin of 2:1 in both the primaries and the general elections. In her next three re-electios, she did not have a dangerous competitor.
She financed the construction of Queens Hospital Center and 30,000 educational institutions. During those years, the president was most influential as a member of the Board of Estimate, which was one of the two main bodies of NY (after the City Council) until its cancellation in 1989. The board was composed of the mayor, the board president, the city controller and the five borough presidents. The Board of Estimate adopted the city’s budget and had a decisive influence on zoning and land use issues.
As a board member, Claire proved herself as a fierce but honest negotiator. For example, in 1987, she stood up for the community when the council proposed building multi-family housing. Residents of single-family houses in neighborhood units were against this idea. Shulman managed to convince the board to prohibit the construction of multiple-family dwellings in 12 neighborhoods.
The politician worked with business and social groups, as well as associations and federal, state and local officials, to improve the quality of life in society. She masterfully tackled issues related to economic development, environmental problems and disputes surrounding airports. Claire also provided all necessary services for the ethnically diverse population.
As president, she championed the interests of Queens cultural institutions, such as the Queens Museum of Art, the Museum of the Moving Image and the historic Flushing Town Hall. Claire strongly believed in women’s empowerment and their career advancement, especially in public service. All of this was long before feminism and gender equality became popular phenomena!
Despite her reticence, Shulman was not afraid to express her own opinion. Hoping to host the 2012 Olympics in New York, one committee suggested building a village in Queens for the participants. It was planned to be put up on land designated for permanent housing. In addition, the lakes in Flushing Meadows Park were to be reconfigured for kayaking and canoeing competitions. Shulman indignantly responded to this:
“They come in here with their arrogance and think they are just going to move things around. What do they think we are, peasants?”
Further career
After leaving office, Shulman continued to contribute to the community’s growth. In particular, she founded the lobbying corporation Flushing Willets Point Corona, serving as its president and CEO. On behalf of this corporation, Claire lobbied the NY City Council in 2007-2008. She attempted to pass a controversial law under which private property and 250 industrial enterprises in the Willets Point district in Queens would have been eliminated for the purpose of reconstruction. Shulman pushed for the project for over a year but did not make any public statements in this regard.
The City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau imposed a fine of nearly $60,000 on Shulman’s corporation. It was a record amount at the time. However, Mayor M. Bloomberg defended the former president. It was found later that Claire still disregarded the law by lobbying elected officials. She did it directly and through third parties to get approval for projects important to the community.
In addition, Shulman was a member of the Board of Directors of New York Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. With her assistance, the Queens Zoo acquired its first bald eagle. It is a big bird of prey that belongs to the Accipitridae family and inhabits North America. The bird is one of the national symbols of the United States.
Personal life
Claire’s husband, Melvin Shulman, worked as a psychiatrist in NY for 40 years. He died in 2015. Their daughter, Ellen S. Baker became a doctor and astronaut. She went on three space missions, where she spent more than 686 hours in total. Their son Lawrence also followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an oncologist. The couple also raised an adopted son, Kim, who worked as an assistant director on TV shows.
Shulman was cured of breast cancer but was unable to overcome lung and pancreatic cancer. The politician passed away on August 16, 2020, at the age of 94. A strong leader devoted herself to enhancing the lives of Queens residents and paved the way for future female leaders.