Musing on Politics

Politics is a dirty business, but its workspace is also spotless. I saw this firsthand while visiting Tweed Courthouse and City Hall for their free tours.



When I worked my first summer job at Surrogate Court in 1991, I'd spend many lunch breaks eating on the steps of these buildings. It's only fitting that these structures bring back such fond memories because they contain so much history. Patricia, the volunteer docent at Tweed Courthouse, spent nearly two hours exploring its past during my time there on September 25 -- starting with its namesake, William Tweed. The former Tammany Hall boss used the project to embezzle millions of dollars over several years; he was tried and convicted in 1873 in one of its 30 courtrooms -- even though construction of the building wasn't completed until 1881.



Tweed Courthouse continued to serve as a legal clearinghouse until 1961, when it became a municipal office building; it's now home to the Department of Education, with a school occupying the first floor. Also located there is Roy Lichtenstein's "Element #E," which cuts through the rotunda and rises toward the skylight. The fiberglass sculpture of bold colors juxtaposed against the stone carvings of Greek and Roman architecture made for a spectacular view.



Speaking of art, City Hall is another architectural masterpiece. Charlie, the volunteer docent, spent nearly 90 minutes touring its grounds when I went there on September 30. Unlike Tweed Courthouse, visitors weren't allowed to take pictures inside, which is a shame. City Hall's keystone-cantilevered staircase conjured up images of a wedding, while the Governor's Room served as a museum for housing artifacts like Fiorello LaGuardia's table. (Its name is derived from the paintings of historical figures that adorn its walls, including John Jay and Morgan Lewis.)



The Council Chamber is where the wheels of democracy turn as its 51 members draft and approve legislation on issues ranging from land use to public safety. (It's also where the City Council overturned a voter referendum on term limits in 2008, casting a huge shadow over the November 3 mayoral election between incumbent Michael Bloomberg -- see photo below -- and challenger Bill Thompson.) This spacious area with exquisite furnishings and historic artwork has also served as a backdrop for drama, whether it's fictional (City Hall) or all-too-real (the assassination of James Davis).



Abraham Lincoln once said that government is "of the people, for the people, by the people" -- which is why more people should take advantage of seeing it at work.