Manfred Ohrenstein
Encyclopedia
Manfred Ohrenstein is a lawyer and former member of the New York State Senate. A Democrat, he represented Manhattan from 1961 until 1994. From 1975 until 1994, he served as the New York State Senate Minority Leader.
Ohrenstein graduated from Brooklyn College in 1948. Three years later, he earned his law degree from Columbia University. From 1952 to 1954, Ohrenstein served in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, he became an assistant district attorney, working for Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan until 1958.
(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. In the Senate, Ohrenstein compiled a liberal voting record, supporting anti-discrimination measures for gays and lesbians and strict rent control
laws.
On November 27, 1990, the New York State Court of Appeals dismissed 445 counts against Ohrenstein, arguing that though his actions may have been unethical, they broke no specific law. On September 5, 1991, at Morgenthau's request, a state judge in Manhattan dismissed the remaining counts against Ohrenstein.
In 1992, New York State Controller Edward V. Regan awarded Ohrenstein $1.3 million in legal costs (but disallowed $480,000).
Biography
The son of a furniture merchant, Manfred "Fred" Ohrenstein was born in 1925 in Mannheim, Germany. In 1938, Ohrenstein and his family, who were Jewish, fled Nazi Germany. Ohrenstein and his family settled in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.Ohrenstein graduated from Brooklyn College in 1948. Three years later, he earned his law degree from Columbia University. From 1952 to 1954, Ohrenstein served in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, he became an assistant district attorney, working for Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan until 1958.
Politics
In 1960, Ohrenstein defeated Democratic State Senator John H. Farrell, who represented the 25th District in Manhattan, in a primary. Ohrenstein then won the general election with about 57 percent of the vote. He easily won re-election (often by lopsided margins) until he retired in 1994. Ohrenstein briefly represented the 29th District after a special election in 1965New York state election, 1965
The 1965 New York state election was held on November 2, 1965, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-Background:Judge Marvin R...
(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. In the Senate, Ohrenstein compiled a liberal voting record, supporting anti-discrimination measures for gays and lesbians and strict rent control
Rent control
Rent control refers to laws or ordinances that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling.Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world...
laws.
Senate Minority Leader
In 1975, Ohrenstein was elected Senate minority leader by his Democratic colleagues. He held the position until his retirement.Indictment and Acquittal
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. Morgenthau alleged that Ohrenstein and his two co-defendants, 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 re-elected 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, arguing that though his actions may have been unethical, they broke no specific law. On September 5, 1991, at Morgenthau's request, a state judge in Manhattan dismissed the remaining counts against Ohrenstein.
In 1992, New York State Controller Edward V. Regan awarded Ohrenstein $1.3 million in legal costs (but disallowed $480,000).