George Moscone was an iconic figure in American politics He was a prominent civil rights lawyer who served as San Francisco mayor from 1976 until his assassination in 1978. Moscone's legacy is particularly noted for his progressive values and platform, which sought to bring greater access to government and civil rights for all citizens.
Moscone's story began in San Francisco, where he was born and raised. After studying law at the University of Santa Clara, Moscone became an attorney in 1959. He went on to serve as a public defender in San Francisco and later as San Francisco's District Attorney. Moscone's career in politics began in 1967, when he was appointed to the California State Assembly, representing the city of San Francisco and its outlying areas.
In 1975, Moscone ran for and won the election for mayor of San Francisco, becoming the first-ever mayor to be elected from the city's growing minority populations. During his term, Moscone made many strides in the fight for civil rights, including passing the first-ever human rights ordinances in the United States—the San Francisco Human Rights Ordinance, prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Moscone was also dedicated to increasing affordable housing and improving San Francisco's public transportation system.
Moscone was assassinated in 1978 by former San Francisco supervisor Dan White, who was convicted of the crime and served five years in prison. Moscone's death marked a major loss for the city of San Francisco and for civil rights activists across the nation.
The five best examples of George Moscone's legacy are:
1. The San Francisco Human Rights Ordinance: George Moscone was the first mayor in the United States to pass an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. This ordinance, commonly known as the San Francisco Human Rights Ordinance, was a major victory for civil rights activists in the city and across the nation and is still in effect today.
2. Affirmative Action: During Moscone's term, he signed an executive order establishing San Francisco as the first American city to adopt affirmative action programs in its city government and schools.
3. Public Transportation Reform: Moscone's administration helped to expand San Francisco's public transportation system, making it more available and accessible for all citizens.
4. Affordable Housing: Moscone was also committed to providing affordable housing for San Francisco's citizens. He passed a comprehensive housing ordinance that sought to provide more low-income and public housing in the city.
5. Cultural Dialogue: Moscone was a strong advocate for open communication and cultural dialogue across San Francisco. He created a task force to establish dialogue between the city's various ethnic, religious, and cultural communities, in order to promote a better understanding of each other.