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Donald R. Manes (/ˈmænɪs/, /-əs/; January 18, 1934 – March 13, 1986) was a Democratic Party politician from New York City. He served as borough president of the New York City borough of Queens from 1971 until just before his suicide while under suspicion of corruption in 1986.[1]

Key Information

Career

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Manes was born in Brooklyn. He moved to Queens with his family as a teenager. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn.[2] He briefly attended New York University before earning a degree in business administration from Hofstra University.[3] In 1957, he received his LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School.[4]

Following his admission to the New York bar, Manes was employed as a Queens County assistant district attorney under the aegis of Frank D. O'Connor, later serving as an associate counsel to New York State Assembly member Moses M. Weinstein during his successful battle to become the legislative body's majority leader in 1965. That same year, he was elected to the New York City Council, becoming the youngest member of its Queens delegation from a Jamaica Estates-based district. He ultimately ascended to the chair of the Council's Housing Committee and emerged as a protégé of influential Councilman Matthew Troy, a strident opponent of then-Mayor John Lindsay who became chair of the Queens Democratic Party in 1971.[5]

Elected to his final role at the behest of Troy when he was 37, Manes was the youngest borough president in Queens history. During his tenure, Manes transformed his position from a mid-level policymaking role (although the borough presidents held influential seats on the now-defunct New York City Board of Estimate, incumbents generally served as proxies for county party leaders) into a more proactive political job, capitalizing on Queens's historic lack of a robust Democratic political machine in the mold of Manhattan's Tammany Hall or the storied clubhouse scenes in Brooklyn and the Bronx. In 1974, Mayor Abe Beame worked with Manes to arrange Troy’s ouster as Queens Democratic leader, with Manes assuming the role for the remainder of his life. Troy had angered Manes when he supported Howard J. Samuels against eventual incumbent Hugh Carey in the 1974 Democratic gubernatorial primary.[6] Manes was re-elected four more times through the turn of the decade, also serving as a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention during this period.

His popularity plummeted in late 1985, when he was criticized over two of his pet projects. He wanted to build a Grand Prix auto racetrack in Queens's largest public park, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where the 1939 New York World's Fair and the 1964 New York World's Fair had been held. Community leaders denigrated the idea, and it became the first major project of his that was opposed. Also that year, Manes worked to build a domed football-baseball stadium in the park, but it was opposed by local businessmen in the Flushing area. When Queens couldn't secure a football franchise, the plan died.

One of his biggest controversies came in late 1985, when Manes wanted to wire the borough for cable television. Manes rejected a proposal by the Queens-based Orth-O-Vision company to place cable lines in the borough, and instead awarded contracts to mega-companies Warner Communications and Time-Life, as well as a cable firm owned by former Manhattan borough president Percy Sutton. Local residents were upset that he passed over a local firm for large national companies.

Downfall and suicide

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Shortly after his inauguration for a fifth term, Manes attended a dinner party for the new Israeli consul at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens on January 9, 1986. He left in his own car and was followed by his chauffeur up Queens Boulevard. He was later found in his car in the early morning hours of January 10; his wrists were slit and he was bleeding profusely. He initially claimed that two men had carjacked and attacked him, but later recanted the statement, saying he had attempted suicide.[7]

In the following weeks, it was alleged that Manes had used political appointments and favors as the source of large kickback schemes involving personal bureaucratic fiefdoms, most notably the New York City Parking Violations Bureau. In 1978, Manes installed a friend, Geoffrey Lindenauer, who later cooperated with prosecutors, as the deputy head of the Parking Violations Bureau. With Manes’ help, Lindenauer steered collections of parking fines to a company that paid the two bribes of up to $2,500 per month by 1982. Later in 1982, Manes, Lindenauer and Bronx Democratic Party leader Stanley M. Friedman each received shares in a company called Citisource, which won a city contract to develop a handheld parking ticket computer. Manes also accepted bribes from SRS, a company also involved in parking ticket collections, whose owner also cooperated with authorities. Columnist Jimmy Breslin published a story on January 23, 1986 in which the head of a third parking collections company confessed to paying $36,000 in bribes to Manes.[7]

Zoning and cable TV franchises were being investigated, and some of Manes' appointees and associates were indicted or forced to resign. Manes' deputy Claire Shulman was installed as acting Borough President on January 28 and he formally resigned on February 11.[8]

The scandal became nationwide news and a continuing top story in New York City. Manes, now facing the prospect of indictment on corruption charges, stayed in seclusion until March. On the night of March 13, he took a phone call from his psychiatrist, who discussed additional care with Manes (and his wife on an extension phone upstairs). Shortly before 10 p.m. the psychiatrist was called away from the phone and, while on hold, Manes reached into a kitchen drawer, pulled out a large kitchen knife and plunged the eight-inch blade into his heart. His daughter screamed for her mother, who came down to find Manes on the floor in a pool of blood. Marlene Manes pulled the knife from his heart as their daughter frantically called 911. Donald Manes was pronounced dead at the scene.[1]

Less than three years later, on November 17, 1988, Morton Manes, Donald Manes' twin brother, attempted suicide in the same manner. He died of a heart attack at the age of 70 in May 2004.[9]

Manes was buried at Mt. Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. Manes' successor, Claire Shulman, served as Borough President until 2002.

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References

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Donald Manes

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Donald R. Manes (January 18, 1934 – March 13, 1986) was an American Democratic politician who served as Borough President of , , from 1971 until his amid investigations into municipal corruption. Born in and educated at , Manes entered politics as a young City Council member before ascending to lead ' Democratic organization and borough government for over a decade. Manes wielded significant influence through patronage and control of the Queens Democratic machine, amassing power that extended to citywide politics and earning him a reputation as one of New York City's preeminent county leaders. His tenure focused on local development and party dominance, but it ended in disgrace following revelations of a kickback scheme in the Parking Violations Bureau, where he and associates received bribes from contractors profiting from the bureau's computerized operations. In January 1986, Manes was found in his car with self-inflicted wrist wounds, prompting him to step aside from his posts; two months later, facing potential indictment, he fatally stabbed himself. The scandal exposed systemic graft in city agencies, leading to multiple probes and convictions, though Manes avoided formal charges through his death.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Donald Manes was born on January 18, 1934, in , New York, to Edward Manes and Belle Manes. His father, a short, rotund, and risk-taking entrepreneur, built a successful business called Mansfield Dairies and invested in , including a 60-unit colony, a farm, and a home in . His mother died of cancer in the early 1950s. The family maintained a middle-class lifestyle in a Crown Heights house near relatives, sharing a new Pontiac or Ford every two years, with roots tracing to Manes' maternal grandfather, Isaac Cohen, who operated in the milk and distributed routes to sons-in-law during the . Manes grew up immersed in Brooklyn's Democratic clubhouse culture, influenced by local figures such as "Uncle" Dave Malbin, and spent summers working as a at the Tamarack Lodge near the family's upstate bungalow colony. He attended in before the family relocated to , in the early 1950s, purchasing three adjacent houses there. This move positioned him in a burgeoning suburban environment that would later align with his political base, though his formative years remained tied to Brooklyn's working-class and organizational politics.

Academic and Professional Beginnings

Donald R. Manes was born on January 18, 1934, in , New York, to a family with political connections; the family relocated to during his teenage years. He earned a from before obtaining a from . Following his legal education, Manes began his professional career as an assistant district attorney in Queens County, becoming the youngest person ever appointed to that position at age 27 around 1961. He also served as associate counsel to the New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Housing, gaining experience in legislative and prosecutorial matters that informed his later political ascent. These roles established his reputation as a rising legal figure in Queens before his entry into elected office.

Political Rise

Entry into Democratic Politics

Donald Manes, a native with familial ties to the borough's Democratic organization, first engaged with party politics in 1955 at age 21, when a Democratic petition gatherer recruited him during a effort at his family home. This initial involvement marked the beginning of his alignment with New York Democratic networks, though his early career focused on legal and legislative work rather than immediate electoral bids. Prior to running for office, Manes worked as a legislative staff member in Albany, gaining exposure to state-level political maneuvers, and later served as an associate counsel to the , building expertise in municipal governance. Described in contemporary accounts as a rising in , he leveraged these roles to establish connections within local Democratic circles after relocating from to the borough. Manes entered elective office in 1965 by winning election to the representing a district, becoming the youngest member of the borough's delegation at age 31. His campaign drew support from established Queens networks, including allies like the Malbin group, reflecting his integration into the local Democratic machine through prior professional ties rather than grassroots organizing. This victory solidified his position within the party, setting the stage for subsequent rises in Queens Democratic leadership.

Key Elections and Appointments

Manes entered elective office in 1965, winning election to the as its youngest member from at age 31. He secured reelection to the council in 1969 against nominal opposition. Following the resignation of incumbent Borough President Sidney Leviss amid health issues, Manes received a Democratic nomination and appointment to the post on September 22, 1971, at age 37, making him the youngest person to hold the office. He won a special election for the position in November 1971, followed by full-term victories in the citywide municipal elections of 1973, 1977, 1981, and 1985—the latter marking his fifth reelection with 85 percent of the vote. In addition to his borough presidency, Manes was elected chairman of the Queens County Democratic Party in September 1974, a role that solidified his control over local party machinery and endorsements for over a decade. This dual leadership amplified his influence, enabling him to deliver ' Democratic vote for mayoral candidates like Edward Koch in key primaries.

Tenure as Queens Borough President

Election and Initial Priorities

Donald Manes was selected by the Queens Democratic executive committee and appointed by the as Borough President on September 22, 1971, succeeding Sidney Leviss, who resigned to assume a position on the . At age 37, Manes became the youngest individual to hold the office in history. He received endorsements from both the Democratic and Liberal parties for the special election to fill the remainder of Leviss's term, which extended until 1973. Manes was sworn into office the following day, September 23, 1971, in a ceremony at City Hall officiated by Mayor and attended by approximately 200 guests. In the special election held on November 2, 1971, Manes secured victory in the Democratic primary with a comfortable margin, reflecting strong support in the predominantly middle-class Jewish districts of , before winning the general election unopposed or with minimal opposition as the endorsed Democratic candidate. Upon assuming office, Manes emphasized decentralizing authority from city hall to the boroughs, advocating for Queens to regain control over including , repairs, and sewer . He proposed creating independent police departments for each , to be directed by the respective borough presidents, to enhance local responsiveness. To stimulate , Manes pledged a focused campaign to attract to , aiming to generate employment opportunities. He also committed to functioning as an , addressing constituent grievances related to city services directly. Additionally, Manes voiced opposition to the $24 million renovation plan for , favoring efforts to keep the New York Yankees within the city without such expenditures.

Major Achievements and Initiatives

During his tenure as Queens Borough President from 1971 to 1986, Donald Manes prioritized , securing funding for local construction projects spanning more than a decade and fostering business growth in the borough. Colleagues credited him with involvement in more development projects than any predecessor, which contributed to increased economic activity in , including efforts to attract businesses and resolve complex site negotiations. Manes also advocated for infrastructure enhancements, such as directing the Queens Overall Economic Development program, though this led to tensions with business leaders over regional competition. Manes proposed ambitious initiatives to transform Flushing Meadows Park, including a Grand Prix racetrack and a domed football stadium, aiming to boost and sports-related revenue, though both faced opposition and were not realized. He met with private developers interested in stadium construction as early as , reflecting his push for large-scale public-private partnerships. Additionally, Manes supported aviation-related growth at , engaging in debates over supersonic jet landing rights to enhance Queens' role as a . Beyond infrastructure, Manes emphasized community programs, earning recognition for contributions to the Queens educational system and services for senior citizens, while sponsoring promotional events like the inaugural "Taste of Queens" in November 1985 to highlight local culture and commerce. These efforts aligned with his broader strategy to elevate ' profile, often through energetic public advocacy.

Expansion of Political Influence

During his tenure as Queens Borough President, Manes significantly broadened his political reach by assuming the chairmanship of the Queens County Democratic Party in 1975, a position he held for the next 11 years. This dual role enabled him to command the party's networks, endorsements, and delegate slates, which were pivotal in Democratic primaries and conventions for citywide and statewide offices. , as New York City's largest borough by population, provided substantial voting blocs and organizational muscle, allowing Manes to leverage party machinery for influencing nominations beyond local affairs. Manes demonstrated this expanded clout in high-stakes campaigns, entering the 1974 Democratic gubernatorial race on April 17 as the fourth major contender before withdrawing on June 11 to endorse , thereby securing alliances at the state level. He later backed Abraham Beame's successful 1973 mayoral bid and forged a close partnership with , delivering ' support for Koch's 1982 gubernatorial primary challenge against despite internal party resistance. These endorsements not only amplified Manes's voice in Democratic circles but also positioned him to extract reciprocal influence over city policies and appointments. As a voting member of the Board of Estimate—which held authority over the municipal budget, land-use decisions, and major contracts until its dissolution in —Manes wielded direct sway over resource allocation favoring initiatives, such as infrastructure funding and development projects. This institutional power, combined with his party leadership, elevated him to one of the city's most formidable political figures, often described as second only to the mayor in practical influence over Democratic operations and public expenditures. His ability to dispense jobs and steer contracts through loyal intermediaries further solidified networks extending into business and labor sectors.

Criticisms of Leadership Style

Patronage Networks and Machine Politics

Donald Manes solidified his authority as the Queens Democratic county leader beginning in , wielding virtually total control over the borough's political machinery through a network of and loyalty enforcement. As borough president since 1971 and a senior member of the Board of Estimate, Manes dispensed jobs, contracts, and judicial nominations to allies, ensuring and electoral dominance in a sprawling of over 2 million residents by the 1980s. This system replaced older bureaucratic holdovers with party loyalists, transforming public agencies into extensions of the Democratic organization's influence. The Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) exemplified Manes' patronage preserve, where the Queens machine appointed supporters to key roles without competitive processes. In May 1978, Manes backed Lester Shafran as PVB director, followed by Geoffrey Lindenauer as deputy in July 1978, elevating Lindenauer from prior roles in addiction services with salary increases tied to machine favoritism. Contracts for collections and data processing, such as those with agencies retaining $17 million of $46 million in 1985 revenues or the $22.7 million Citisource deal in 1983, bypassed bidding to reward connected firms, fostering a cycle of reciprocal loyalty. Manes' machine extended to broader municipal leverage, including real estate development approvals and City Council influence, where he engineered outcomes like Peter Vallone's 1985 rise to majority leader through bloc voting. Critics viewed this structure as emblematic of outdated machine politics, prioritizing insider deals over merit and transparency, which entrenched Manes' power but sowed vulnerabilities to abuse. Alliances with figures like Bronx leader Stanley Friedman amplified cross-borough flows, such as shared stakes in vendor contracts, but relied on opaque arrangements that blurred public service with private gain. By the mid-1980s, this network controlled thousands of no-show or low-performance jobs, sustaining voter turnout via favors while insulating leadership from reformist challenges.

Early Ethical Concerns

In November 1976, special state prosecutor John Keenan investigated Donald Manes following the of his deputy, Robert Groh, for allegedly demanding a $10,000 campaign contribution from ITT/Sheraton in exchange for supporting a change favorable to the company; the probe linked the demand to Manes's 1973 reelection campaign. Manes was questioned for two days before a but was not indicted, while Groh's initial was dismissed on grounds of coercive investigative methods before being reinstated; Groh was ultimately acquitted in 1979. In 1979, Manes testified as a defense witness in the trial of , a captain charged with , asserting that no financial support had been provided to Queens operative Joseph Colozza for Hugh Carey's gubernatorial campaign. Despite evidence emerging of approximately $30,000 in cash kickbacks funneled through Colozza, Scotto was convicted on charges, but no subsequent charges were filed against Manes or Colozza. These episodes, occurring amid Manes's consolidation of power as Queens Democratic leader, highlighted patterns of questionable associations and potential influence peddling that drew scrutiny but evaded formal consequences, foreshadowing deeper entanglements in patronage-driven corruption. Critics at the time noted Manes's reliance on such networks to maintain organizational loyalty, though defenders portrayed the inquiries as politically motivated overreaches without sufficient evidence for prosecution.

Corruption Investigations

Emergence of the Scandal

The federal investigation into corruption at the New York City Parking Violations Bureau (PVB), which collected over $150 million annually in fines, began in late 1985 following reports of bribes paid for lucrative contracts, including computer services and towing operations. Prosecutors estimated total payoffs could reach $2 million, with initial leads tracing to a $5,000 cash handoff in a restaurant restroom involving PVB executive director Geoffrey Lindenauer and private contractors seeking agency business. Lindenauer, appointed under Mayor Edward Koch's administration, admitted to facilitating kickbacks as early as November 1979, often in exchange for steering contracts to favored firms like those linked to Bronx Democratic leader Stanley Friedman. Donald Manes, as Borough President, exerted influence over PVB operations through his role in appointing commissioners and advocating for -based vendors, which drew scrutiny as the probe expanded beyond the bureau to political fixers. By early January 1986, informants implicated Manes in extorting payments from attorneys and contractors for PVB-related favors, including a reported $36,000 extracted from Michael G. Dowd over 18 months ending in 1985. Federal authorities, led by U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani's office, widened the inquiry to include Democratic machine networks, revealing patterns of where presidents like Manes traded endorsements for illicit gains. The scandal erupted publicly on January 10, 1986, when police discovered Manes, aged 56, bleeding profusely from self-inflicted wounds to his wrists and ankles in a city-owned car parked near in Flushing Meadows, , following an apparent . This incident, initially shrouded in mystery and prompting visits from Mayor Koch, who publicly called Manes a friend, amplified media coverage and forced disclosures about the underlying PVB probe, transforming a contained inquiry into a citywide involving at least eight federal, state, and local investigations by February. Manes' hospitalization and subsequent erratic behavior, including threats of further , intensified pressure, leading to his temporary suspension from duties on January 21 amid mounting evidence of his central role.

Specific Allegations of Bribery and Kickbacks

The core allegations against Donald Manes centered on his orchestration of a scheme within the Parking Violations Bureau (PVB), where he allegedly steered multimillion-dollar contracts for computer services, , and to favored private firms in exchange for cash kickbacks and equity stakes. Geoffrey Lindenauer, Manes' longtime associate and PVB executive director, pleaded guilty in federal court to serving as the primary , admitting he collected approximately $410,000 in illicit payments from contractors between 1982 and 1985, with Manes receiving a substantial share channeled through intermediaries. These funds derived from rigged awards, including a November 1985 FBI-recorded $5,000 payoff in a restaurant bathroom, half of which ($2,500) was earmarked for Manes via Lindenauer from informant Michael Burnett seeking PVB business. Specific kickback streams implicated Manes in systematic extortion: Datacom Systems Corp., through broker Michael Lazar, paid $500 monthly starting November 1979, escalating to $2,500 monthly by 1982, split evenly between Manes and Lindenauer for data processing contracts; Systematic Recovery Systems funneled over $300,000 in 5% commissions from 1980 to 1984 via fixer Bernard Sandow for debt collection deals; and Computrace disbursed $36,000 over 18 months in 1983–1984, paid by principal Michael Dowd for similar PVB work. Additionally, attorney Marvin Bergman was indicted for delivering $45,000 in bribes to Manes and Lindenauer to secure a private collection agency contract with the PVB, part of an estimated $4 million payoff network spanning five years. Manes was further accused of demanding equity in the failed Citisource handheld computer venture, receiving 57,500 shares valued at $5 each alongside Lindenauer and Bronx Democratic leader Stanley Friedman, tied to influence over city procurement. These claims emerged primarily from cooperating witnesses like Lindenauer, whose March 1986 guilty plea detailed Manes' direct involvement in demanding and receiving payoffs, corroborated by FBI surveillance and contractor testimonies. Federal prosecutors under U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani portrayed Manes as the scheme's architect, leveraging his Borough President role to appoint allies like Lindenauer and exert over PVB operations, though Manes denied wrongdoing before his death precluded formal charges. The allegations extended to towing firm bribes for preferential treatment, underscoring a pattern of favoring politically connected vendors.

Involvement of Associates and Broader Network

Geoffrey Lindenbaum, executive director of the Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) and a close political ally of , served as the primary conduit for bribes directed by the Borough President. Lindenbaum admitted to federal prosecutors that he steered lucrative contracts for processing parking fines to favored companies, including those handling collections, in exchange for monthly kickbacks totaling up to $2,500 paid to both himself and starting in November 1979. The initial bribe came from Michael Lazar, a former city transportation official who had become a private consultant steering to the PVB. Michael Dowd, a Queens lawyer and political operative with ties to Manes, confessed to paying approximately $30,000 in bribes to Lindenbaum at Manes' explicit direction between 1980 and 1985, primarily to secure PVB contracts for services. Dowd's cooperation with investigators, prompted by his own legal troubles, provided key evidence linking Manes to the scheme and expanded the probe into Democratic patronage networks. Three other top PVB officials—handpicked by Manes as political loyalists—resigned, were arrested, or placed on leave amid revelations of their roles in rigging vendor selections for kickbacks, highlighting the bureau's function as a patronage mill for the Queens machine. Beyond the PVB, associates like Matthew Lerner, a consultant, were implicated in separate bribery schemes tied to ' influence, including a 1987 conviction for attempting to solicit a $250,000 bribe in connection with awarding a cable-television franchise in . Lerner acted as an intermediary, leveraging ' position to pressure franchise bidders. Sandow, a contractor involved in PVB bad-debt collections, faced scrutiny for funneling payments through layered subcontractors to obscure the flow of illicit funds back to ' circle. The scandal revealed a broader network rooted in the Queens County Democratic organization, where Manes wielded influence as a to distribute no-show jobs and steer contracts, fostering systemic . Federal probes uncovered ties to elements in vendor selections and parallel schemes in other city agencies, though Manes' direct involvement remained inferential based on associates' testimonies rather than formal charges before his death. This system, emblematic of machine politics in mid-20th-century New York, implicated dozens of lower-level operatives and vendors, leading to over a dozen indictments and convictions among Manes' extended allies.

Downfall and Death

Amid intensifying federal investigations into bribery and kickbacks in New York City agencies, particularly the Parking Violations Bureau where Queens Democratic operatives allegedly extracted payments from contractors, Donald Manes faced mounting legal scrutiny by early 1986. U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani's office had secured guilty pleas from key associates, including Geoffrey Lindenauer, who admitted to serving as a "bagman" collecting illicit payments and implicated Manes in steering contracts for personal gain. Multiple grand juries were probing Manes' role in these schemes, with evidence suggesting he instigated demands for 10% kickbacks on deals involving city funds under his influence as borough president. Political isolation compounded the legal pressures, as Queens Democratic leaders and Koch publicly urged to cooperate with prosecutors or step down to mitigate damage to the party. By , at least eight separate inquiries—federal, state, and municipal—zeroed in on ' network, including allegations of rigged bids and tied to his system. , who had not been formally charged but was a central figure in wiretap evidence and witness testimonies, reportedly weighed a cooperation deal but resisted amid fears of betrayal by allies. On February 12, 1986, Manes formally resigned as Borough President and Democratic county chairman, stating the decision was necessitated by the "burden" on his health and family, though contemporaries attributed it directly to the scandal's erosion of his authority. His deputy, Claire Shulman, had been acting president since January 28, assuming full duties immediately after the . The move followed weeks of subpoenas and leaked details from probes, which revealed Manes' alleged orchestration of in exchange for favorable agency treatment, though he maintained public silence on specifics.

Suicide Attempts and Final Outcome

On January 10, 1986, Manes made his first apparent by slashing his wrists at his home in , following the emergence of corruption allegations against him and associates. He was hospitalized and placed on medication, though reports indicated he struggled to take the full prescribed dosage in subsequent weeks. This incident preceded his as Borough President on February 20, 1986, amid intensifying federal probes into bribery and kickbacks involving municipal contracts. Manes' condition deteriorated under ongoing legal scrutiny, with no formal charges filed against him by early March 1986, though cooperating witnesses had implicated him in schemes yielding personal gains estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. On March 13, 1986, his wife, Marlene Manes, urgently contacted his psychiatrist to discuss involuntary admission to a facility, but Manes, aged 52, fatally stabbed himself in the chest with an 8-inch before intervention could occur. He was rushed to Booth Memorial Hospital in , but pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. after resuscitation efforts failed. The ruled the death a , citing the to the heart as the cause. The tragedy concluded Manes' public career without or conviction, leaving unresolved questions about the full extent of his involvement in the , as key evidence perished with him and prompted varied interpretations among investigators and observers.

Immediate Aftermath for Family and Associates

Marlene Manes discovered her husband bleeding profusely in their Forest Hills home on March 13, 1986, after he stabbed himself in the chest with an 8¾-inch during a telephone conversation with his , Dr. Elliot N. Wineburg; she pulled the blade from his heart while their daughter frantically dialed 911, but paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene shortly after arrival. Earlier that evening, Marlene had urgently contacted Wineburg to discuss involuntarily committing Donald Manes to a psychiatric facility amid his deepening despondency over federal corruption probes, a plan interrupted when Manes seized the kitchen extension and abruptly ended his life moments later. The family, including two children, faced immediate trauma from the graphic , compounded by Marlene's prior witness to Manes's January 1986 slashing attempt in his car, which had already exposed household strain. Manes's death intensified public and legal scrutiny on his inner circle, as cooperating witnesses like deputy health administrator Geoffrey Lindenauer—who had pleaded guilty to charges on March 10 and implicated Manes in schemes—could no longer face from him, potentially complicating prosecutors' cases but accelerating probes into kickbacks from Parking Violations Bureau contractors. Democratic organization treasurer Gloria D'Amico described Manes post-suicide as a figure whose abrupt fall from influence left allies reeling, with the machine he dominated now vulnerable to federal indictments targeting allies like Democratic leader . Acting Borough President Claire Shulman assumed Manes's duties after his February resignation, but the organization's networks faced immediate disruption, paving the way for Thomas J. Manton to assume chairmanship later in 1986 amid ongoing turmoil. The March 15 funeral at Schwartz Brothers in drew about 600 mourners, including Governor —who attended despite political tensions, citing neighborhood ties to the family—and Mayor , whose presence sparked resentment among attendees for his prior public denunciations of as corrupt, though Koch expressed post-death sympathy and hoped for divine mercy. Associates and party loyalists grappled with loyalty fractures, as 's demise symbolized the unraveling of a once-dominant built on personal alliances, prompting internal reckonings even as investigations ensnared PVB Matthew Lerner and others in schemes tied to 's influence.

Legacy and Impact

Reforms Triggered by the Scandal

The Manes scandal, which exposed systemic bribery and kickbacks in the New York City Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) and related municipal contracts, prompted Mayor to bolster the authority of the Department of Investigation (DOI) in early 1986, expanding its mandate beyond mere fact-finding to include proactive oversight of governmental efficiency and criminality to prevent future corruption. This reinforcement aligned with the 1977 City Charter but granted the DOI greater administrative control, enabling it to conduct unannounced audits and investigations without prior mayoral approval, a direct response to the scandal's revelation of lax internal controls. In parallel, Governor and Mayor Koch established the State-City Commission on Government Integrity in under the Moreland Act, tasking it with examining ethical lapses exposed by the case and recommending structural changes to curb influence peddling in public contracting. The commission's findings, released in 1987, advocated for stricter disclosures, enhanced financial reporting for public officials, and reforms, including competitive requirements for agencies like the PVB to eliminate no-bid favoritism that had facilitated the $36,000 bribe scheme involving . These events accelerated the adoption of New York City's voluntary public system via the 1988 Campaign Finance Act, which provided for small donations to reduce reliance on large private contributions that had fueled machine-style corruption, as exemplified by Manes' role in Queens Democratic Party fundraising. The system capped individual contributions at $5,000 (adjusted for since) and offered up to 8:1 matching for the first $250 from city residents, aiming to diminish the dynamics uncovered in the , where bribes were tied to political influence and campaign support. Subsequent contracting policies were rewritten to mandate transparency in service awards, directly addressing the PVB's rigged vendor selections that implicated over a dozen officials.

Assessments of Contributions versus Corruption

Manes advanced economic development in through strategic negotiations that preserved neighborhoods like from decline and attracted major employers, including securing the Social Security Administration's regional headquarters, which employed 4,000 people. He facilitated improvements such as the reconstruction of , the opening of York College, and the extension of the Archer Avenue subway line, enhancing connectivity and educational access in the . Additionally, Manes supported industrial revitalization by aiding the reopening of Astoria Studios, transforming the College Point Industrial Park, and promoting the Port Authority's redevelopment of , alongside the establishment of the International Design Center, a 1 million square foot facility that positioned as a hub for global interior furnishings. In education and community services, Manes earned recognition for bolstering the Queens educational system and advocating for senior citizens, while securing funding for local construction projects over his 15-year tenure as the youngest borough president in Queens history, elected at age 31 in 1971. Observers described him as a "brilliant bargainer" capable of resolving complex development challenges, crediting him with involving Queens in more business and economic initiatives than any prior borough president. Proposals like a Grand Prix racetrack and domed stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, though ultimately blocked, reflected his ambition to boost commercial activity in Flushing. The 1985-1986 corruption scandal, involving Manes in a scheme at the Parking Violations Bureau where associate Geoffrey Lindenauer admitted to handling $410,000 in kickbacks, overshadowed these accomplishments and led to his and on February 11, 1986. While some contemporaries, including at his funeral services, emphasized pride in his and viewed him as an "outstanding " despite personal failings, the revelations of , illicit deals, and a "double life" of excess tainted assessments of his tenure, prompting reforms like the 1988 creation of the Board to curb similar influences. Retrospective analyses acknowledge his effectiveness in driving borough growth but attribute the scandal's dominance to systemic clubhouse that enabled both achievements and abuses, without evidence that illicit gains directly funded major projects.

Cultural and Historical References

The Manes scandal, with its elements of bribery, slashed wrists, and political intrigue, has been analogized in contemporary reporting to sensational fiction, as when the Christian Science Monitor described the unfolding events in January 1986 as reading "like a dime-store novel," highlighting the dramatic discovery of the bloodied Queens borough president in his city car. This portrayal underscored the scandal's grip on public imagination amid extensive media coverage in outlets like The New Yorker and The New York Times, which chronicled Manes' rapid ascent and fall as a microcosm of urban machine politics' vulnerabilities. In historical and journalistic literature, the affair serves as a in municipal and its institutional repercussions. Wayne Barrett and Jack Newfield's 1988 book City for Sale: and the Betrayal of New York catalogs the Manes-linked kickbacks in the Parking Violations Bureau as symptomatic of favoritism, drawing on investigative reporting to expose how Democratic Party clubs enabled such schemes under Koch's mayoralty. Similarly, Frank Anechiarico and James B. Jacobs' The Pursuit of Absolute Integrity: How Corruption Controls Make Government Ineffective (1996) references the to critique overzealous measures that followed, arguing they burdened without proportionally curbing graft. Manes' story has occasionally surfaced in broader cultural depictions of 1980s New York dysfunction. A 2018 retrospective in New York magazine frames his suicide as a pivotal episode in the city's annals of public malfeasance, contrasting his earlier image as a wheeler-dealer borough president with the personal toll of exposure. More recently, analyses of era-specific power dynamics, such as in Sean Deveney's Glitz (2018), situate Manes amid figures like and to illustrate how Queens' clubhouse culture intertwined with and municipal influence peddling. These accounts emphasize the scandal's enduring role as a symbol of unchecked ambition in post-fiscal-crisis governance.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/14/nyregion/political-power-influence-lost-swirling-city-scandal-manes-s-life-rapid-ascent.html
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/23/archives/manes-is-sworn-as-queens-head.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/22/archives/manes-quiet-about-any-plans-to-change-party-organization-dominance.html
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/26/archives/manes-a-power-in-city-weighs-political-options.html
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/27/nyregion/the-power-of-patronage.html
  6. https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/08/14/corruption-scandal-donny-manes-and-the-public-trough/
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/02/nyregion/the-corruption-scandal-manes-mystery-is-hub-of-8-inquiries.html
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/14/nyregion/manes-case-a-chronology.html
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/16/weekinreview/the-manes-affair-a-deepening-scandal-has-a-city-off-balance.html
  10. https://nymag.com/news/features/scandals/donny-manes-2012-4/
  11. https://www.geni.com/people/Donald-Manes/6000000007035974544
  12. https://www.villagevoice.com/a-profile-in-corruption-the-double-life-of-donald-manes/
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/15/archives/queens-councilman-to-succeed-leviss-queens-councilman-to-succeed.html
  14. https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/1985-manes-sets-stage-for-final-desperate-act/article_66dac727-6a05-5bc1-9d0a-c76bef2a4777.html
  15. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/back-stories-donald-manes/
  16. https://www.qchron.com/editions/central/from-stardom-to-scandal-in-1986-the-tragedy-of-donald-manes/article_d25b46d8-e786-11e8-a000-23b85b914208.html
  17. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/28/archives/manes-nominated-in-queens.html
  18. https://www.qchron.com/qboro/stories/queens-timeline/article_59463ebe-1949-5eb0-9234-846968f7d4d8.html
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/29/archives/manes-emerges-asmaiorpower-manes-is-emerging-as-a-major-power.html
  20. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1986/03/31/loyalties-2
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/12/nyregion/manes-bids-to-end-his-feud-with-li-business-leaders.html
  22. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/12/11/Real-estate-developer-Donald-Trump-has-proposed-building-an/4573471589200/
  23. https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-507-pg1hh6d081
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/17/archives/manes-4th-entry-in-governor-race-opens-tv-drive-and-says-candidacy.html
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/11/archives/manes-out-backs-carey-for-governor.html
  26. https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/12/the-power-brokers/
  27. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1986/02/03/unholy-alliances
  28. https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/commentary-tammany-potomac-20002160.php
  29. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/17/House-burglar-triggers-sweeping-New-York-corruption-probe/3405548222400/
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/nyregion/total-of-bribes-for-parking-contracts-estimated-to-be-as-high-as-2-million.html
  31. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/26/nyregion/informer-in-parking-bureau-inquiry-said-to-know-more-than-he-has-told.html
  32. https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0131/ayork.html
  33. https://www.americanheritage.com/corrupting-new-york-city
  34. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/03/22/NY-corruption-scandal-deepens-after-of-Manes-suicide/2226511851600/
  35. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1986/03/03/like-it-was
  36. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-14-mn-20588-story.html
  37. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/31/A-bribery-scandal-in-Mayor-Edward-Kochs-administration-Friday/7846507531600/
  38. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/08/us/queens-consultant-convicted-in-cable-tv-bribery-scheme.html
  39. https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/11/14/violations-donny-manes-january-march-1986-chapter-468/
  40. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/23/nyregion/us-says-manes-instigated-bribery-plan-at-city-agency.html
  41. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/04/20/Donald-Manes-who-resigned-as-Queens-borough-president-amid/9918514357200/
  42. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/12/nyregion/manes-resigns-2-queens-posts-citing-burden.html
  43. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/02/12/Top-city-official-resigns-in-scandal/7851508568400/
  44. https://www.qgazette.com/articles/borough-presidents-illustrious-controversial-history/
  45. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/15/nyregion/manes-s-death-a-frantic-call-a-fatal-thrust.html
  46. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/14/obituaries/manes-is-a-suicide-stabbing-himself-at-home-in-queens.html
  47. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/03/14/manes-commits-suicide/f7f909b4-148e-47df-825c-101655d141a3/
  48. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/03/15/death-adds-tragedy-to-a-scandal/
  49. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/18/nyregion/how-manes-s-death-affects-inquiries.html?pagewanted=print
  50. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doi/images/content/timeline/DOI.McGinley.pdf
  51. https://www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/how-corrupt-is-new-york-anyway
  52. https://ethics.ny.gov/history-new-york-state-ethics-and-lobbying-commissions-1906-present
  53. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/23/nyregion/the-corruption-scandals-what-went-wrong-and-their-impact-on-the-system.html
  54. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/arizona-free-enterprise-and-future-public-financing
  55. https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-yorks-campaign-finance-delusion
  56. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/17/nyregion/manes-is-recalled-at-rites.html
  57. https://www.villagevoice.com/an-anniversary-the-manes-scandals/
  58. https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Pursuit_of_Absolute_Integrity.html?id=QJaPPwAACAAJ
  59. https://www.nydailynews.com/2018/06/23/trump-rudy-lt-ed-doc-take-center-stage-in-new-book-revisiting-nyc-in-the-crazy-80s/
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