Career
Born in the early 1890s on the Lower East Side of New York City, Joseph was the grandson of Rabbi Jacob Joseph, one of the most famous rabbis of turn of the 19th to 20th century New York. Lazarus remained a Jew even as a high ranking politician. As City Comptroller Lazarus campaigned for the Kosher Meat Laws in New York City. Lazarus attended New York University, where he earned his law degree in 1912. After practicing law for a number of years, in 1931, he worked as a deputy assistant to the New York State Attorney General in the Security Frauds Bureau. Three years later, he was elected to the New York State Senate for the first time, then was re-elected another five times. He also served as the New York City Comptroller from 1946 to 1954.
As reported in the New York Times, December 29, 1933, in Joseph's first term as State Senator, he was elected in a special election in the Twenty-first Senatorial District, the Bronx, (to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry G. Schackno, who was chosen City Court justice at the November election). This election was a pivotal one for the Democratic party in New York, as his victory assured Democratic control of the State Senate, 26-25.
The New York Times praised Joseph after his election to New York City Comptroller in 1945, stating that "In the eleven years that he served as a member of the State Senate, Lazarus Joseph earned a reputation as an expert in budgetary and financial matters and as an authority on real estate law and finance." The November 7, 1945 article goes on to note that he also earned "...a wide reputation on budget matters in State Senate sponsored mortgage legislation." This opinion was echoed for former New York State Governor Herbert H. Lehman who called Lazarus Joseph "...an industrious, conscientious and far-sighted public servant." (New York Times, October 26, 1949)
During his terms as Comptroller, Joseph tackled budgetary issues facing the City, facing many years in which the City prospered, and others that the City did not fare as well. New York City had a series of bond issues during the latter years of Joseph's tenure, and he was reported to have traveled to Albany to request the Governor's assistance in funding the City's budgetary deficits. Some of the issues affecting Joseph that were widely reported included keeping public transportation fares limited ten cents, and the attempted closing of WNYC to curtail budget constraints upon the City.
As City Comptroller, Joseph participated in the groundbreaking of the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
During the 1950 mayoral election, Joseph declared that Acting Mayor Vincent Impellitteri - who was running for the Mayoral post - "had neither the experience nor ability to be Mayor of New York City...," and lacked "sufficient experience" with only two months in the post, and called Impellitteri's Estimate Board record "blank." Nonetheless, Impellitteri went on to be re-elected. (New York Times, November 4, 1950)
Although Joseph reportedly sided in the Board of Estimate with Mayor Impellitteri during the latter's term in office, Joseph supported Borough President Robert F. Wagner Jr. of Manhattan for the Democratic nomination for Mayor in the 1953 primary election. Correct in his prediction, Joseph called Wagner a "sure winner."
Considered a kingpin in the New York political arena, Joseph was lobbied for support of major projects affecting the City of New York. Eleanor Roosevelt mentions meeting with Lazarus Joseph (April 4, 1953, as quoted in "My Day," Mrs. Roosevelt's diary) to advocate for the preservation of social welfare projects.
Upon the close of his eight years in office as Comptroller, Lazarus Joseph left the City with cautionary advice; "that it is easy to borrow, but the reckoning always must be met in the expense budget, and by the taxpayer." (New York Times, November 18, 1953). His warning was not heeded, as debt load led the City into bankruptcy some twenty years later, when President Gerald Ford refused to assist New York with its deficit.
The New York Times reported that Joseph became ill Thursday, May 19, 1966, and died of a stroke at Beth Israel Hospital, Tuesday, May 23, 1966.
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