The son of an Italian immigrant, Fiorello Laguardia would guide New York City during the Great Depression and initiate reforms to combat poverty and rebuild a decaying infrastructure, laying the ground work for today’s New York City.

Born in New York City, Laguardia spent most of his childhood in the West. Later his family would move back to Italy, but Laguardia would return to New York City. He attended New York University Law School at night and worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island during the day.

Affectionately known as Little Flower, Laguardia was one of the stormiest and most colorful American political figures in history. Serving in the House of Representatives for 14 years, Laguardia suffered two defeats before capturing the mayoral office he then held for three terms. Elected in 1933, he would permanently shake up the Tammany Hall political stronghold. Along with President Roosevelt he would disassemble the corrupt patronage machine, and give to the people what they needed with no strings attached.

The poster child for Roosevelt’s New Deal, Laguardia, a Republican, secured massive funding from a friendly administration in Washington. With the money, Laguardia proceeded to completely change the landscape of New York. He constructed bridges, sewer systems, parks, schools, hospitals, health centers and airports, including the famous Laguardia airport.

Restoring the faith of the ordinary citizen, he tore down slums and offered the poor public housing. He centralized transportation and subsidized artists and musicians. Cleaning up the city from “corrupted moral influences” he shut down burlesque houses, declared war on gamblers and cleared racy magazines from the newsstands under the powers of “garbage collection.”

Known for his theatrical spirit he will be remembered as the mayor who read over the radio to the kids the comic strip Dick Tracy during a city-wide newspaper strike.

Laguardia, one of the most dynamic political reformers during the 30’s, the fearless little man with progressive ideas, died on September 22, 1945, of cancer. Thousands crowded to file past his coffin and lined the streets on the route to Woodside Cemetery in Queens with crowds so silent along the way that the click of the traffic lights changing could be heard.