History Brooklyn Boro

May 8, birthdays for Bill de Blasio, Enrique Iglesias, Bill Cowher

Brooklyn Today

May 8, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio celebrates his birthday today. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 127th day of the year.

Notable people born on this day include New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Enrique Iglesias, among others.

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “16 Mayors Seek More Housing Aid.”

The article focused on a group of mayors rallying for better public housing conditions.

“The mayors stated that they are ‘concerned with wiping out the blight of our slums,’ and that they are watching with grave interest the housing program now before Congress. This program, they say, falls ‘far short’ of meeting America’s housing needs,” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actor STEPHEN AMELL, who was born in 1981; author DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, who was born in 1926; guitarist JOE BONAMASSA, who was born in 1977; sportscaster, former football coach and player BILL COWHER, who was born in 1957; New York City Mayor BILL DE BLASIO, who was born in 1961; actor ELYES GABEL, who was born in 1983; actress MELISSA GILBERT, who was born in 1964; singer ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, who was born in 1975; actor and director DAVID KEITH, who was born in 1954; race car driver BOBBY LABONTE, who was born in 1964; Hall of Fame football player RONNIE LOTT, who was born in 1959; author THOMAS PYNCHON, who was born in 1937; and singer TONI TENNILLE, who was born in 1943.

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MOUNT PELÉE ERUPTED ON THIS DAY IN 1902. In the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century, Mount Pelée erupted on the tiny French Caribbean island of Martinique. In minutes a cloud of ashes, gases and rocks destroyed the thriving port city of Saint-Pierre, killing all but one of its 30,000 inhabitants.

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JEAN-HENRI DUNANT WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1828. The author and philanthropist was the founder of the Red Cross. His book “Un Souvenir de Solferino” (1862) is both a firsthand recounting of one of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century and a proposal to establish relief aid to wartime wounded. The conference that resulted as a response to its call to action had two significant results: the founding of the Red Cross and the implementation of the international treaty known as the Geneva Convention. Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. Dunant died in Switzerland in 1910.

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ROBERT JOHNSON WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1911. The master blues guitarist was murdered at age 27, by a man who many believe was a jealous husband, in 1938 in Mississippi. Johnson was a guitarist, singer and songwriter of broad influence. He developed a unique guitar style of such skill that it was said he acquired his ability by selling his soul to the devil. His only two solo recording sessions captured the classics “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Cross Road Blues,” “Me and the Devil Blues,” “Dust My Broom” and others. Johnson was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

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THE BROOKLYN HISTORICAL SOCIETY (BHS) WILL HOST “100 CLARK STREET: A Case Study in Navigating Building Codes, Gravity and Landmark Preservation” tonight at 6:30 p.m. The behind-the-scenes discussion with Margaret Streicker Porres, owner of the long-abandoned mansion at 100 Clark St., and architect Tom van den Bout, will discuss how they are saving the landmarked, 150-year-old building from certain demolishment. Notable preservation activist and Historic Districts Council Executive Director Simeon Bankoff will lead the discussion and explore their long-winded path to restore what was once a stunning building just from a small selection of archival photos, unveil the challenges they faced along the way and examine what made their efforts successful against all odds. For more information, visit brooklynhistory.org.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“There is nothing wrong with listening. You can listen to people; you can hear people’s concerns. You can keep an open mind and still be perfectly strong.” — NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was born in this day in 1961