Herbert Stupp
Herbert W. Stupp

Links to some of Herbert Stupp's articles:

New York Post
Book Review of Reflections on Politics, Liberty and the State by James L. Buckley
(Encounter Books)

Newsday Op-Ed
NY Pensions Need Reform Now





Herbert W. Stupp
The Urban Conservative

Herb Stupp, an Emmy award-winning television editorialist early in his career, has been one of the most effective government appointees in New York City.

From 1994 to 2002, Herb Stupp served as the fourth Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) and as a member of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's Cabinet. As Commissioner of the DFTA, Stupp supervised the largest Area Agency on Aging in the United States, managing a budget of over $250 million and overseeing programs that served 1.3 million elderly New Yorkers.

Referring to then-Commissioner Stupp's contributions, Giuliani said while presenting his Mayor's Management Report: "I don't think the DFTA has ever been better run, and I don't think there's ever been a time in which the senior citizens of this City feel the commitment of the City more than they do now."
By late 2001, Herb had succeeded in privatizing nearly 90 percent of his department's budget.

On September 11, 2001, Commissioner Stupp's dedication led him to personally ensure the safety of key staff, which brought him to Mayor Giuliani's temporary headquarters soon after the attacks. Stupp was the first non-emergency services Commissioner on duty with the Mayor and his deputies. He personally visited programs in Manhattan, even on September 11, to check on the delivery of services and the needs of the programs and staff members.

As he was leaving the Commissioner's office in 2002, the Queens Gazette praised Stupp's "…successful tenure," and a Sunday column in the daily Staten Island Advance simply proclaimed: "This Commissioner Will be Missed."

Later in 2002, Stupp was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, a Catholic-affiliated nonprofit organization licensed by the State of New York to provide residential and foster boarding home care and adoption services for children and teens, as well as residences for developmentally disabled adults. During his tenure, Stupp brought new programs to the $58 million agency, tackled nagging deficits, and garnered increased coverage in the electronic, print, and Internet media.

Also in 2002, Stupp was recognized by the President of Germany with the "Order of Merit, First Class," presented by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York.

Prior to becoming Commissioner of the NYC-DFTA, Stupp was Acting Regional Representative for U.S. Education Secretary Lamar Alexander. Based in New York City, Stupp was responsible for Federal Region II education initiatives throughout New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Among his accomplishments, he initiated over 200 "America 2000" community partnerships, and he persuaded business leaders, educators, elected officials, parents, and local media to develop strategies to embrace the six National Education Goals.

As Regional Director of the federal ACTION agency, he administered nearly 200 programs across Region II, serving older people and youth with special needs and attracting over 39,000 volunteers annually. ACTION, the federal agency for volunteer service, is now known as the Corporation for National & Community Service. Stupp was responsible for offices in New York City, Trenton, Albany, and San Juan, P.R.

With support from Tom Pauken, who was appointed Director of ACTION by President Reagan, Stupp de-funded confrontational and poorly managed grantees, which were often left-wing organizations funded during the Carter administration.

From 1975 to 1981, before entering executive public service, Stupp was Editorial Director at WOR-TV in New York City, where his work was recognized with an Emmy award, two Freedoms Foundation awards, and citations from the New York State Broadcasters Association. Stupp was elected by his peers to the Board of Directors of the National Broadcast Editorial Association, where he helped to draft a Code of Ethics for television and radio editorialists. He began his professional career as Legislative Assistant to State Senator Fred J. Eckert of Rochester.

Since leaving the Little Flower agency in 2009, Stupp has founded Herbert W. Stupp & Co., to provide high-caliber advocacy for nonprofits and other organizations, especially with the media and elected and appointed officials.

In 2011 and 2012, Stupp was a graduate and undergraduate Adjunct Lecturer in Baruch College's School of Public Affairs.

Recent columns and essays written by Herb have been published in the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and Newsday.

Stupp earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. John's University. During his federal service, he also taught at St. John's University as an Adjunct Professor of Government and Politics. In 1996, his alma mater awarded him the President's Medal, after which he was the Commencement Speaker at graduation ceremonies. In 2003, Stupp was again a commencement speaker at St. John's University, this time at the Queens campus, keynoting the St. John's College (Liberal Arts and Sciences) ceremony. He has also spoken at school commencements at Niagara University and Hunter College.

Herb Stupp is married, has two adult children, and lives in New York City.

All columns are copyrighted ©2015 Herbert W. Stupp. All rights reserved.

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Archives: The Urban Conservative

• March 5, 2015 –
Senator Jim Buckley’s Book Pinpoints How to Save Congress from Itself

• November 8, 2014 –
Big Tent: A Book Review

• August 5, 2014 –
Imagine No City Income Tax

• September 26, 2013 –
Reagan Advisor Proposes Plan to Restore America: Book Review of Donald Devine's America's Way Back

• July 1, 2013 –
The Discarding of 3,000 Years of Tradition:
A Review of Herb London's Latest Book

 

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