ASPA, Public Service and Democracy – Now More Than Ever

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Stephen R. Rolandi
July 1, 2024

Earlier this month, the New York Metropolitan Chapter held its 2024 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner at Pace University’s New York City campus.

I was asked to provide welcoming remarks prior to the formal program; below is a modified version of those remarks:

“On behalf of the faculty, staff, students and administration of the Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, I extend warm greetings and best wishes, as the public service community of the greater New York Metropolitan area gathers for ASPA-New York’s annual meeting.

I also want to thank Pace University and its Department of Public Administration for again hosting the New York Chapter’s Annual Meeting.

Founded in 1965, John Jay has had a deep and abiding relationship to public administration and the broader public it serves. John Jay today is an extraordinarily diverse college with an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students, including undergraduate and graduate degree programs in public administration, public policy, inspection and oversight and related fields.

In addition, over the years, John Jay has also enjoyed a solid relationship with ASPA and its New York Metropolitan Chapter.

ASPA was founded in 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. as the most prominent, broadly-based professionally oriented association in the field of public administration and public policy. Soon after its founding, local chapters were begun in: Sacramento, Richmond, Minneapolis, Washington, DC and New York City.

ASPA’s membership, back then, as it does today, draws its membership from:

• Scholars and teachers of public administration;
• Practitioners found in every area, branch and sector of government, as well as public service broadly defined, including the not-for-profit sector, health care, social enterprise and community-based organizations;
• Students—the future of our profession—enrolled in public administration programs; and
• Civic-minded citizens and retirees

ASPA’s mission is to advance the science, processes and art of public administration, as well as to advocate for excellence in public service.

We are organized through local chapters, specialty sections, regional conferences, and the annual national conference which brings together academicians, practitioners and students.

As a broad-based organization, what brings us together as an organization is our sense of public service and desire to achieve the public good.

When we were founded 85 years ago during the New Deal administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, our nation was emerging from the depths of the Great Depression; the Second World War began with the invasion of Poland by the military forces of the Soviet Union and the Third Reich—the “winds of war” would soon engulf the entire world in mankind’s bloodiest conflict; and the “final solution” (the Holocaust) had already begun.

Some of the founders of ASPA—the “greatest generation” such as Luther Gulick, James D. Webb, Louis Brownlow and others played key roles in the New Deal administration as well as the war effort.

Our Chapter’s first president was West Point graduate and head of the U.S. Works Projects Administration for New York City General Brehon “Bill” Somervell. During the Second World War, he served as Commanding General for the U.S. Army’s Service Forces, responsible for the logistical support operations in the various theaters of the war.

Government back then, was seen as a necessary partner in society to winning the war effort and securing the peace.

Ed Koch, Mayor of New York City from 1978-89, once remarked: “there’s nothing comparable to public service—public service is the most noble profession if it’s done honestly and if it’s done well.”

I believe that statement was very true back then, and even more so today.

This year marks our 60^th quadrennial Presidential election. Indeed, more than 2 billion voters in 50 countries around the world, will, according to the Center for American Progress, participate in elections.

In our own country, one presidential primary candidate earlier this year remarked that “the world is on fire” and that democracy was under attack.

Two American historians—Jon Meacham and Michael Beschloss—have written extensively, warning that the 2024 election that could very well be one of the most critical elections in our history. Professor Beschloss has stressed the importance of democracy before it becomes history, while Professor Mecham has reminded us that the current political turmoil is not unprecedented, and we as a nation have survived times worse than the current one.

But this is not a time to rest on our laurels.

And this is where I believe ASPA can play a vital role in helping to preserve our democracy and constitutional republic, as advocates for democracy.

This can be done in many ways; let me suggest a few:

• Increase programing—at the national and regional level and local chapters that highlights the importance of the constitution and our democratic republic;
• Increase efforts to publicize ASPA’s Code of Ethics as a model of best practices not only in government, but the not-for-profit sector as well;
• Continue to be innovative; for example, next fall, the New York Metropolitan Chapter will partner in the launch of the Virtual Museum of Public Service, which will provide digital representations of significant works that describes the expansive, and often unrecognized, achievements and sacrifices of public servants;
• Look for new ways to help mentor the next generation of public sector leaders – public administration students;
• Continue to build partnerships not only with other professional associations, but also “good government” organizations that promote civics and democracy;

Abraham Lincoln wrote in his 1862 message to Congress that America is the world’s last best hope for democracy.

We in ASPA have an opportunity to play our part. Let’s do it together.”

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Author: Stephen R. Rolandi is a graduate of New York University and its Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. His career has spanned the Federal, state and municipal levels of government, as well as several not-for-profit organizations. Currently an adjunct professor of public administration at Pace University and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, he has held numerous leadership positions in ASPA. He is a frequent guest speaker, writer and commentator on public affairs issues affecting the United States and New York. He can be reached at:  [email protected] or [email protected] or 212.237.8000

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