City Politics
Although national politics played a large role in shaping the world of the play, the politics of New York City were just as influential.
Edward Koch
Koch served as Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989
His first terms were seen as the brightest of the three. He sought to bring the city back to prosperity with business-focused policies. He was somewhat successful and was even recognized by the Reagan administration for furthering the American economy.
During his third term, his faults were more evident. He was criticized for his lack of urgency when approaching the HIV and AIDS epidemic. He also experienced a widening gap between him and Black New Yorkers. He traced this back to his choice to shut down the Sydenham Hospital in Harlem, a decision that saved him money but kept many Black medical practitioners from being hired elsewhere. The public was also unhappy with his decision to purge anti-poverty programs.
Portrait of former New York City mayor, Edward Koch
Portrait of former New York City mayor, David Dinkins
David Dinkins
From 1990 to 1993, David Dinkins was the Mayor of New York City.
During the election period, he pulled together minorities and labor unions to achieve the win. He ran on policies surrounding the protection of queer people and people with disabilities, healthcare, and improving housing.
His win came with a massive amount of work once he achieved it. He inherited growing budget deficits and crime problems. He responded to the crime by multiplying police recruitment to record levels. The AIDS epidemic and drugs were commanding the streets, leading the country to think of the city as a cesspool.
The Corporate World
During the time of the play, New York City was home to a booming corporate world.
Former New York mayor Edward Koch had a hand in the increase of the corporate world during the 1980s. His fiscal policy and business-friendly policies blended well with the Reagan administration, so much so that Reagan recognized New York as a model for American cities.
Koch is often credited with boosting New York’s white-collar sectors due to his energetic attitude toward the matter. Due to this push, Wall Street markets soared through the 1980s, before the eventual crash, leading to a recession. Manhattan saw nearly 45 million square feet of new commercial real estate.
There was a boom in new jobs surrounding financial services and other service-based industries such as law, management, and accounting. This broad pool of opportunities brought in employees from all over the world, making New York a hub for international business.
Photo of former New York City mayor Edward Koch striking the New York Stock Exchange opening bell
What constitutes working a corporate job?
A corporate job involves working within a large business that typically involves office work with defined roles and responsibilities, preestablished structures, and formal procedures.
Within these businesses are often smaller departments dedicated to upholding the overall mission of the organization. The tasks of these departments focus on planning and analysis, rather than physical labor.
What is the draw of corporate work?
There are many things that the corporate world provides. For one, many of the jobs include benefits. Employees have access to healthcare plans and wellness programs. The jobs also have clear schedules, making it easy to incorporate them into family life.
The competitive nature of the jobs also gives employees a chance to climb the ladder to the top.
In addition to all of this, corporations can often tap into advanced technology and the international sphere. This was huge in the 1980s and 1990s, as it gave Americans a sense of pride in themselves and their country.