Bernard Healy (1856 – October 22, 1916) was a Los Angeles City Council member who was known for his attempt in 1905 to legislate against landlords who refused to rent to families with children, for his support of paid holidays for city workers in the parks and streets departments, and for his large family.

Personal

Healy was born in Wheeling, West Virginia and was married in Arizona about 1880, becoming the father of eight to ten children, including a set of twins. He was a

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

in the United States Army "during many of the uprisings along the frontier."

Government service

Healy was a City Council member between 1904 and 1909,''Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials 1850–1938,'' Los Angeles Municipal Reference Library, March 1938, reprinted 1946 when he was described as a "kindly, good-natured man of large family and patriotic impulses." The ''Los Angeles Herald'' said of him in 1907 that he was "the most picturesque character in the present council. He is known as " Buttermilk Barney," as he is an

abstainer Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate in ...

, is always clad in green and wears no neckties.""Suggest Healy for Police Chief," ''Los Angeles Herald,'' December 1, 1907, page 5
/ref> He represented the Eighth Ward on the east side of the city, which the '' Times'' called "the ward with the greatest percentages of the saloon vote," the newspaper noting that Healy "was an uncompromising Republican" in "the strongest Democratic ward in the city." In 1905, Healy was the author of a successful move in the City Council to give outdoor parks and streets employees half a day off on Saturdays and

legal holidays A public holiday, national holiday, or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year. Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history, ...

, the same as employees who worked in the

City Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

. He also authored an

ordinance Ordinance may refer to: Law * Ordinance (Belgium), a law adopted by the Brussels Parliament or the Common Community Commission * Ordinance (India), a temporary law promulgated by the President of India on recommendation of the Union Cabinet * ...

, adopted unanimously, that made it unlawful to grant a saloon license anywhere within 600 feet of a

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

building. In 1907 he introduced an

that would have made it a

misdemeanor A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour elsewhere) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than adm ...

for a landlord to refuse to rent to a family with children. He said: Healy's first attempt was derailed by the city attorney, who advised that it would probably be unconstitutional. The councilman then amended his proposal to instead simply set a higher license fee on landlords who bar children, an exclusionary practice, he said, that placed "a premium on race suicide, and I'm going to fight it.""Looking Out for Babies," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 2, 1907, page II-1
/ref> The council approved the ordinance, but the city attorney again ruled the idea to be unconstitutional. On December 7, 1909, Los Angeles changed its voting for City Council members from individual

wards Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...

to all-city voting, with the top nine candidates being elected. Healy took the eleventh spot and so left the council on December 10, 1909. Afterward, in an article examining what the outgoing City Council members would do since "they lost their salaries of $100 a month and perquisites," the ''Los Angeles Herald'' said that "Barney Healy's income . . . seems to have been spent freely. Healy's faults did not include niggardliness, and no tale of hard luck ever failed to reach his pocketbook." Healy ran for the council again in 1910 and was defeated. An unsuccessful effort was made to have the City Council appoint him as an officer in the street-cleaning department. In 1912 he was made a

bailiff A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French ''baillis'', ''bail'' "custody") is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offi ...

and

deputy sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

in a

Superior Court In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal legal cases. A superior court is "superior" in relation to a court with limited jurisdiction (see small claims court), which is restricted to civil ...

at a salary of $100 a month."25 Years Ago Today," ''Los Angeles Herald-Express,'' March 15, 1937
/ref>

Notes and references

{{LosAngelesCityCouncil1889-1909 Los Angeles City Council members California Republicans 1856 births 1916 deaths