MATTER OF MAYE v. Lindsay
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York · 1972-03-06 · cited 12×
This case was an Article 78 proceeding brought by police, fire, and housing authority organizations challenging New York City's implementation of the federal Model Cities Program, which created special civil service titles such as Aide (M.C.), Patrolman (M.C.), and Fireman (M.C.) with examinations and appointments limited exclusively to residents of three designated Model Cities areas (Central Brooklyn, Harlem-East Harlem, and South Bronx). The court granted the petition and invalidated the examinations for these titles along with the associated residence requirements. The core reasoning was that civil service appointments to city-wide departments must comply with merit and fitness standards, and without explicit statutory authorization, residence restrictions cannot be imposed on areas smaller than the relevant political subdivision, as established by longstanding precedent.