James J. Lanzetta

James Joseph Lanzetta (December 21, 1894 — October 27, 1956) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Born in New York City, he attended the public schools there, then graduating from the Columbia University School of Engineering in 1917. He then graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 1924.

Lanzetta served in the United States Army during World War I as a private in Company C., Three Hundred and Second Engineers, and as a sergeant first class in the First Air Service Mechanics Regiment, serving overseas from February 1918 to July 1919.

He worked as an engineer and salesman in New York City from 1919 to 1922. An assistant supervisor in the Department of Markets from 1922 to 1925, he was admitted to the bar in 1925 and commenced the practice of law in New York City. He was a member of the New York City Board of Aldermen from January 1932 to March 1933.

Lanzetta was elected as a Democrat to the 73rd Congress. He defeated Congressman and soon-to-be Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia. He represented the 20th district (then East Harlem) and served from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935. In 1934, in a close race with Vito Marcantonio, he lost his bid for re-election to the 74th Congress. In 1936, he did win a seat in the 75th Congress (causing Marcantonio to suffer his first defeat in a long Congressional career), serving from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1939. He ran again in 1938 and 1940, losing to Marcantonio both times.

After his 1938 defeat for re-election, he was appointed legislative representative of Puerto Rico in Washington, D.C. Although he had never visited the island, he proved popular with the its political leaders of all parties and with the Puerto Rican residents of his neighborhood. He also resumed the practice of law. On July 2, 1947, Mayor William O'Dwyer appointed him city magistrate of New York City to fill a vacancy; later that month he was appointed to a full ten-year term. As the result of a one-day shortage of magistrates in March 1948, Lanzetta attracted notice by presiding in five courts in five hours and disposing of 500 cases, 400 of which were in Downtown Traffic Court. He served as city magistrate until May 26, 1948, when Mayor Wagner appointed him to a ten-year term as a justice of the Domestic Relations Court of New York City. He served in this capacity until his death in New York City on the night of October 27, 1956 while visiting at the Greystone Hotel on Broadway. He was survived by his widow, Ethel, three brothers, Patsy, Dr. Louis, and John, and two sisters, Angelina and Regina. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York.

References

*CongBio|L000091
*"James Lanzetta, Justice, 61, Dead"; "The New York Times", October 29, 1956.