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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | Michael A. Benjamin |
| Address |
Bronx, New York , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
May 02, 1958
(65 years)
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| Contributor | nystate63 |
| Last Modifed | RBH
May 28, 2020 12:39am |
| Tags |
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| Info | Truth, hard work and love of his wife are the bedrock values that inform his work in the Assembly.
Assemblyman Michael Benjamin puts his years of community, government and legislative experience to work for his constituents and has proven that he knows how to get results. He fights to protect middle class families, children, the elderly, and our hospitals, schools, colleges and community agencies. He has successfully obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds for Bronx schools, community-based organizations, hospitals and senior centers. Benjamin passed legislation last year which protects applicants with criminal records for a license to barber or practice cosmetology from being automatically disqualified by the Secretary of State. Assemblyman Benjamin was one of the first elected officials from New York State to endorse President Barack Obama in August, 2007.
Assemblyman Michael Benjamin wrote the State’s first law protecting Muslim consumers of Halal foods, strengthened state laws against sexual predators, and authored changes in the state’s banking and election laws. He chairs the Subcommittee on Regulated Mortgage Lenders. Benjamin has also improved homeownership opportunities, created additional affordable housing units, and delivered millions of dollars in additional state aid for our schools.
Benjamin works with tenant associations and collaborates with developers ensuring that more affordable housing is built. His work with community organizations on improving education, fighting environmental racism, keeping trucks off residential streets, securing a community asthma education grant to improve health care and making our neighborhoods safer has resulted in a higher quality of life for his district. And he has drafted legislation protecting our families from preventable toxic hazards.
Assemblyman Benjamin is the prime sponsor of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. He is a leader in funding women’s health initiatives, after-school programs, summer jobs, TAP/HEOP scholarships, protecting crime victims, and lifting the cap on charter schools. In 2006, he co-sponsored legislation repealing the statute of limitations on rape crimes. To make communities safer, he sponsored laws to increase penalties for domestic violence and to keep repeat violent felons off our streets.
Prior to his 2003 election, Michael was the first African American to head the Bronx Board of Elections. As an Assembly member, his work on the Election Law committee led him to introduce successful legislation that establishes a nondiscriminatory administrative complaint procedure for voters. He also co-sponsored legislation to enact the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2005.
Assemblyman Benjamin was recently named Legislator of the Year by the American Red Cross/Bronx Chapter. In 2007, Michael and his wife, Kennedy, were profiled as one of NYC’s Power Couples in City Hall magazine. The effective use of his personal faith in making public policy has garnered awards from the Ebenezer UPC, the Islamic Cultural Center, the New Covenant Board of Christian Education, and the Word of Life International Church.
Assemblyman Benjamin’s work in support of summer youth employment was recently recognized by United Neighborhood Houses and SYEP supporters. He won accolades from the Public Employees Federation, the New York State Correction Officers PBA, the Bronx Branch NAACP, New Tang Dynasty Television, The Friends of Crotona Park, La Gran Parada Dominicana del Bronx, 44th Precinct Community Council, Bathgate Industrial Park LDC, and First Contact Inc.
Michael and Kennedy were married in November 2003. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Syracuse University and is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. Kennedy is an author and entrepreneur.
Assemblyman Benjamin’s Standing Committee Assignments for 2009/2010 are: Banks; Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Correction; Election Law; Housing; Libraries and Education Technology.
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