Public Employee Press

One of us: new Assembly Speaker a former Local 1407 member

Former Local 1407 member Carl E. Heastie was elected speaker of the New York State Assembly, becoming the first African-American and the youngest to hold this office.

The Bronx native and graduate of SUNY Stony Brook and Baruch College was elected on Feb. 3, following the resignation of former Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Heastie won his Assembly seat in 2000. He represents the 83rd Assembly District, which includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Edenwald, Eastchester and Baychester.

"For a Bronx boy who majored in applied math and statistics, this is one probability that I could have never forecast,'' Heastie said after his election. He also demanded more transparency in Albany, saying, "For years now, there's been a call for bringing sunlight to the Capitol. And the time is here for us to act."

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido applauded the move by the State Assembly, saying, "Speaker Heastie's experience as a city employee and a union member gives him special insight into the needs of our members and our communities."

Heastie wasted no time in listing his priorities. Heastie announced that first on this list he will be working on renewing and strengthening rent regulations, due to expire in June.

As chairman of the Assembly's Labor Committee, Heastie has been a strong advocate for working families. He has helped get more funding for the construction of new schools in his district and for job and computer training programs. The Assembly member also helped negotiate an increase in the minimum wage and worked tirelessly towards raising unemployment benefits, which were finally increased last year, for the first time since 1998.

"We are very proud of our former member and we are sure he will do a great job," said Local 1407 President and DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin.

— AA