James F. Brennan
Encyclopedia
James F. Brennan is an American
politician
. He is a member of the New York State Assembly
, representing the 44th Assembly District (Brooklyn). He is a Democrat
and also represents the Working Families Party
.
. In 1992, due to redistricting, Brennan’s district radically changed. He subsequently ran and won election from the new 44th Assembly District, which includes the neighborhoods of Flatbush
, Kensington
, Park Slope and Windsor Terrace.
He has chaired four committee
s during his career: six years as Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, one year as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation, and Chair of the Assembly Committee on Cities. He is currently the Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.
Brennan has won three national award
s as a State legislator. The first, in 1996, was given by the National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill for Brennan’s leadership in the fight for Parity in Mental and Physical Health Benefits. The second was given by the National Conference of State Legislators in 2007, for an investigative report directed by Brennan as Chair of the Committee on Investigation. The report concerned how the Pataki
administration undermined services for the severely disabled as a result of the closure of a Medicaid
office serving those clients in the fall of 2004.
In 1998 and 1999, Brennan helped win funding for 5,000 new units of housing for the mentally ill in New York State. As Chair of the Cities Committee, Brennan authored two new laws in 2007, to improve public health
and safety in construction
and development in New York City
—one cracking down on the filing of fraudulent building plans to the New York City Department of Buildings
, and the other compelling the acquisition of insurance
for excavations that might damage adjacent properties.
Brennan also helped create the Restore New York program, a statewide effort to help distressed areas in cities by having the State pay to clear abandoned or vacant residential or commercial property
with $300 million in funding.
Brennan is also the author of the Expansion of the Real Property Partial Tax Exemption to low and moderate-income senior citizen
s in co-ops and condos.
He is an attorney
, a graduate of Yale University
and Brooklyn Law School
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, representing the 44th Assembly District (Brooklyn). He is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and also represents the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
.
Biography
Brennan was elected to the Assembly in 1984, from the 51st Assembly District, which included the neighborhoods of Park Slope and Sunset ParkSunset Park
-Places in the United States:*Sunset Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, a park*Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood and namesake park*Sunset Park, Santa Monica, California, a neighborhood...
. In 1992, due to redistricting, Brennan’s district radically changed. He subsequently ran and won election from the new 44th Assembly District, which includes the neighborhoods of Flatbush
Flatbush
Flatbush or Flat Bush can refer to a number of places:*Flatbush, Brooklyn, a community of Brooklyn, New York City, United States*Flatbush, New Zealand, a suburb of Manukau City, New Zealand...
, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, Park Slope and Windsor Terrace.
He has chaired four committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
s during his career: six years as Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, one year as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation, and Chair of the Assembly Committee on Cities. He is currently the Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.
Brennan has won three national award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s as a State legislator. The first, in 1996, was given by the National Alliance
National Alliance
The National Alliance is a white separatist political organization. It was founded by University physics teacher Dr. William Luther Pierce in 1974, and is based in the Pierce family's compound in Hillsboro, West Virginia. Although it operates primarily in the United States, the National Alliance...
for the Mentally Ill for Brennan’s leadership in the fight for Parity in Mental and Physical Health Benefits. The second was given by the National Conference of State Legislators in 2007, for an investigative report directed by Brennan as Chair of the Committee on Investigation. The report concerned how the Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
administration undermined services for the severely disabled as a result of the closure of a Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
office serving those clients in the fall of 2004.
In 1998 and 1999, Brennan helped win funding for 5,000 new units of housing for the mentally ill in New York State. As Chair of the Cities Committee, Brennan authored two new laws in 2007, to improve public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and safety in construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
and development in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
—one cracking down on the filing of fraudulent building plans to the New York City Department of Buildings
New York City Department of Buildings
The New York City Department of Buildings is the branch of municipal government in New York City that enforces the City's building codes and zoning regulations, issues building permits, and inspects new and existing buildings.-History:...
, and the other compelling the acquisition of insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
for excavations that might damage adjacent properties.
Brennan also helped create the Restore New York program, a statewide effort to help distressed areas in cities by having the State pay to clear abandoned or vacant residential or commercial property
Commercial property
The term commercial property refers to buildings or land intended to generate a profit, either from capital gain or rental income.-Definition:...
with $300 million in funding.
Brennan is also the author of the Expansion of the Real Property Partial Tax Exemption to low and moderate-income senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s in co-ops and condos.
He is an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
.
External links
- New York State Assembly Member Website
- Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings
- Biography: New York State Democratic Committee
- Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany: New York State Assembly: District 44
- Brennan's response to the 2008 Candidate Questionnaire for State Senate and Assembly from the 504 Democratic Club of New York City