Brian Benjamin

Brian A. Benjamin (born 1976) is the Senator for the 30th District of the New York Senate. He serves as the Senior Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate.[1] He is a Democrat. The district Benjamin represents includes parts of the neighborhoods of East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Harlem, Morningside Heights, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Washington Heights and Yorkville in Manhattan.

Brian A. Benjamin
Senior Assistant Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 30th district
Assumed office
June 5, 2017
Preceded byBill Perkins
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceHarlem, New York
Alma materBrown University
Harvard Business School
WebsiteOfficial website

Life and career

Benjamin was born at Harlem Hospital.[2] Benjamin was born to Caribbean immigrant parents before attending Brown University and later Harvard Business School. He later interned in the office of Bill Lynch & Associates. He is an alumni-elected trustee of Brown. Benjamin attends First Corinthian Baptist Church.[3] He spent three years at Morgan Stanley as an investment advisor.[4][5][6]

Benjamin became a supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2007.[7] He was a co-founder of “Harlem4Obama” which helped encourage Harlem support for the Senator and hosted a fundraiser for him in 2008. After Obama's election, the infrastructure of “Harlem4Obama” contributed to Benjamin's organization “Young Professionals United for Change (YP4C),” which instituted a mentoring program at Wadleigh School and organized young people.[8][9][10] In 2012, Benjamin was an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and raised money for his reelection.[11]

In 2010, Benjamin became a managing partner at Genesis Companies, a Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise building affordable housing in Harlem.[12][13] Involved in the purchase and redevelopment of deteriorating buildings from Abyssinian Development Corporation, Benjamin helped ensure that redevelopment and repair would be done with as many M/WBE partners and vendors as possible.[14] Of the 100% affordable and environmentally sustainable apartments that resulted from the project, 20% where put aside for the homeless, and 5% for disabled New Yorkers. He was also involved with partnerships with First Corinthians Baptist Church in creating the Dream Center on 119th and the Hope Center on 114th.[15][16]

In 2016 he became the Chair of Community Board #10 in Central Harlem in Manhattan.[17] In that capacity he opposed a redevelopment plan (that included six new towers, two-story retail spaces, an underground garage, and a community park over the garage), alongside some residents of Lenox Terrace.[18][19][20] The developer had said the redevelopment would be a job creator (estimated at 1,100 jobs), stimulate the local economy, add 260 units of affordable housing, and create more green space.[18]

New York Senate

In 2017, NY State Senator Bill Perkins ran for and won a vacant seat on the New York City Council. Benjamin then ran to succeed Perkins in Harlem's district 30 in the NY State Senate.[21]

New York law provides that special elections for state seats do not have an open primary; instead, party candidates are picked by the local County Committee of party insiders.[22] Three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, district leaders Rev. Al Taylor and John Ruiz and activist Joyce Johnson, wrote a letter criticizing New York County Chairman Keith L. T. Wright, a close ally of Benjamin, accusing him of “voter suppression” in his bid to install Benjamin in office.[23][22] Benjamin was at the time the fiancé of a woman who had worked in Wright’s office.[22] Critics alleged that the process was controlled by Benjamin's allies, including the Manhattan Democratic Party chairman and political insiders as the Democratic candidate.[23] Benjamin's candidacy was endorsed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Assemblywoman Inez Dickens, Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, NYC Councilman Mark Levine, former Congressman Charles Rangel, former Assemblyman Keith Wright, former NYC Councilman Robert Jackson, Hazel Dukes, Rev. Calvin Butts, and labor unions 1199SEIU, 32BJ, and his mother's union, Local 372 of DC37.[24][25] On the other hand, Benjamin's principal opponent, Taylor, was endorsed by the incumbent Senator and a couple of members of the legislature.[23][26] Benjamin was elected with 176-of-263 votes (63%) at a convention in March.[23]

With the district being overwhelmingly Democratic, Benjamin defeated Republican Dawn Simmons and Reform candidate Ruben Dario Vargas with over 91% of the vote, which had a very low turnout--of only 4%.[27][28] He was sworn into the seat on June 5, 2017, and pledged to protect progressive values.[29]

2017-18 session

One of Benjamin's first campaign promises was to seek to close Rikers Island. He introduced a bill to close Rikers in three years.[30][31][32] After violence on Rikers on Thanksgiving Day 2017, Benjamin sent a letter to the State Commission of Correction requesting a report on the state of the facility. The report found that the City's inaction and ten year proposal might require the Commission to examine steps to close Rikers faster to ensure that the constitutional rights of inmates and staff were protected.[33][34] In addition, Benjamin was also a co-sponsor of bills to reform discovery, end cash bail, restore the voting rights of parolees, and end solitary confinement, many of which passed once the Democrats retook the majority.[35][36]

During his campaign for the State Senate, Benjamin campaigned against the rebranding of Harlem as SOHA by real estate forms.[37][38] After his election he sponsored the Neighborhood Integrity Act, to prohibit renaming neighborhoods or redefining traditional boundaries without community input.[39] The real estate company dropped the SoHa rebranding effort.[40][41] During his campaign, Benjamin accepted $2,500 in campaign contributions from a real estate company that owned a South Harlem condominium called “SoHa 118.” When he learned they used the term “SoHa” he returned the donation and asked that they change the name.[42]

Benjamin, formerly served ranking member of the Civil Service and Pensions Committee [43] is the sponsor of a bill to divest New York's Public Pension fund from private prisons.[44] This bill helped push Comptroller da Napoli, the sole fiduciary of the fund, to divest. [45]

2019-20 session

With the Democrats retaking the majority in November 2018, Benjamin was named Chairman of Committee on Revenue and Budget. In this position he focused on divesting public and private banks from private for-profit prisons, sponsoring a bill that would push New York State chartered banks, which include many international banks that use New York State chartered to operate in the US, to stop investments. [46] The bill passed the Senate in the 2019 and 2020 sessions, and was part of a nation-wide movement that pushed many of the largest private banking institutions to drop their investments.[47] The Washington Post reported that Benjamin's legislation was key in getting Bank of America to drop their investments. [48]

The 2019 also saw the passage of housing reform legislation, including Benjamin's bill to protect keep Rent Stabilized apartments affordable. This and other bills Benjamin co-sponsored where passed as a package entitled the Housing Stability And Tenant Protections Act of 2019. [49] Also in 2019, Benjamin championed a bill that would have allowed felons who had completed their sentences to serve on juries.[50]

In the 2020 session Benjamin sponsored and passed the Rainy Day Fund bill, that allowed New York City to set aside funds in a revenue stabilization fund. Legislation enacted after past fiscal crises had required the city to balance its budget, making such savings impossible, and so the city was required to cut essential services in times of financial stress. [51] As a result of historic support for police reform, Benjamin also was able to legislation he had been championing including his bill the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act. [52] In December 2020 he joined other senators in announcing the introduction of legislation that significantly limited police no-knock warrants to only the most severe circumstances, and banned their use for drug searches.[53]

In January 2021, Benjamin proposed a bill to make it easier for released ex-cons to obtain a state-issued ID when they leave jail.[54][21] He also is sponsoring a bill to change parole laws, so that parole violations such as testing positive for drugs, failing to report, and failing to notify of a change in address would not lead to incarceration.[55] That same month he tweeted: "I support the movement to defund the police ... "[56]

Controversies

2014-17

In 2014, Benjamin appeared in Oprah Winfrey Network's television show Love in the City as a boyfriend of breast-cancer victim and entrepreneur Tiffany Jones.[57] Jones accused Benjamin on the show and to the media of stealing her computer and Chanel bag.[57][58]

In 2017, when Benjamin was the managing partner of the Genesis Companies real estate firm in Harlem, and at the same time on the verge of becoming the New York State Senate Democratic nominee, his firm was sued by its co-investor in a legal dispute over its alleged scheme to divert revenue from a fire sale by Abyssinian Development to the investors of 31 properties.[59] A Manhattan Supreme Court judge issued a preliminary injunction, freezing the assets until the dispute was settled in arbitration.[59] Genesis Companies denied the allegations, and the case went to arbitration.[60]

In July 2017, one month after his election to the New York State Senate, the CEO of Benjamin's former employer, real estate firm Genesis Companies (which owned dozens of rental buildings in his district in Harlem, with over 700 active violations), made a filing on a "reportable business relationship" form with the New York State lobbying and ethics watchdog panel (the Joint Commission on Public Ethics).[61][62] Genesis stated that it had retained Benjamin as an advisor for $60,000 a year, to consult on "real estate development matters", starting in June 2017 (a month after he was elected), and ending in June 2018.[62][61] This was in addition to Benjamin's annual $79,500 salary as a New York State Senator.[62][61] Benjamin said he consulted for his former firm, but asserted he was not compensated by it. Benjamin would not explain the document.[61] He repeatedly denied receiving any outside income since his election.[63][61][64][65][66][67] Albany watchdog New York Public Interest Research Group's executive director, Blair Horner, noted: "Being allowed to moonlight creates potential conflicts."[61]

2018-present

In 2018, Benjamin urged constituents to keep warm during cold months, while serving on the advisory board of his former real estate company which accrued hundreds of violations, though the company and city officials maintained the issues existed prior to the company's involvement. He directed tenants to “contact his office about heat-related issues,” and “bragged about holding landlords accountable.”[68]

A new purportedly grassroots non-profit organization, "New York 4 Harlem", that actively solicited donations of $500 to $5,000 was reported in 2018 to allegedly have been a front for Benjamin and three other Harlem elected officials.[69][70] In addition, a flyer organizing a free bus trip to Albany for a conference organized by the NY State Assn. of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators with the New York 4 Harlem's name on it featured a picture of Benjamin and the three other officials.[69][70][71] Nonprofit organizations are not allowed to take part in campaign activity.[70] The contact person for the event was a staffer working in Benjamin’s office, Shana Harmongoff.[69]

In January 2021, The New York Daily News reported that Benjamin was earning up to $50,000 a year as a board member of NextPoint, a company led by a Wall Street executive who came under fire for his role in the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis (Andrew Neuberger), and that Benjamin acquired up to $250,000 in NextPoint stock.[72] "This is not a good sign," said housing advocate Cea Weaver.[72] This was in addition to Benjamin earning $120,000 a year as a state senator.[72] That month, a coalition of 34 progressive groups hosted a protest outside Benjamin's home and sent a letter to Majority Leader of the New York State Senate Andrea Stewart-Cousins calling for his removal as chair of the Senate Budget and Revenue committee.[73] They argued that his stock holdings and position on the board of NextPoint were unethical conflicts of interest that should disqualify him from presiding over bills dealing with taxation.[73] The organizations included Housing Works, the Metropolitan Council on Housing, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, New York City Democratic Socialists of America, New York Communities for Change, Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, and the Urban Justice Center – Safety Net Project.[73]

References
  1. "Senate Leadership". NY State Senate. October 4, 2015.
  2. "About Brian A. Benjamin". NY State Senate. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  3. "Brian Benjamin Wins Special Election for Upper Manhattan State Senate Seat". Archived from the original on 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  4. Murphy, Jarrett (January 27, 2021). "Compt-Roller Derby: Who's Running to Be the City's No. 3?". City Limits.
  5. Max, Ben. "Brian Benjamin Launches Campaign for New York City Comptroller". Gotham Gazette.
  6. "Harlem's Benjamin Experienced & Well Qualified in Comptroller Race". December 4, 2020.
  7. "Early Harlem Obama Backer Seeks Open Senate Seat - Manhattan Express | Manhattan Express". www.manhattanexpressnews.nyc. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  8. "Brian Benjamin Launches 'Young Professionals United For Change' To Increase African American Political Engagement". MadameNoire. 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  9. "Wadleigh Secondary School getting new life with mentoring initiative". Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  10. "#GETCOVERED: Juelz Santana & Friends Encourage Youth To Sign Up For Affordable Care Act (PHOTOS)". Global Grind. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  11. "Obama coming to the Apollo; fundraiser 'more accessible'". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  12. "Brian Benjamin: Doing Business in Black Communities for the Benefit of Black People". Black Enterprise. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  13. "Brian Benjamin - Meet Crain's New York Business Class of 2016 40 Under 40". www.crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  14. Elstein, Aaron. "Rev. Calvin Butts seeks salvation for the church-based organization that resurrected Harlem". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  15. "H.O.P.E. Center (Counseling) | First Corinthian Baptist Church". First Corinthian Baptist Church. First Corinthian Baptist Church. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-28.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. "THE DREAM CENTER HARLEM". THE DREAM CENTER HARLEM. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  17. "New kid on the block: Brian Benjamin". amsterdamnews.com.
  18. "Community Board 10 Sides With Tenants in Lenox Terrace Rezoning FIght". DNAinfo New York.
  19. "SoHa: The New Name Realtors Are Using For a Part of Harlem". DNAinfo New York.
  20. "Community Board 10 Sides With Tenants in Lenox Terrace Rezoning FIght". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  21. "Brian Benjamin Wins Special Election for Harlem State Senate Seat - Central Harlem - New York". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  22. Will Bredderman (March 10, 2017). "Harlem Candidates Accuse Democratic Machine of Rigging Contest for State Senate Seat". Observer.
  23. Will Bredderman (March 11, 2017). "Machine-Backed Candidate Wins Battle Over Vacant Harlem Seat". Observer.
  24. "Endorsements". Brian A. Benjamin. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  25. "1199SEIU endorses Brian Benjamin for State Senate". Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  26. Vilensky, Mike (May 23, 2017). "Real-Estate Developer Brian Benjamin Wins New York State Senate Seat". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  27. Brigid Bergin and Jenny Ye (May 25, 2017). "Single Digit Turnout in Uptown Special Election | New York Public Radio". WNYC.
  28. "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 30 - Special Race - May 23, 2017". Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  29. Campbell, Jon (June 5, 2017). "Tempers flare as NY Senate's Democratic divide deepens". Poughkeepsie Journal.
  30. "State Sen. Brian Benjamin moves forward with campaign promise to close Rikers". Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  31. "N.Y. senator pushes bill to shut down Rikers Island in 3 years". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  32. "NY State Senate Bill S6747". NY State Senate. 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  33. "N.Y. senator calls for state probe of ongoing Rikers violence". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  34. Foderaro, Lisa W. (February 14, 2018). "New York State May Move to Close Rikers Ahead of City's 10-Year Timeline". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  35. "State Senator Brian A. Benjamin to Outline 2018 Criminal Justice Priorities". NY State Senate. 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  36. Blain, Glenn (June 15, 2017). "N.Y. senator pushes bill forcing NYC to shut down Rikers Island in three years". The New York Daily News.
  37. "Push to discontinue use of 'SoHa' presses on". Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  38. Bellafante, Ginia (2017-07-06). "SoHa in Harlem? The Misguided Madness of Neighborhood Rebranding". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  39. "NY State Senate Bill S6616". NY State Senate. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  40. "Real Estate Company Drops 'SoHa' Branding Amid Backlash". Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  41. "People's Victory: Activists stop effort to rename Harlem south of 125th Street 'SoHa'". Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  42. James Fanelli. "'SoHa' foe got campaign gift from firm that renames neighborhoods". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  43. "Civil Service and Pensions". NY State Senate. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  44. "N.Y. pol to pension fund: Pull out of private prison companies". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  45. Lovett, Kenneth. "DiNapoli divests N.Y. pension funds from private prison companies". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  46. Simon, Morgan. "New York Could Become First State To Be Completely Done With Private Prisons". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  47. Simon, Morgan. "New York Takes Next Historic Step Away From Private Prisons". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  48. Telford, Taylor; Merle, Renae. "Bank of America cuts business ties with detention centers, private prisons". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  49. Plitt, Amy (2019-06-14). "New York's 'historic,' pro-tenant rent reforms pass with Cuomo's approval". Curbed NY. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  50. Matthew Haicken (July 9, 2020). "INSIGHT: New York Faces the Opportunity to Eliminate Ban on Felon Jury Service". Bloomberg Law.
  51. Khurshid, Samar. "Coronavirus Recession Makes New York City Rainy Day Fund More Urgent, Watchdogs and Legislators Say". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  52. "Gwen Carr calls anti-chokehold act named after son Eric Garner 'step in the right direction'". WPIX. 2020-06-13. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  53. Pia Koh (December 18, 2020). "Electeds Introduce Bill to End No-Knock Warrants". New York County Politics.
  54. Slattery, Denis (January 12, 2020). "New York pol wants to give ex-cons state-issued IDs when they get out of jail". The New York Daily News.
  55. Susan Arbetter (January 28, 2021). ""Less Is More Act" Eliminates Incarceration for Parole Violations". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  56. Senator Brian Benjamin (January 18, 2021). "I support the movement to defund the police ...." Twitter.
  57. Carl Campanil (April 17, 2017). "State Senate candidate's reality show stint bites back". New York Post. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  58. "Harlem State Senate Candidate Reality Star Shows It's About The Benjamins". Harlem World. April 18, 2017.
  59. "Harlem's Abyssinian Development's Fire Sale Sets Off Legal Spat". Harlem World Magazine. March 13, 2017.
  60. Carl Campanile (March 11, 2017). "Struggling firm's property fire sale triggers legal tug-of-war". New York Post. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  61. Vincent, Isabel (October 21, 2017). "State senator has consulting job with controversial landlord in his home district". New York Post.
  62. Matthew Hamilton; Chris Bragg (October 27, 2017). "After slamming GOP, Senate Democrats quiet on Benjamin's pay". Capitol Confidential.
  63. Gina Daidone and Carl Campanile (March 27, 2017). "State senator candidate is exec at company that owns problem properties". New York Post. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  64. "New state senator collects consulting cash for former RE firm: report; Ethics watchdog says it poses potential conflicts of interest". The Real Deal New York. October 24, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  65. "After slamming GOP, Senate Democrats quiet on new colleague's pay". Times Union. October 26, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  66. Chris Bragg (October 27, 2017). "New questions on Sen. Brian Benjamin's income arrangement". Capitol Confidential. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  67. Kenneth Lovett (October 30, 2017). "State senator's bill restricts pols from accepting outside income". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  68. James Fanelli. "'Keep warm' pol worked for firm hit with heating complaints". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  69. Campanile, Carl (February 19, 2018). "'Grassroots' nonprofit group has ties to powerful politicians". The New York Post.
  70. "Harlem 'Grassroots' Nonprofit Has Ties To Powerful Politicians Reports NY Post". Harlem World Magazine. February 19, 2018.
  71. Phil Lankers (February 20, 2018). "Harlem Non-Profit Accused Of Secretly Working For Local Politicians". NYC Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  72. Gartland, Michael (January 7, 2021). "NYC fiscal watchdog hopeful pulls salary from firm led by notorious subprime exec". The New York Daily News.
  73. Edward McKinley (January 27, 2021). "34 progressive groups call for removal of Senate budget committee chair". Capitol Confidential.
Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Perkins		 New York State Senate, 30th District
2017–present		 Incumbent
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