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Brian P. Kavanagh

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For other people named Brian Kavanagh, see Brian Kavanagh (disambiguation).

Brian Kavanagh
Member of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 7, 2017
Preceded byDaniel Squadron
Constituency26th District (2017-2022)
27th District (2023-Present)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 74th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – December 6, 2017
Preceded bySylvia M. Friedman
Succeeded byHarvey Epstein
Personal details
Born (1967-01-18) January 18, 1967 (age 57)[1]
Staten Island, New York, U.S.[1]
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceEast Side, Manhattan
Alma materPrinceton University (AB)
New York University (JD)[2]
Professionlawyer, politician
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Brian Patrick Kavanagh (born January 18, 1967)[1] is an American politician who represents the 27th district in the New York State Senate, representing Lower Manhattan since December 2017.[3] Before the redrawing of legislative districts in January 2023, Kavanagh represented the west part of Brooklyn. He previously served in the New York State Assembly representing the East Side of Manhattan. Kavanagh is a Democrat.

Life and career

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Kavanagh is a lifelong resident of New York City. He was born and raised on Staten Island and graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan.[4] Kavanagh tutored students at the Lower East Side Nativity Mission Center. He graduated with a B.A. in politics from Princeton University in 1989.[5] He then received a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.[2] He worked as an attorney at the New York law firms Kaye Scholer and Schulte Roth & Zabel.

While living in Manhattan, Kavanagh lived in many different neighborhoods: the Lower East Side, Murray Hill, NoMad, and Turtle Bay.[6]

He was an aide to former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins. He served as chief of staff to New York City Council member Gale Brewer.[2]

Kavanagh began government service as an aide to Mayor Ed Koch and has served in three mayoral administrations. After the Happy Land Social Club fire claimed the lives of 87 people in 1990, Kavanagh helped coordinate the city's response to the tragedy on behalf of Mayor David Dinkins, co-designing a task force that shut down the most grievous fire code offenders.[7] At the Mayor's Office, Brian also played a key role in launching the New York City Department of Homeless Services and he then served as the agency's first Policy Director.[8]

As Chief-of-Staff for then-New York City Council member Gale Brewer, Kavanagh negotiated enactment of the Domestic Worker Protection Act, promoting the rights of housekeepers and caregivers.[7] With then-Councilmember Bill Perkins, Councilmember Brewer, and dozens of their colleagues on the Council, Kavanagh helped to draft and secure passage of Council Resolution 549, opposing the imminent invasion of Iraq.[8]

Kavanagh has served as a counselor, volunteer, and board member at the Lower East Side's Nativity Middle School and community center,[9] and as a board member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and has served on the Association's Election Law Committee.[8]

Following an unsuccessful bid for the New York City Council in 2005,[10] Kavanagh was first elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2006. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has been endorsed by the Working Families Party.[2][11] He is on the board of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators,[12] and serves as the President of the American-Irish Legislators Society.[13]

Kavanagh has been awarded the League of Conservation Voters Eco-Star Award, the highest rating of any legislator in 2010 from Environmental Advocates of New York,[14] the Baruch College Legislator of the Year Award,[15][16] and a perfect rating from the League of Humane Voters.[17] Kavanagh teaches a course at Columbia University.[18]

New York State Senate

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In 2017, Kavanagh announced that he would run in the special election to succeed Senator Daniel Squadron, who was resigning to found a non-profit.[19] Not without criticism, Kavanagh was nominated as the Democratic candidate, despite representing very little of the same territory in the state Assembly that the Senate district encompassed.[20] Despite this, Kavanagh easily won election.[21] He was easily re-elected to a full first term in 2018.[22]

Kavanagh has been a proponent of election reform. Stating New Yorkers "have some of the worst election laws in the country," Kavanagh introduced a bill "that would allow voters to cast ballots before Election Day". Until New York enacted early voting in 2019, it was the largest state with no advance voting regime.[23]

With Democrats taking the majority in the Senate in 2019, Kavanagh was named Chair of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development.[24] In his first year as Chair, Kavanagh led the effort to pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA), which became law. Early into the COVID-19 pandemic, Kavanagh advocated to stop evictions and foreclosures, extending the statewide eviction and foreclosure moratorium for almost two years. He enacted New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Homeowner Assistance Fund. In 2024, New York State adopted Good Cause Eviction legislation, which had been a priority of Kavanagh's since 2019.

Kavanagh was a co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA),[25] enacted in 2019, and has served on the Environmental Conservation Committee in each of his years in the legislature.[26] One of Kavanagh's priorities has been the introduction of extended producer responsibility legislation, which would required producers to be responsible for products from the beginning to end of life. He has introduced legislation in this area for rechargeable batteries, lamps, mattresses, and textiles, among others.[27]

Kavanagh authored the "All-Electric Building Act,"[28] which became law in 2023, requiring the state energy construction code to halt the use of fossil fuels in new construction in the state.

Kavanagh has pursued legislation that would curb gun violence in New York. As the founder and chair of the American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention,[29] Kavanagh prioritized working across the aisle to curb access to illegal guns. He is the sponsor of New York's red flag law, which would prevent those who may be a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm.[30]

Election results

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Brian P. Kavanagh ... 5,213
Sylvia M. Friedman ... 4,857
Esther Yang ... 1,022
Juan Pagan ... 807
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM) ... 21,875
Sylvia M. Friedman (WOR) ... 3,855
Frank J. Scala (REP) ... 3,576
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 38,777
Bryan A. Cooper (REP) ... 6,684
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 23,071
Dena Winokur (REP) ... 4,332
Brian P. Kavanagh ... 3,286
Juan Pagan ... 1,223
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 34,736
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 15,588
Bryan A. Cooper (REP) ... 2,738
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 81.68% (35,648 votes)
Frank Scala (REP) ... 15.04% (6,562 votes)
Scott Andrew Hutchins (GRE) ... 3.28% (1,432 votes)
Brian P. Kavanagh (DEM - WOR) ... 34,674 (85.04%)
Analicia Alexander (REP) ... 5,915 (14.51%)
Brian P. Kavanagh(DEM) ... (58.1%)
Vittoria Faiello ... (29.0%)
Danyela Souza Egorov ... (12.3%)

Personal life

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Kavanagh is one of six children of an Irish-immigrant police officer and a community leader in Staten Island who worked at a local newspaper.[8] Kavanagh currently lives in his district in the East Side of Manhattan.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "State Assembly: Brian P. Kavanagh (D), District 74". Capitol Info. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Assembly District 74, Brian Kavanagh: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  3. ^ "Brian Kavanagh Seated as State Senator for Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Waterfront - NY State Senate". www.nysenate.gov. December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  4. ^ "About Brian Kavanagh". The New York State Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Kavanaugh, Brian Patrick (1989). "Residential Abandonment and Political Economy in Urban America". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Brian Kavanagh's Super Sunday swearing-in ceremony | amNewYork". February 13, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Board, New York City Campaign Finance. "2005 NYC Voter Guide: Candidate Profile: Brian Kavanagh". www.nyccfb.info. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d "New York State Assembly - Member Section". Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  9. ^ "Brian Kavanagh's Super Sunday swearing-in ceremony". The Villager. February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns - NYC Council 02 - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 2005". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Endorsements". Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  12. ^ "Our Team".
  13. ^ "American-Irish Legislators Society".
  14. ^ "News". www.briankavanagh.org. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "News". www.briankavanagh.org. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  16. ^ "Community Reception Honors Baruch Supporters". www.baruch.cuny.edu. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  18. ^ "Brian Kavanagh, Lecturer Sustainability Management; New York State Senator". Columbia SPS.
  19. ^ "Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh Announces Candidacy For Squadron's Senate Seat". The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side. August 9, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Kavanagh Secures Nomination For Senate Seat; Outrage Over Process Persists". The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side. September 19, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "NY 26th State Senate Results: Brian Kavanagh Wins". Tribeca-FiDi, NY Patch. November 6, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 26 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  23. ^ Wilson, Reid (November 20, 2018). "New York's election laws come under attack by Dems". The Hill. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  24. ^ Hudson, Erin (December 11, 2018). "Sen. Brian Kavanagh to chair NY Senate housing committee". The Real Deal New York. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  25. ^ Callahan, Devin (May 31, 2023), "Senator Kavanagh, Assemblymember Barrett, environmental advocates, and labor unions rallied for legislation to increase New York's offshore wind goals", New York League of Conservation Votes, retrieved September 13, 2024
  26. ^ "The honorable Brian Kavanagh". National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. September 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "New York Sen. Brian Kavanagh". TrackBill.
  28. ^ Gutierrez, Nydia (May 3, 2023). "NY State Legislators and Climate Advocates Celebrate Passage of First-in-the-Nation State Law Ending Fossil Fuel Use in New Buildings". EarthJustice.
  29. ^ "American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention". Candid.
  30. ^ "Red Flag Law Preventing Potential Gun Violence Enacted". The National Herald. August 26, 2019.
  31. ^ "Democratic Primary Election Results, 74th Assembly District: September 12, 2006" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 27, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  32. ^ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 7, 2006" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  33. ^ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  34. ^ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  35. ^ "Democratic Primary Election Results, 74th Assembly District: September 13, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  36. ^ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. March 20, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  37. ^ "2014 election results: Complete list of New York winners". Syracuse Post Standard. November 5, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  38. ^ "2016 Election Results, Member of the Assembly - 74th Assembly District 2016 Election Results". DNAInfo. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  39. ^ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 26 Special Race - Nov 07, 2017". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.

Further reading

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[edit]
New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly from the 74th District
2007–2017 		Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of the New York State Senate from the 26th District
2017–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New York State Senate from the 27th District
2023–Present 		Incumbent
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