Hiram Monserrate

Hiram Monserrate is a member of the New York City Council currently representing District 21, which comprises the Queens' neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights.He served as Co-chair of the City Council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, a position that he has held for the past four years. He is also the current chairman of the Veterans Committee on the Council. He is currently running for the New York State Senate in the 13th district to replace Senator John Sabini who resigned to become Chairman of the Racing and Wagering Board.

Monserrate holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Queens College. His career prior to entering the City Council consisted of a four year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, 1984-1988, and a twelve year stint with the New York Police Department, 1988-2000. While working with the NYPD Monseratte became the first police officer to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was also a founding member of the Latino Officers Association.

Since his election in 2001, Monserrate has distinguished himself as an outspoken advocate of a series of liberal policies on a wide range of issues, including an extensive campaign to restore the protections and immunities enjoyed by illegal aliens living within New York City boundaries, which date back to an executive order issued by the administration of Edward I. Koch, but which were nullified by a judge during the administration of Michael Bloomberg.

Monserrate, along with his colleagues on the City Council, eventually reached an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg that resulted in the issuance of Executive Order 41, which specifies that city agencies that offer public services can not inquire as to the immigration status of potential recipients of those services, and that the only valid instances of city inquiry into someone's immigration status are those that pertain directly to services predicated specifically upon that status.

The Councilman is a supporter of the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project. [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/04072007/news/regionalnews/cruise_control__pol__it_helped_me_regionalnews_david_seifman__city_hall_bureau_chief.htm 'CRUISE CONTROL' POL: IT HELPED ME] ] Founded by Tom Cruise.

In 2006, Monserrate ran for the New York State Senate against fellow democrat John Sabini (16 year incumbent. He came within 200 votes from pulling off an upset in one of the closest races in Queens. This year, Councilman Monserrate again announced he was running for the state senate and amassed a great deal of labor support. Recently, the incumbent State Senator Sabini was appointed by the governor to a position on the State Wagering Board which leaves Hiram Monserrate running unopposed for the Senate. The election will be on Novmber 4, 2008.http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/08/and-goodbye-john-sabini.html

Recently, Mr. Monserrate has been active on fighting Mayor Bloombergs planned use of eminent domain in the 4 Billion dollar Wllets Point Redevelopment project in Queens.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/nyregion/14rezone.html?em

External Links

* [http://council.nyc.gov/d21/html/members/home.shtml Official NYC Council Website about Hiram Monserrate]
* [http://www.hirammonserrate.com/ Official State Senate Campaign Website]
* [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/12/ldt.01.html Lou Dobbs Tonight] Panel on illegal immigration, including Monseratte and his City Council colleague, Dennis Gallagher.
* [http://www.nysun.com/article/12798 Council Members Question Bloomberg 'Sweetheart Deal' With Developer]
* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C13F83F590C768EDDA00894DB404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fI%2fImmigration%20and%20Refugees Public Lives; A Political Bulldog Who Does a Mean Merengue] http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/08/and-goodbye-john-sabini.html

References