Michael DenDekker
Encyclopedia
Michael G. DenDekker is an assemblyman
for the state of New York's 34th district, which includes the neighborhoods of Woodside
, Jackson Heights
, and Elmhurst
, all in the borough/county of Queens
.
. He attended the State University of New York at Farmingdale
, majoring in automotive technology.
After college he worked as a banquet manager for a caterer and an account representative for MetLife. He joined the New York City Department of Sanitation
in 1995, where he was promoted to supervisor in March 2001. Later that year he was assigned to the New York City Office of Emergency Management as a public information officer and in 2003 he also became a special projects coordinator. He retired from the Sanitation Department and his assignment at OEM in 2006, after which he was a facilities manager for the New York City Council
.
From 1998 to 2002, he worked as a part-time district representative for State Assembly member Margaret Markey
. After longtime Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette
decided not to run for reelection, DenDekker ran for the seat. He won uncontested general election
s in 2008 and 2010.
s in New York to be registered, inspected, and given license plates for a mandatory US$25 fee. DenDekker proposed the idea as an attempt to draw attention to bicyclists who violate existing state laws and to generate revenue for the state. After significant objections from his colleagues, constituents and local clerks, DenDekker withdrew the bill.
In May 2010, DenDekker introduced a bill to develop a cigarette butt recycling program and require a minimum deposit of one-cent per cigarette
.
.
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...
for the state of New York's 34th district, which includes the neighborhoods of Woodside
Woodside, Queens
Woodside is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens. It is bordered on the south by Maspeth, on the north by Astoria, on the west by Sunnyside and on the east by Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. Some areas are widely residential and very quiet, while others are...
, Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights, Queens
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the Northwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York, New York, United States. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 3...
, and Elmhurst
Elmhurst, Queens
Elmhurst is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue on the north; Corona to the northeast; Junction Boulevard on the east; Rego Park to the southeast; the Long Island Expressway on the south; Middle Village to the south and southwest; and Maspeth...
, all in the borough/county of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
.
Education and career
DenDekker was born in Jackson Heights, attending Our Lady of Fatima Grammar School and Monsignor McClancy Memorial High SchoolMonsignor McClancy Memorial High School
Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School is an all-boys Catholic high school located in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York. As of Fall 2012, the school will start accepting young women, and will become fully co-educational by 2016. Founded by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1956,...
. He attended the State University of New York at Farmingdale
State University of New York at Farmingdale
Farmingdale State College, formerly the State University of New York at Farmingdale or SUNY Farmingdale, is a college of the State University of New York that is located on Long Island in East Farmingdale, New York, with a small section in Old Bethpage.The college dates from 1912 as a school of...
, majoring in automotive technology.
After college he worked as a banquet manager for a caterer and an account representative for MetLife. He joined the New York City Department of Sanitation
New York City Department of Sanitation
The New York City Department of Sanitation, or DSNY, is a uniformed force of unionized sanitation workers in New York City. Their responsibilities include garbage collection, recycling collection, street cleaning, and snow removal...
in 1995, where he was promoted to supervisor in March 2001. Later that year he was assigned to the New York City Office of Emergency Management as a public information officer and in 2003 he also became a special projects coordinator. He retired from the Sanitation Department and his assignment at OEM in 2006, after which he was a facilities manager for the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
.
From 1998 to 2002, he worked as a part-time district representative for State Assembly member Margaret Markey
Margaret Markey
Margaret M. "Marge" Markey is an American politician who represents District 30 in the New York State Assembly, which is made up of Maspeth and Woodside, as well as portions of Middle Village, Astoria, Sunnyside and Long Island City...
. After longtime Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette
Ivan Lafayette
Ivan C. Lafayette represented the 34th District in the New York State Assembly, which comprises portions of Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst....
decided not to run for reelection, DenDekker ran for the seat. He won uncontested general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s in 2008 and 2010.
Legislation
DenDekker gained notoriety for two bills he proposed in February 2011 that would have required all bicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s in New York to be registered, inspected, and given license plates for a mandatory US$25 fee. DenDekker proposed the idea as an attempt to draw attention to bicyclists who violate existing state laws and to generate revenue for the state. After significant objections from his colleagues, constituents and local clerks, DenDekker withdrew the bill.
In May 2010, DenDekker introduced a bill to develop a cigarette butt recycling program and require a minimum deposit of one-cent per cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
.
Personal life
DenDekker and his wife Angela have four children: Michael, Linda, Elizabeth, and Jason. He occasionally works as an actor and is a member of the Screen Actors GuildScreen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
.