Robert Jackson (NYC)
Encyclopedia
Robert Jackson is a member of the New York City Council
, representing the 7th District in Manhattan
. The district includes portions of the neighborhoods Harlem
, Washington Heights
and Inwood
. Jackson, first elected in 2001, is a Democrat. He will be term limited in 2013.
Before being elected to the Council, Jackson was employed by the Public Employees Federation
, a labor union. He was also the president of the Parents' Association for Community School Board 6.
In 1993 he was one of the plaintiff
s in a lawsuit
by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity
, of which he was a co-founder. The lawsuit argued that the State of New York
's method of allocating funds for public education
did not provide adequately for children in New York City
, and therefore violated the New York State Constitution and the federal Civil Rights Act
. On June 26, 2003, the New York State Court of Appeals (the state's highest court) ruled in favor of plaintiffs, and gave the State until July 30, 2004 to implement changes. http://www.cfequity.org/01-19-06Jackson.htm
Jackson graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz
in 1975.
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...
, representing the 7th District in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The district includes portions of the neighborhoods Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
and Inwood
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
. Jackson, first elected in 2001, is a Democrat. He will be term limited in 2013.
Before being elected to the Council, Jackson was employed by the Public Employees Federation
Public Employees Federation
The Public Employees Federation is an American union representing 55,599 professional, scientific, and technical public employees in the state of New York. The union is one of the largest local white-collar unions in the United States and is New York's second-largest state-employee union...
, a labor union. He was also the president of the Parents' Association for Community School Board 6.
In 1993 he was one of the plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
s in a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity
Campaign for Fiscal Equity
The Campaign for Fiscal Equity is a not-for-profit advocacy organization seeking to protect and promote the constitutional right to a sound basic education for all public school students in the State of New York. The organization filed and won the landmark "CFE v...
, of which he was a co-founder. The lawsuit argued that the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's method of allocating funds for public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
did not provide adequately for children 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...
, and therefore violated the New York State Constitution and the federal Civil Rights Act
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. On June 26, 2003, the New York State Court of Appeals (the state's highest court) ruled in favor of plaintiffs, and gave the State until July 30, 2004 to implement changes. http://www.cfequity.org/01-19-06Jackson.htm
Jackson graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz
State University of New York at New Paltz
The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short, is a public university in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the...
in 1975.