Rosie Mendez
Encyclopedia
Rosie Mendez is an American
Democratic Party
politician in New York
. She is a member of the New York City Council
from Manhattan
, representing the 2nd council district
, which includes the Lower East Side
, Alphabet City
and the East Village
. She is currently Chair of the New York City Council's Public Housing Committee.
, a New York City Housing Authority
development. She is the child of Puerto Rican parents, and she attended New York City public schools from elementary through high school. She graduated from New York University
and Rutgers School of Law—Newark
.
Rosie Mendez's working and volunteer life has predominantly focused on community service. She began as a tenant organizer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She then worked on citywide housing issues as a housing specialist at the Parodneck Foundation. In 1995, Rosie Mendez graduated from law school and went to work as an IOLA Legal Services Fellow at Brooklyn Legal Services. As a legal staff worker she became a member of the United Auto Workers
Union.
Prior to her election to the Council, Rosie Mendez was the Democratic District Leader for her community for four terms. She served for three years as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Aide to her predecessor City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez
.
In 2005, Rosie Mendez won the heavily contested Democratic primary for New York City Council's 2nd district
. Her opponents in the primary included Brian Kavanagh
, Gur Tsabar, Darren Bloch, Joan Brightharp, and Chris Papajohn. In the heavily Democratic district the primary victory was considered tantamount to election
. After a landslide victory in the general election in November 2005, Rosie Mendez took office as the 2nd district's Councilwoman in January 2006. She was re-elected with 83.9% of the vote in November 2009.
Mendez is one of four openly LGBT members of the New York City Council.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician in 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...
. She is a member of 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 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...
, representing the 2nd council district
New York City Council's 2nd district
New York City Council's 2nd district covers the East Village, Alphabet City, Peter Cooper Village, Rose Hill, Kips Bay, Gramercy Park and parts of the Lower East Side...
, which includes the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, Alphabet City
Alphabet City, Manhattan
Alphabet City is a neighborhood located within the Lower East Side and East Village in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is also known as Loisaida, a Spanglish adaptation of 'Lower East Side'. Its name comes from Avenues A, B, C, and D, the only avenues in Manhattan to have single-letter...
and the East Village
East Village, Manhattan
The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
. She is currently Chair of the New York City Council's Public Housing Committee.
Life and career
A lifelong New Yorker, Rosie Mendez grew up in Williamsburg HousesWilliamsburg Houses
The Williamsburg Houses, originally called the Ten Eyck Houses, is a New York City Housing Authority development in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood, New York City, New York....
, a New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
development. She is the child of Puerto Rican parents, and she attended New York City public schools from elementary through high school. She graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and Rutgers School of Law—Newark
Rutgers School of Law—Newark
Rutgers School of Law–Newark is the oldest of three law schools in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located at the S.I. Newhouse Center for Law and Justice, at 123 Washington Street, in downtown Newark...
.
Rosie Mendez's working and volunteer life has predominantly focused on community service. She began as a tenant organizer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She then worked on citywide housing issues as a housing specialist at the Parodneck Foundation. In 1995, Rosie Mendez graduated from law school and went to work as an IOLA Legal Services Fellow at Brooklyn Legal Services. As a legal staff worker she became a member of the United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
Union.
Prior to her election to the Council, Rosie Mendez was the Democratic District Leader for her community for four terms. She served for three years as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Aide to her predecessor City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez
Margarita Lopez
Margarita López is an openly lesbian former New York City Council Member who represented New York City Council's 2nd district from 1998 to 2005. The 2nd district comprises the Lower East Side, Alphabet City, and the East Village. López was elected to the Council in 1997. Born in Puerto Rico, she...
.
In 2005, Rosie Mendez won the heavily contested Democratic primary for New York City Council's 2nd district
New York City Council's 2nd district
New York City Council's 2nd district covers the East Village, Alphabet City, Peter Cooper Village, Rose Hill, Kips Bay, Gramercy Park and parts of the Lower East Side...
. Her opponents in the primary included Brian Kavanagh
Brian Kavanagh
Brian P. Kavanagh is a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 74th Assembly District, which is located on the East Side of Manhattan and includes parts of the Lower East Side, Union Square, Gramercy Park, Stuyvesant Square, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, East Midtown Plaza,...
, Gur Tsabar, Darren Bloch, Joan Brightharp, and Chris Papajohn. In the heavily Democratic district the primary victory was considered tantamount to election
Tantamount to election
"Tantamount to election" is a phrase to describe a situation in which one political party so dominates the demographics of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race will virtually be assured of winning the general election...
. After a landslide victory in the general election in November 2005, Rosie Mendez took office as the 2nd district's Councilwoman in January 2006. She was re-elected with 83.9% of the vote in November 2009.
Mendez is one of four openly LGBT members of the New York City Council.
External links
- New York City Council: District 2 - Rosie Mendez
- Official Campaign website for Rosie Mendez
- Rosie Mendez on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Information on the 2005 primary campaign in District 2