Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin Announces Run For 2013 Manhattan Borough President

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin announced last Friday that she will be seeking the 2013 Democratic Party nomination for Manhattan Borough President. Here's Ms. Lappin's announcement.



Among the supporters of Ms. Lappin at Friday's announcement were Roosevelt Island residents Howard and Ellen Polivy, Margie Smith and Jonathan Kalkin. Ms. Smith and Mr. Polivy are members of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors, Ms Polivy is the new President of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) and Mr. Kalkin is a former RIOC Director.

According to this Press Release from Ms. Lappin's campaign:

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Assemblymembers Micah Kellner and Dan Quart today endorsed City Councilmember Jessica Lappin to be Manhattan’s next Borough President.

“Jessica Lappin understands that no issue is more important for Manhattan than creating new jobs and spurring economic development,” Maloney said. “And she has a record that shows she knows how to do it. She played a key role in bringing the Cornell-Technion Applied Sciences and Engineering campus to Roosevelt Island, which is expected to create more than 30,000 high-tech jobs over the next three decades.”

Congresswoman Maloney also pointed to the Biotech Tax Credit that Jessica authored, and was just renewed, which has helped keep good, cutting-edge jobs in Manhattan and throughout the City.

“Jessica has led the fight to reduce overcrowding in our schools and reduce class sizes by overseeing the approval of 20,000 new classroom seats across the City,” Maloney said. “And she played a key role in opening three brand new elementary schools on the East Side, including PS 151, which we’re standing in front of today.”

Maloney added: “Jessica has also been a champion of reform and progressive causes—from her landmark law to regulate crisis pregnancy centers to her support for marriage equality to her leadership strengthen- ing New York City’s model campaign finance program which I’m proud to have helped create.”

“I am proud to stand here with Assemblymembers Micah Kellner and Dan Quart and so many other community leaders and endorse Jessica Lappin for Manhattan Borough President.”

Assemblyman Micah Kellner highlighted Councilmember Lappin’s commitment to building and pre- serving affordable housing in Manhattan. “Jessica has worked tirelessly to ensure that buildings on Roos- evelt Island remain permanently affordable,” Kellner said. “And she is a strong voice for tenants and for strengthening New York’s rent protection laws that are so critical for keeping Manhattan affordable for the middle class.”

“Jessica Lappin has taken the lead on so many key environmental issues,” Assemblyman Dan Quart noted. “From securing funding for three new waterfront parks in Manhattan to writing the laws that created textile recycling and street corner recycling in Manhattan, Jessica has moved the city forward and made a real difference in improving our quality of life.”

Jessica Lappin was elected to the City Council (5th District) in 2005 and represents Manhattan’s East Side and Roosevelt Island. She serves as Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Aging and also serves on the Education, Transportation, Cultural Affairs, and Land Use Committees. Jessica has received numerous honors and awards for her leadership on neighborhood preservation and the arts. In addition, last year she was chosen to be a Rodel Fellow by the Aspen Institute, a respected international think-tank focused on helping young leaders forge new solutions to pressing governmental problems.

Jessica is a lifelong New Yorker and a graduate of New York City’s public schools. She received a Regents Diploma from Stuyvesant High School and a B.A. in Government from Georgetown University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude.

Jessica is married and lives in East Midtown with her husband and two sons.

Here's Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's enthusiastic endorsement of Ms Lappin for Manhattan Borough President



as well as endorsements from Assembly Member Micah Kellner and Dan Quart.



According to DNA Info:

... Lappin is expected to face a crowded field, including Upper Manhattan City Councilman Robert Jackson, former Community Board 1 Chairwoman Julie Menin and Upper West Side City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, in a contentious battle to replace outgoing Borough President Scott Stringer, who is running for comptroller...