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Michael Gianaris

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Michael Gianaris
Deputy Majority Leader of theNew York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
LeaderAndrea Stewart-Cousins
Preceded byJohn DeFrancisco
Member of theNew York State Senate
from the12thdistrict
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byGeorge Onorato
Member of theNew York State Assembly
from the36thdistrict
In office
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byDenis J. Butler
Succeeded byAravella Simotas
Personal details
Born(1970-04-23)April 23, 1970(age 54)
Queens,New York,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Queens,New York,U.S.
EducationFordham University(BA)
Harvard University(JD)
WebsiteCampaign website
Official website

Michael Gianaris(born April 23, 1970)[1]is anAmericanpolitician and attorney fromQueens, New York.He represented District 36 in the New York State Assembly from 2001 to 2010, and he has represented District 12 in the New York State Senate since 2011. A Democrat, Gianaris was appointed as Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate in 2019.

Early life and education

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Gianaris was born in Astoria and is the son ofGreek immigrants[2]Nicholas and Magdalene Gianaris. He graduated fromNew York City(NYC) public schools P.S. 84, Junior High School 141 andLong Island City High School.He received aB.A.summa cum laudein economics and political science fromFordham Universityand earned aJ.D.degree fromHarvard Law School.[3]

Career

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Gianaris has served as Associate Counsel to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, Governmental Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture and Markets of the Assembly, and also served as an aide to formerQueensCongressmanThomas J. Manton,an aide to former GovernorMario Cuomo's Queens County Regional Representative, and as a member of Queens Community Planning Board 1 and Legal Counsel to the United Community Civic Association.[citation needed]

New York State Assembly

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In 2000, Gianaris was elected to theNew York State Assembly[4]in District 36.[5]He is a Democrat.[6]

In September 2007, he was named one ofCity Hall's "40 under 40".[7]

New York State Senate

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In 2010, SenatorGeorge Onoratodecided not to seek re-election,[8]and Gianaris was nominated to replace him.[9]Gianaris easily prevailed in the District 12 election.[10]

In 2019, following Senate Democrats' ascent to the majority, Gianaris was named Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate.[11]

According toThe Guardian,Gianaris was principally responsible for scuttling a proposal to locateAmazon's HQ2in New York City.[12]Gianaris has been noted for his support for antitrust enforcement, having introduced the "21st Century Antitrust Act" in theNew York State Legislatureand written in support of the federalAmerican Innovation and Choice Online Actproposal.[13]

Other campaigns

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Gianaris ran forAttorney General of New Yorkin 2018, but ended his campaign in May 2018 and endorsed fellow DemocratLetitia James.[14]

Political positions

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Education

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In May 2024, Gianaris andAndrew Hevesisecured $70 million for school safety equipment in religious and independent schools in the 2024-2025 state budget, they initially lobbied for $90 million but negotiated to $70 million. Gianaris cited this as their commitment to advocating for additional resources to schools amidst concerns about increases in anti semitic attacks from theIsrael-Palestine tensions.[15]

Voting rights

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In 2018, he introduced legislation to automatically register eligible voters otherwise interacting with state government.[16]

In September 2023, governorKathy Hochulsigned his senate bill to expand early mail-in voting for all New Yorkers.[17]Republican groups, including republican congresswomanElise Stefanik,attempted to challenge this expansion but a state appellate rejected it and affirmed the law.[18][19]

Gun control

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In the 2023-2024 legislative session, Gianaris sponsored a bill to prohibit openly carrying a rifle or shotgun.[20]Gianaris consponsored other bills such as S4818 which establishes a 10-day waiting period to buy a firearm.[21]

Congestion pricing

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Gianaris alongsideZohran Mamdanilobbied for $90 million in additional bus funding before congestion pricing took place to split half of it to fund morefare-free bus linesand the other half for increasing bus reliability.[22]In response to governorKathy Hochulreversal on her support and implementation of congestion pricing, Gianaris opposed a payroll tax that was floated to replace the funding not generated by congestion pricing. He stated their reaction of her reversal "This whole thing was just dropped on us just yesterday and to expect us to have serious, substantive, deliberative discussion on such an important issue in 24 hours is unrealistic" and that "We put the burden on New York City to bail out the MTA just last year with this exact tax and I don’t think many of us who represent the city support doing it again".[23]

Policing reform

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Gianaris has supportedbail reformand the elimination of cash bail.[24]In response to theMurder of Ahmaud Arbery,Gianaris called for the repeal of Citizen's arrest law in New York as a local prosecutor initially declined to bring charges because they thought the killer ofArberywas acting in accordance with Citizen's arrest law inGeorgia.[25]

COVID-19

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During COVID-19, Gianaris fought for $1 billion for a small business recovery grant program in the 2021-2022 state budget.[26]

Personal life

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Gianaris is married and resides in Astoria.[1]

References

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  1. ^ab"Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members".The Capitol.Manhattan Media.January 6, 2011.RetrievedMarch 13,2011.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^"Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris And New York's Greek-American Legislators Introduce Resolution Marking 200th Anniversary Of Greek Independence".NY State Senate.March 23, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 8,2021.
  3. ^"Michael Gianaris: Biography".New York State Senate.RetrievedMarch 13,2011.
  4. ^Small, Eddie (February 1, 2020)."Amazon Adversary Mike Gianaris Talks About Real Estate Confrontations".The Real Deal.
  5. ^Lippincott, E. E. (September 14, 2000)."Gianaris Takes Dem. Bid For 36th Assembly in Primaries".Queens Chronicle.
  6. ^Daley, Elizabeth (December 23, 2010)."Gianaris to strategize for state Senate Dems".Queens Chronicle.
  7. ^Rising Stars 40 Under 40: Michael GianarisArchived2014-02-01 at theWayback Machine,City & State,September 17, 2007.
  8. ^Belden, Willow (January 14, 2010)."Onorato drops out, Gianaris gears up".Queens Chronicle.
  9. ^"Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 12 Race - Nov 02, 2010".ourcampaigns.RetrievedJanuary 30,2019.
  10. ^"New York State Legislature - Election Results 2010 -".archive.nytimes.RetrievedSeptember 29,2023.
  11. ^Williams, Zach (January 9, 2019)."State Sen. Michael Gianaris has big plans for 2019".City & State NY.
  12. ^Durkin, Erin (February 15, 2019)."'Amazon isn't bigger than New York': meet the man who killed the deal ".the Guardian.
  13. ^"Gianaris Urges Feds to Take Action on Competition Reform".The National Herald.June 23, 2022.RetrievedJune 23,2022.
  14. ^Bragg, Chris (May 17, 2018)."Gianaris drops out of Attorney General race, back James".Capitol Confidential.
  15. ^Medina, Anthony (May 17, 2024)."Queens elected officials secure $70 million from New York State Budget for school safety equipment in religious and independent schools – QNS".qns.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  16. ^Wilson, Reid (November 20, 2018)."New York's election laws come under attack by Dems".The Hill.RetrievedNovember 21,2018.
  17. ^"Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris Announces Governor Hochul Signs His Vote Early By Mail Legislation | NYSenate.gov".nysenate.gov.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  18. ^"New York Appellate Court Rejects GOP Challenge to Mail-In Voting Expansion".Democracy Docket.May 9, 2024.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  19. ^Balk, Tim (February 5, 2024)."Albany judge OKs law allowing more New Yorkers to vote early by mail".New York Daily News.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  20. ^"NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9137A".nysenate.gov.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  21. ^"State Senate Acts to Protect New Yorkers from Gun Violence | NYSenate.gov".nysenate.gov.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  22. ^"State lawmakers want to boost bus funding before congestion pricing".City & State NY.February 28, 2024.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  23. ^"State lawmakers reject Hochul's NYC business tax proposal".spectrumlocalnews.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
  24. ^Whitford, Emma (August 10, 2017)."Momentum Builds For Ending Cash Bail System That Punishes The Poor".Gothamist.
  25. ^"Gianaris & Gilliard Op-Ed in the Daily News: Ban Citizen's Arrests Once And For All | NYSenate.gov".nysenate.gov.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
  26. ^"Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, Who Fought for $1 Billion in Small Business Relief in This Year's State Budget, Encourages Queens Small Businesses To Start Applying | NYSenate.gov".nysenate.gov.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
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New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly,36th District
2001–2010 		Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate,12th District
2011–present 		Incumbent
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