Ballotpedia: Iwen Chu

Iwen is originally from Taiwan. She earned her master's degree in sociology from CUNY Brooklyn College. She lives with her husband and daughter in Dyker Heights. 

Iwen currently works as a New York state senator. She previously worked as a community journalist and as a public servant.

Iwen Chu currently serves as the state senator for New York Senate District 17. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her 1st term. 

Candidate website

Supports greater affordability in housing and protecting tenants from hidden fees and rent hikes.

- Supports greater affordability in housing and protecting tenants from hidden fees and rent hikes.

Economy

As of September 19, 2024, Iwen Chu’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

NY Senate, Senate Bill S6504

Supports abortion access and has voted for all reproductive and maternal health legislation in the Senate.

As a state senator, sponsored Senate Bill S6504 to create an outreach and education program for Alzheimer's disease.

- Supports abortion access.
- As a state senator, sponsored Senate Bill S6504 to create an outreach and education program for Alzheimer's disease.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Supports increased funding for police and prosecutors to enhance public safety and combat hate crimes.

As a state senator, championed e-bike legislation mandating safety disclosures to prevent lithium-ion battery fires and regulating e-bike use on sidewalks.

Voted to add over 20 offenses to the hate crime list to hold perpetrators accountable and delivered millions to secure religious schools and places of worship.

As a state senator, voted to add over 20 offenses to the hate crime list  and helped deliver millions of dollars to provide security for religious schools and places of worship.

- Supports increased funding for police and prosecutors to enhance public safety and combat hate crimes.
- As a state senator, championed e-bike legislation mandating safety disclosures to prevent lithium-ion battery fires and regulating e-bike use on sidewalks.
- As a state senator, voted to add over 20 offenses to the hate crime list  and helped deliver millions of dollars to provide security for religious schools and places of worship.

Public Safety

Supports establishing an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and civic impact curriculum for school districts.

As a state senator, co-sponsored legislation to establish an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and civic impact curriculum for school districts.

Supports making education affordable and accessible at all stages of life.

- As a state senator, co-sponsored legislation to establish an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and civic impact curriculum for school districts.
- Supports making education affordable and accessible at all stages of life.

Education

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Iwen Chu

Believes unregulated scooters are a concern for New York City residents.

Supports legislation to enhance e-bike safety and storage.

Supports the acceleration of e-bike battery safety measures to prevent tragedies.

Supports the e-bike safety package crafted by Sen. Iwen Chu.

Supports small businesses and voted for legislation giving them more time to fix regulatory violations, creating a compliance guide, and providing tax credits for crime protection.

As a state senator, voted for legislation giving small businesses more time to fix regulatory violations, creating a compliance guide, and providing tax credits for crime protection.

Supports protecting homeowners from deed theft and increasing workshops for first-time buyers.

As a state senator, supported legislation that protects homeowners from deed theft and increases workshops for first-time buyers.

Supports the New York League of Conservation Voters' initiatives for energy and environmental conservation.

Supports access to reproductive and maternal healthcare.

Supports mental health initiatives and local organization involvement to enhance family comfort.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

Supports open seats in Brooklyn, as evidenced by the four-way primary to succeed Sen. Diane Savino and the five-way contest in a new Senate seat in the northwestern corner.

Supports voting rights and fair elections, and believes in community representation, as evidenced by receiving endorsements from elected officials and Asian-American community leaders during her state senate campaign.

Believes her district may have the lowest voter turnout in the state.

Believes the newly redistricted Senate seat in South Brooklyn has created an unfair advantage, saying "Iwen Chu was able to clear the field in the redesigned District 17."

Supports language inclusivity in government forms to ensure all citizens can access vital information.

As a state senator, sponsored a bill that requires language inclusivity in government forms to ensure all citizens can access vital information.

Is committed to ensuring streets are clean and safe for the community.

Believes in engaging youth in community service to improve neighborhood safety and aesthetics.

Supports immigration, believing immigrants are essential to the city's and country's functioning and are "the backbone of every community."

Supports cleaning up the Housing Court backlog by passing legislation like Senator Chu’s Housing Efficiency Legal Protection (HELP) bill, which would ensure small landlords and tenants receive a decision on their case within 120 days.

Supports legislation on education and adult literacy.

Believes education is a crucial hope for immigrants.

Believes in sacrificing for the betterment of future generations' education.

Supports the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators.

As a state senator, voted to fully fund public education, secured $40 million for City University of New York (CUNY), and increased the Tuition Assistance Program.

As a state senator, voted to fully fund public education, helped secure $40 million for City University of New York (CUNY), and helped increase the Tuition Assistance Program.

Iwen currently works as a New York State Senator. She previously worked as a community journalist and as a public servant.

Iwen Chu currently serves as the state senator for New York Senate District 17. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

- Supports greater affordability in housing and protecting tenants from hidden fees and rent hikes.
- As a state senator, voted for legislation giving small businesses more time to fix regulatory violations, creating a compliance guide, and providing tax credits for crime protection.
- As a state senator, supported legislation that protects homeowners from deed theft and increases workshops for first-time buyers.

- Supports abortion access and has voted for all reproductive and maternal health legislation in the Senate.

- As a state senator, sponsored a bill that requires language inclusivity in government forms to ensure all citizens can access vital information.

- As a state senator, voted to fully fund public education, helped secure $40 million for City University of New York (CUNY), and helped increase the Tuition Assistance Program.
- As a state senator, co-sponsored legislation to establish an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and civic impact curriculum for school districts.
- Supports making education affordable and accessible at all stages of life.

As of September 23, 2024, Iwen Chu’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Iwen Chu is currently serving as a New York State Senator. She previously worked as a Chinese newspaper reporter and as the Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Peter Abbate.

- Your state senator is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Senate, which consists of 63 members and serves as the upper house of the New York State Legislature, the state's lawmaking body. 
- State senators are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- State senators draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your state senator can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- State senators are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

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