Ballotpedia, Robert Jackson

Robert was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Washington Heights. He is married and has 3 daughters.

Robert co-founded the nonprofit organization Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE).

Robert Jackson currently serves as a state senator in District 31. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term. He previously served on the New York City Council for 12 years, representing parts of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. He also ran for Manhattan borough president in 2013 and for state senator in 2014 and 2016 but did not win.

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As a state representative, sponsored the Small Business Survival Act and helped create a community manpower training program.

As a state representative, sponsored the Small Business Survival Act, a legislative proposal designed to protect small businesses from rising rent costs and unfair leasing practices. 

Supports providing more funding for mentorship of new business owners and implementing penalties for misrepresentation of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) status.

Supports passing Good Cause Eviction and fully funding the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

Supports passing Good Cause Eviction, a legislative proposal aimed at providing tenants with greater protections against eviction and rent increases in New York State. 

Supports building new affordable housing, including the Sugar Hill Project and the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem Project, to provide low-income and previously homeless families with housing and early education opportunities.

- As a state representative, sponsored the Small Business Survival Act, a legislative proposal designed to protect small businesses from rising rent costs and unfair leasing practices. 
- Supports providing more funding for mentorship of new business owners and implementing penalties for misrepresentation of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) status.
- Supports passing Good Cause Eviction, a legislative proposal aimed at providing tenants with greater protections against eviction and rent increases in New York State. 
- Supports building new affordable housing, including the Sugar Hill Project and the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem Project, to provide low-income and previously homeless families with housing and early education opportunities.

Economy

Supports implementing a climate protection act to eliminate all carbon emissions.

As a city council member, sponsored a resolution supporting state legislation to ban fracking in New York State.

As a state senator, helped pass the “Green Amendment” in the NYS constitution, which enshrines the right to clean water, air, and a healthy environment.

- Supports implementing a climate protection act to eliminate all carbon emissions.
- As a city council member, sponsored a resolution supporting state legislation to ban fracking in New York State.
- As a state senator, helped pass the “Green Amendment” in the NYS constitution, which enshrines the right to clean water, air, and a healthy environment.

Energy & the Environment

Supports access to abortion, contraception, and "appropriate sex education" in schools. 

Supports universal healthcare and co-sponsoring the New York Health Act, a single-payer healthcare system in New York.

- Supports access to abortion, contraception, and "appropriate sex education" in schools. 
- Supports universal healthcare and co-sponsoring the New York Health Act, a single-payer healthcare system in New York.

Healthcare

Supports election and campaign finance reform, including supporting New York City’s model campaign finance program.

Supports election and campaign finance reform, including supporting New York City’s model campaign finance program, which incentivizes candidates to seek smaller donations from New Yorkers instead of large contributions from special interests.

Supports early voting and absentee voting.

As a state senator, co-sponsored legislation to establish early voting and no-excuse absentee voting in New York State.

- Supports election and campaign finance reform, including supporting New York City’s model campaign finance program, which incentivizes candidates to seek smaller donations from New Yorkers instead of large contributions from special interests.
- As a state senator, co-sponsored legislation to establish early voting and no-excuse absentee voting in New York State.

Voting & Elections

Supports the Liberty Act, which would make New York a sanctuary state by prohibiting state officials from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport immigrants.

- Supports gun control.
- Supports the Liberty Act, which would make New York a sanctuary state by prohibiting state officials from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport immigrants.

Public Safety

Supports access to childcare for young children.

Believes in making state universities tuition-free to expand educational opportunities.

Supports increasing funding for arts education.

- Supports access to childcare for young children.
- Believes in making state universities tuition-free to expand educational opportunities.
- Supports increasing funding for arts education.

Education

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Robert Jackson

Supports tenant protections and fighting against wrongful evictions.

Endorsed by TenantsPAC and the Metropolitan Council on Housing for supporting tenant rights.

Believes state budget cuts have reduced funding and resources to pre-lawsuit levels, impacting economic stability and growth.

Supports environmental conservation efforts.

As a City Council member, advocated for a quicker clean-up timetable than the Bloomberg Administration's 10-year plan.

Advocated for phasing out "dirty boilers" that pollute the air, especially in Northern Manhattan and schools.

Believes in providing direct healthcare aid to pregnant women and children.

Supports abortion access and women's reproductive health.

Supports abortion access and "fought to make Roe v. Wade protections the law...in New York."

Believes in the importance of voting rights, noting that his mother, Zelma, was the first person in his family who had the right to vote.

Believes in having a Democratic party that aligns with democratic values, referencing the defeat of Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC) members.

As a state representative, co-sponsored legislation to consolidate the state and federal primary elections to the third week in June.

Believes in the importance of flipping more seats to secure a clear Democratic majority in the New York State Senate.

Believes there is "a fundamental change" in the political landscape, citing the election upsets of Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Julia Salazar against established incumbents.

Aims to enhance public safety by collaborating with community organizations to improve quality of life for the Dominican Community.

Supports immigration reform and wants to increase legal protections and city services for immigrants.

Supports providing resources for immigrant communities to thrive.

Believes in eradicating discrimination and intolerance.

Supported the Equal Partners Benefits Act, which would provide equal benefits to all partners of state employees.

Believes there is bias in state aid appropriations that deprives children of essential resources, and as a result, initiated the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.

As a state representative, led efforts to create over 4,000 new pre-kindergarten openings.

As a state representative, led efforts to prevent 6,000 teacher layoffs.

Robert was born and raised in New York City and currently resides in Washington Heights. He is married and has 3 daughters.

Robert Jackson is currently a New York State Senator. He previously served on the New York City Council for twelve years and was the president of Community School Board 6 in Manhattan. He co-founded the nonprofit organization Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE).

Robert Jackson currently serves as a state senator in District 31. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his first term. He previously served on the New York City Council for 12 years, representing parts of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. He also ran for Manhattan borough president in 2013 and for state senator in 2014 and 2016.

- Supports abortion access.
- Supports universal healthcare and co-sponsoring the New York Health Act, a single-payer healthcare system in New York.

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- State senators draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
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- State senators are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

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