Hiram Monserrate

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Hiram Monserrate is a member of the New York City Council currently representing District 21, which comprises the Queens' neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights.

He serves as the current Co-chair of the City Council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, a position that he has held for the past four years. He is also the current chairman of the Veterans Committee on the Council.

Monserrate's career prior to entering the City Council consisted of a four year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, 1984-1988, and a twelve year stint with the New York Police Department, 1988-2000. While working with the NYPD Monseratte became the first police officer to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was also a founding member of the Latino Officers Association.

Since his election in 2001, Monserrate has distinguished himself as an outspoken advocate of a series of liberal policies on a wide range of issues, including an extensive campaign to restore the protections and immunities enjoyed by illegal aliens living within New York City boundaries, which date back to an executive order issued by the administration of Edward I. Koch, but which were nullified by a judge during the administration of Michael Bloomberg.

Monserrate-along with his colleagues on the City Council-eventually reached an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg that resulted in the issuance of Executive Order 41, which specifies that city agencies that offer public services can not inquire as to the immigration status of potential recipients of those services, and that the only valid instances of city inquiry into someone's immigration status are those that pertain directly to services predicated specifically upon that status.

Monserrate is currently vying to represent District 13 in the New York State Senate. In addition to being endorsed by numerous union locals, he has earned the endorsement of Attorney General candidate Mark Green.

Monserrate holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Queens College

[edit] External links

• New York City Council Homepage
• Official State Senate Campaign Website
• Lou Dobbs Tonight Panel on illegal immigration, including Monseratte and his City Council colleague, Dennis Gallagher.
• Council Members Question Bloomberg 'Sweetheart Deal' With Developer
• Public Lives; A Political Bulldog Who Does a Mean Merengue