Richard Brodsky

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Richard Brodsky (b. 1946) represents District 92 in the New York State Assembly, which includes the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant, the villages of Ardsley, Elmsford, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown, as well as parts of Briarcliff and Yonkers, among other communities located in Westchester County, New York.

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[edit] Early career

A Democrat first elected in 1982, Brodsky is the current Chairman of the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee. From 1993 to 2002 he was the Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Conservation; he authored the legislation responsible for creating the Environmental Protection Fund, devoted to environmental protection and preservation within New York State. He is also partially responsible for authoring the Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act, a $1.75 billion bond act approved by New York state voters in 1996. Brodsky has also served as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation in the past.

[edit] Nuclear safety

Brodsky has been concerned with the potential safety hazards of nuclear power plants located at Indian Point. He released the Interim Report on the Evacuation Plans for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Facility in February of 2002, highlighting the perceived failures of Entergy and state authorities to develop a feasible evacuation plan in a theoretical core meltdown, terrorist attack, or other catastrophic emergency. In June of the same year Brodsky— along with several other elected officials— submitted a petition to FEMA requesting that it deny continued approval to the Indian Point Evacuation Plans.

[edit] Tax legislation

Brodsky was involved in the creation of the School Tax Relief Program, or STAR, enacted into law in 1996. He was also the co-sponsor of state legislation intended to eliminate the state tax on clothing.

[edit] Oversight of Public Authorities

As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Assemblyman Brodsky has aggressively investigated New York’s system of public authorities, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York State Thruway Authority, the Long Island Power Authority and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. His investigations led to a reform of public authorities in 2005. Brodsky sponsored the Public Authorities Accountability Act of 2005, bringing further accountability and reform to New York's vast system of public authorities.

[edit] Telecommunications and internet reform

Recently Assemblyman Brodsky has worked to reform New York's telecommunications system. In 2007 he authored the Omnibus Telecommunications Reform Act that would create a broadband authority, expand universal service, protect the traditional telephone system, create cable competition and protect net neutrality. He also led an effort to make the Internet safer, authoring several Internet security bills, including the anti-phishing act of 2006, the computer breaking and entering act, a bill to notify consumers of the limitations of 911 emergency services using Internet phones and the country's first-of-its-kind act to combat modem hijacking.

[edit] Other political races

In 2006 Brodsky announced his intentions of running for New York State Attorney General, a campaign that he suspended in order to donate a kidney to his 14 year-old daughter. After the resignation of State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Brodsky was a frontrunner to replace Mr. Hevesi. Thomas DiNapoli, however, was selected by the Legislature to serve Mr. Hevesi's remaining term.

[edit] Opposing congestion pricing

In July 2007 Mr Brodsky became a leading opponent of New York congestion pricing, issuing an adverse report.

Brodsky graduated from Ardsley High School '64, holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Vincent Marchiselli		 New York State Assembly, 86th District
1983–2003		 Succeeded by
Luis Diaz
Preceded by
Alexander Gromack		 New York State Assembly, 92nd District
2003 – present		 Incumbent