Robert Jackson (politician)

Robert Jackson is a member of the New York City Council, representing the 7th District in Manhattan. The district includes portions of the neighborhoods Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Education Committee Chair and Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus with Council Member Fernando Cabrera. Jackson, first elected in 2001, is a Democrat. He will be term limited in 2013.

Jackson announced in late January 2013 that he will run in the Democratic Primary for Manhattan Borough President.^[1] Jackson, the only male or black candidate to announce, received the endorsement of former mayor David Dinkins prior to announcing.^[2] His opponents in the Democratic Primary are fellow council members Jessica Lappin and Gale Brewer, as well as small business owner and former Chair of Community Board 1, Julie Menin.

Before being elected to the Council, Jackson was employed by the Public Employees Federation, a labor union. He was also the president of the Parents' Association for Community School Board 6.

In 1993 he was one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, of which he was a co-founder. The lawsuit argued that the State of New York's method of allocating funds for public education did not provide adequately for children in New York City, and therefore violated the New York State Constitution and the federal Civil Rights Act. On June 26, 2003, the New York State Court of Appeals (the state's highest court) ruled in favor of plaintiffs, and gave the State until July 30, 2004 to implement changes.

Jackson, a Muslim,^[3] graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1975.

References

External links

• Official NYC Council Website about Robert Jackson