iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
An Indian American Senator from New York has officially announced his intent to run for a second term in the New York State Senate.
Jeremy Cooney, a Democrat took office just one year ago. He represents New York state’s 56th district, which covers parts of Rochester and Brighton.
“Excited to announce my run for reelection to the New York State Senate! I’m proud of the wins we achieved for my hometown and look forward to continuing to deliver for Rochester’s families,” the Indian American state senator tweeted.
On Thursday, December 30, he said he is focused on addressing the gun violence that has become prevalent in Rochester and other cities across NY state.
“You can’t have a conversation about violence or gun violence without talking about economic opportunity, without talking about access to mental health in our schools and on the streets,” Cooney said.
Cooney is a Rochester native and is the first RCSD graduate to represent the city in the State Senate in over four decades.
Sen. Cooney’s priorities for Rochester include poverty relief, job creation, downtown development, and increased funding for public schools. He was included in City & State magazine’s “40 Under 40” list and the “Power of Diversity: Asian 100” powerful leaders list for 2021.
Cooney also introduced the legislation that would give the same rights to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, as reported by Marijuana Moment.
“When New York State legalized adult-use recreational marijuana, we made a commitment to addressing the discrimination and injustice caused by the War on Drugs,” Cooney told Marijuana Moment.
“I am proud to introduce legislation to include members of our lesbian, gay and bisexual community for priority licensure in the new adult-use recreational cannabis market,” the senator said about his efforts on making equity provisions even more inclusive.
Cooney, according to his bio on nysenate.gov, was adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India and raised by a single mother in Rochester. He made history in 2020 as the first Asian American and first Indian American elected to state office from upstate New York.
During his first year in office, Senator Cooney wrote over 50 legislative bills and served as the first chair of the new Cities II Committee, which focuses on upstate cities and those outside New York City.
