Wikipedia

Julie Menin

Julie Menin (born October 6, 1967) is a member of the New York City Council from District 5. Before she was elected to this position, she served as an American attorney, civil servant, non-profit executive, professor and small business owner.[1][2] In January 2019, she was appointed Director of the Census for NYC and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel for Strategic Advocacy. Previously, she had worked as the Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and Commissioner of New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs.

Julie Menin
Member of the New York City Council
from the 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byBen Kallos
Director of the Census for New York City
In office
January 2, 2019 – November 10, 2020
MayorBill De Blasio
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
In office
February 2, 2016 – January 2, 2019
MayorBill De Blasio
Preceded byCynthia López
Succeeded byAnne Del Castillo
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs
In office
April 24, 2014 – February 2, 2016
MayorBill De Blasio
Preceded byJonathan Mintz
Succeeded byLorelei Salas
Personal details
Born
Julie Jacobs

(1967-10-06) October 6, 1967 (age 57)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBruce Menin
EducationColumbia University (BA)
Northwestern University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Early life and education

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Menin is the daughter of Agnes and Robert Jacobs.[3] Her mother was a painter and her father a radiologist.[3] Menin earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree magna cum laude from Columbia University and received her Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.[4][5] Ms. Menin lived in the Watergate complex and was a resident at the time of the infamous Watergate Break-In. “People talk about the break-in as if I could have seen it,” said Ms. Menin.[6]

 
Ms. Menin conveying modern stroller carriage bearing unknown child, tall for small carriage size, aboard bus, embarking; en route next stop.

Career

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Menin began her career in 1992 as a regulatory attorney at Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington D.C., where she represented clients in matters involving federal and state enforcement agencies.[4] She later became Senior Regulatory Attorney at Colgate-Palmolive in New York City, where she played a lead role in numerous agency cases involving the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Trade Commission, and also litigated disputes in state and federal courts.[7] In 1999, she opened and operated Vine, a restaurant, market, and catering operation in lower Manhattan with more than 75 employees.[7]

Rising

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Following 9/11, Menin founded and was the president of the nonprofit Wall Street Rising, which worked for the recovery of the downtown neighborhood.[7] She helped small businesses access grants, insurance, and other monetary aid; grew the organization to 30,000 members; and created a variety of programs, including the Retail Attraction Program, which helped more than 600 small businesses stay in lower Manhattan.[7]

Under her leadership, the organization launched the "Music Downtown" and "Art Downtown" series, which provided cultural and entertainment amenities to local residents in an effort to revitalize Lower Manhattan.[8] Menin worked with artists including Mikhail Baryshnikov on these programs.[2]

Manhattan Community Board 1

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Beginning in 2005, Menin served as Chairperson for Manhattan Community Board 1, where she was unanimously elected for three consecutive terms totaling seven years.[7]

As chair of CB1, Menin worked on numerous land use and zoning issues, led a successful campaign to build New York City's first "green" school and other initiatives to revitalize Lower Manhattan.[9] Menin has been recognized for her "solution-based" approach to controversial issues in the wake of 9/11 and as chair of CB1.[10]

She successfully pushed to move the trial of 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed out of Lower Manhattan, while maintaining the importance of a federal trial.[11][12] resulting in the Obama Administration backing out of New York City [13]

On May 25, 2010, Menin presided over the Community Board's 29-1 vote in favor of a proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque, where she urged that an interfaith center (where all different religions can worship) be part of the plans.[14][15]

In 2011, Menin was praised for her efforts to balance the rights of Occupy Wall Street protesters with quality-of-life concerns of residents.[11][16][17]

2013 Manhattan Borough president election

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Menin ran in the Democratic primary for Manhattan Borough President in September 2013, and finished fourth behind New York City Council Members Gale Brewer, Jessica Lappin and Robert Jackson.[18]

In 2017, Menin returned $201,000 to the New York City Campaign Finance Board to cover funds that had remained in her campaign finance account from the 2013 election since she had raised additional funds and by law had to be returned to the Board since they had not been spent.[19]

Commissioner of DCA

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Under Menin's leadership, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs has launched initiatives to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and predatory conduct, and expanded the Agency's role in areas such as financial empowerment and investigative legal enforcement.[20][21][22] DCA has increased its consumer restitution by 72 percent over the prior year, returning money to consumers who have been victims of fraud, scams and predatory conduct.[23] At DCA she also implemented New York City's paid sick leave law and launched a new Earned Income Tax Credit initiative that resulted in over $250 million being returned to low-income New Yorkers.[24][25]

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

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In February 2016, Menin was appointed Commissioner of The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, an agency that comprises the Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and NYC Media.[26][27] The Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting serves as a one-stop shop for the entertainment industry, a sector that contributes nearly $9 billion to the City of New York's economy and employs over 130,000 New Yorkers. NYC Media is responsible for managing and programming all of the media assets for the City of New York, which includes a television broadcast network reaching over 18 million people, a radio station and four local cable stations. The agency has seen record growth in both film projects and television series produced in the city.[28] She negotiated the deal to bring the Grammy Awards back to New York after a 15 year absence, resulting in a $200 million benefit to New York City.[29]

In 2016, the office launched a five-part initiative to support women both behind and in-front of the camera in film and television and in theater, the first of its kind for a U.S. city.[30][31] That same year, Menin launched Made in NY Writers Room, a diversity initiative that awards fellowships and mentorship opportunities to traditionally under-represented television writers, and #NominateNYC, a campaign to increase diversity among the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[32][33] In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the film and television industry, Menin created NYC Film Green, an environmental initiative that promotes and recognizes sustainable practices on the sets of film and television productions.[34]

Census for NYC

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In January 2019, Menin was announced as Director of the Census for NYC and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel for Strategic Advocacy by Mayor Bill de Blasio.[35] Menin is responsible for organizing New York City's efforts to have every resident to participate in the upcoming 2020 Census. Menin successfully advocated against the Trump administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.[36]

The Census results captured a gain of 629,000 residents for New York City as the City grew more in total population than any other city in America.[37]

Columbia University

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Menin is an adjunct professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.[38] She served on the board of trustees of Columbia University.[39]

New York City Council

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In 2021, Menin was elected to represent the 5th District of the New York City Council, which encompasses the Upper East Side, East Harlem, Yorkville, Midtown East, Carnegie Hill, Sutton Place, Roosevelt Island, and Lenox Hill neighborhoods of Manhattan. In the 2021 Democratic primary, she garnered 56% of the vote in the final round of ranked choice voting.[40][41] She defeated Republican Mark Foley in the general election, winning over 75% of the vote.[42][43]

Menin serves as Chair of the Council’s Small Business Committee.[44] As Chair, she introduced and passed legislation that created a “One Stop Shop” to streamline small business interactions for all city agency permits and fines into one portal and ease regulatory burdens small businesses face.[45]

Menin also introduced five of the bills as part of the historic package the Council passed to make New York City the first in the country to have Universal Childcare.[46] In March 2023, Mayor Eric Adams moved forward with the implementation of Universal Childcare launching the first phase of MyCity Portal, which provided an eligibility screening tool and streamlined childcare application processes.[47]

Menin also introduced the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act, legislation that would create the nation’s first ever municipal Office of Healthcare Accountability. The bill has garnered support from over 40 other Council Members and leading labor unions in New York City.[48]

Menin has announced that she is running for re-election in 2023.

Menin is a member of the Vote Blue Coalition, a progressive group and federal PAC created to support Democrats in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania through voter outreach and mobilization efforts.[49]

Personal life

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In 1999, she married Bruce Menin in a Jewish ceremony at the Metropolitan Club.[3] She resides in Manhattan with her husband and four children.[50]

Electoral history

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Election history
Location Year Election Results
NYC Council District 5 Jun 2021 Democratic √ Julie Menin 56.0%

Tricia Shimamura 44.0%

Rebecca Lamorte 20.3%

Kim Moscaritolo 14.8%

Billy Freeland 11.6%

Christopher Sosa 5.9%

Marco Tamayo 2.6%

NYC Council District 5 Nov 2021 General √ Julie Menin (D) 74.4%Mark Foley (R) 25.6%

References

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  1. ^ Saul, Michael Howard (July 10, 2012). "Candidate Shows Early Fundraising Success". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ a b "Julie Menin Has Wall Street Rising". New York Sun. November 15, 2004.
  3. ^ a b c "Weddings – Bruce Menin and Julie Jacobs". The New York Times. February 14, 1999. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Commissioner Julie Menin". nyc.gov. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "JULIE JACOBS MENIN CC'89". Columbia College Alumni Association. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Barron, James (January 20, 2019). "Two New Jobs, One Mission: Fighting the Trump Administration". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Mayor de Blasio Appoints Julie Menin as Commissioner of Department of Consumer Affairs". The official website of the City of New York. April 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Davis, Nicole (October 21, 2005). "Luring people downtown, through song". Downtown Express. Archived from the original on December 20, 2005.
  9. ^ Shapiro, Julie (November 16, 2007). "Spitzer, mayor back new school". Downtown Express. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008.
  10. ^ "Making right decisions". The Villager. September 29, 2011. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Chen, David W. (January 12, 2012). "Panel Chief Raises $450,000 as She Eyes Manhattan Post". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Clehane, Diane (February 3, 2010). "Lunch: 'Heroine' Julie Menin Takes On Washington: "Move the 9/11 Trial!"". Mediabistro. Archived from the original on October 17, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  13. ^ Shane, Scott (January 29, 2010). "U.S. Drops Plan for a 9/11 Trial in New York City". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  14. ^ Dunning, Matt (May 2010). "CB1 Backs Imam's Community Center, Silent on Mosque Near WTC". The Tribeca Trib. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010.
  15. ^ "NYC Panel Head: Add Interfaith Center to Mosque". CBSNews.com. August 30, 2010.
  16. ^ "A Good Approach on Wall Street". The New York Times. October 24, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  17. ^ Menin, Julie (October 23, 2011). "Making peace with Occupy Wall Street: Community board president says violence is no answer". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Councilwoman Brewer Wins Nomination for Manhattan Borough President". CBS News. September 11, 2013.
  19. ^ Nahmias, Laura (January 17, 2018). "De Blasio commissioner reaches unusual settlement with Campaign Finance Board over 2013 campaign". Politico. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  20. ^ Silver-Greenberg, Jessica (March 20, 2015). "New York City Starts Car Loan Program to Curb Abusive Practices". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "Here are the top 10 scams in NYC and how to avoid them". WPIX-TV. March 6, 2015.
  22. ^ Abrams, Rachel (November 14, 2014). "New York City Agency Subpoenas 2 Santander Auto Lenders". DealBook.
  23. ^ Mays, Jeff (July 31, 2015). "City Says Small Business Fines Have Been Cut in Half". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016.
  24. ^ Powell, Nick (July 15, 2014). "Menin Details Paid Sick Leave Rollout, Inspection Reforms". City & State NY. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  25. ^ Holmes, Aaron (July 8, 2016). "New Consumer Affairs Commissioner Inherits Robust Agency and Big Challenges". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  26. ^ Kilday, Gregg; Lewis, Hilary (February 2, 2016). "Julie Menin Named New York City Film Czar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  27. ^ Flamm, Matthew (February 1, 2016). "City consumer affairs chief shifts to glam gig". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  28. ^ Souccar, Miriam Kreinin (February 7, 2017). "Homeland, Quantico are among the seven TV shows that are new to New York". Crain's New York Business.
  29. ^ Morris, Chris (January 25, 2018). "The Grammys Bring Star Power (and Dollars) to New York City This Week". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  30. ^ Ryzik, Melena (September 29, 2016). "New York City Starts $5 Million Fund for Women in Film and Theater". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (September 30, 2016). "New York City launches $5-million fund for women in film and theater, a first in the U.S." Los Angeles Times.
  32. ^ Cox, Gordon (September 8, 2016). "WGA East, New York City Agencies Launch Diversity Initiative for TV Writers". Variety.
  33. ^ "New York City launches initiative to help diversify the Academy". Crain's New York Business. June 29, 2016.
  34. ^ Morfoot, Addie (October 18, 2016). "City launches a voluntary film and TV sustainability initiative". Crain's New York Business.
  35. ^ "Mayor de Blasio Announces Julie Menin as Director of the Census for NYC". The official website of the City of New York. January 2, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  36. ^ Barron, James (January 20, 2019). "Two New Jobs, One Mission: Fighting the Trump Administration". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  37. ^ Venugopal, Arun (August 12, 2021). "NYC's Population Hits A Record 8.8 Million, According To 2020 Census". Gothamist. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  38. ^ "Commissioner Julie Menin". sipa.columbia.edu. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  39. ^ "The Trustees of Columbia University | Office of the Secretary of the University". secretary.columbia.edu. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  40. ^ "New York City Council Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 22, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  41. ^ "2021 NYC Democratic Primary Results". The City. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  42. ^ "Julie Menin Wins Upper East Side City Council Election". Upper East Side, NY Patch. November 3, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  43. ^ "2021 New York City primary results". Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  44. ^ "Julie Menin Appointed Council's Small Business Chair". Upper East Side, NY Patch. January 20, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  45. ^ "NYC Council passes bill aimed at helping small businesses". September 30, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  46. ^ "Council Passes Legislation to Increase Accessibility for Child Care Services in New York City". Press. October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  47. ^ "MyCity portal launches with focus on child care benefits". City & State NY. March 29, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  48. ^ Frangipane, Paul; Murray, Christian (February 23, 2023). "'There is no transparency around hospital prices': NYC Council Members rally for fair healthcare pricing". www.amny.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  49. ^ "Coalition". Vote Blue. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  50. ^ Anderson, Lincoln (February 12, 2019). "Menin is taking Trump down for the count on Census | amNewYork". www.amny.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
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