Robert Cornegy

Robert E. Cornegy Jr. (born September 24, 1965) is an American politician. He is the New York City Council Member for the 36th District, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant and northern Crown Heights in Brooklyn.[1] He is a Democrat. From March 2019 to October 2019, Cornegy was the Guinness World Records holder for the World's Tallest Politician,[2] but this title has since been conferred upon North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, who is just over one centimeter taller.[3]

Robert Cornegy
Cornegy in 2020
Chairman of the New York City Council Democratic Conference
Assumed office
January 11, 2018
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the New York City Council from the 36th District
Assumed office
January 1, 2014
Preceded byAlbert Vann
Personal details
Born (1965-09-24) September 24, 1965
Brooklyn, New York
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Michelle Cornegy
Children6
Alma materSt. John's University
University of Alabama
Mercy College
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life, education and early career

Cornegy is a native of New York City. He is the son of the late Dr. Robert E. Cornegy, Sr., pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and Ellen J. Cornegy, the First Lady of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.[4]

He played center for Andrew Jackson High School[5] and was recruited by both Temple University and Syracuse University[6] before playing backup center for St. John's University's 1984-85 Final Four team.[7] Cornegy would later graduate from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Management.[1] He played professional basketball in both Israel and Turkey.[7]

Following his basketball career, he earned a master's degree in Organizational Management from Mercy College.[1] He returned to Bedford-Stuyvesant and with an increased awareness of the mental health issues and drug use in the community became a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). He later opened the Cornegy Residence treatment center for chemically dependent men in Bedford-Stuyvesant.[7]

New York City Council

In 2009, Cornegy made his first run at the 36th District, but lost the primary election to incumbent Albert Vann. Four years later, he was elected to the same district after defeating Kirsten John Foy for the Democratic nomination in a close race. He won the general election easily on November 5, 2013.[8]

In 2017, Cornegy was reelected as the Council Member for the 36th District of Brooklyn, NY.[9] He is Chair of the Council's Committee on Housing and Buildings, Chair of the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Task Force (M/WBEs), and a member of the Budget Negotiating Team (BNT). He is also a member of the Committees on Economic Development; Education; Finance; State & Federal Legislation; and Rules, Privileges, and Elections.[1]

In 2017, Cornegy also ran to become the first black Speaker of the New York City Council.[10]

Cornegy was named Democratic Conference Chair of the New York City Council in 2018.[11]

Legislation

In his first term, Cornegy was among the top 10 percent of sponsored legislation.[6] Bills and initiatives of which he has led, sponsored or authored include:

  • A lactation bill, mandating there be dedicated rooms for nursing and breast-feeding mothers in public buildings throughout the five boroughs[12]
  • The Kalief Browder Bill, calling for the Department of Corrections to provide vocational and educational programming, therapy and services to those detained or incarcerated on Rikers Island for longer than 10 days[13]
  • Commercial tenant anti-harassment and neglect legislation, offering protection against criminal landlords by creating a private right of action for commercial tenants facing harassment, and allocating $3.6 million to cover the legal costs associated with fighting unscrupulous property owners[14]
  • Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), which is part of the Rent Freeze Program, an effort to increase affordable housing in NYC[15]
  • Workforce Disclosure Bill that requires certain contractors working on city-funded projects to disclose records on the nature of their workforce, including the certification of the contractor as a minority-owned or women-owned business enterprise[16]

Cornegy also sponsored the bill to co-name the block of Stuyvesant Avenue between Lexington Avenue and Quincy Street, "Do the Right Thing Way" after the iconic 1989 movie Spike Lee directed, which was shot on that block. It was the first time a New York City street was named for a work of art, rather than a person or institution.[17]

Other activities

In 2012, Cornegy served as a delegate to President Obama at the Democratic National Convention.[18] That same year, he also became District Leader / State Committeeman for the 56th Assembly District[19] and was part of the Taskforce to Combat Gun Violence, delivering recommendations to reduce gun violence in NYC to the NYC Council Speaker.[20]

In 2013, he partnered with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to invest $20 million in funding the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) and launch the Foreclosure Rescue Scam Protection Initiative.[21]

In 2014, Cornegy developed the Chamber on the Go program in partnership with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to provide mobile support services to small businesses.[17]

Cornegy supported the establishment of The Age Friendly Neighborhood (AFN) Initiative to improve the quality of life of older adults through advocacy, programming and access to essential resources.[22]

While Chair of the Committee on Small Business, Cornegy co-led research on the state of the retail economy in NYC and delivered strategies to address retail challenges faced in underserved neighborhoods.[23]

Cornegy was selected as a 2017-18 MIT CoLab Mel King Community Fellow alongside other social justice leaders.[24]

Election history
Election history
Location Year Election Results
NYC Council
District 36		 2009 Democratic Primary √ Albert Vann 29.90%
Mark Winston Griffith 22.84%
Saquan Jones 9.87%
Tremaine Wright 8.98%
David Grinage 8.90%
Adrian Straker 7.45%
Robert Cornegy 7.08%
NYC Council
District 36		 2013 Democratic Primary √ Robert Cornegy 30.33%
Kirsten John Foy 29.86%
Robert Waterman 21.86%
Conrad B. Tillard 13.27%
Reginald Swiney 4.68%
NYC Council
District 36		 2013 General √ Robert Cornegy (D) 87.27%
Kirsten John Foy (WFP) 10.17%
Veronica Thompson (R) 2.51%

Personal life

Cornegy and his wife, Michelle, have a blended family of six children and live in Bedford Stuyvesant. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi.[1] He has been noted for his seven-foot frame[25] and long dreadlocks that are wrapped into a bun.[6]

At 6 ft 10 in (2.08m), Cornegy is the tallest member of the New York City Council.

References
  1. "District 36". Robert E. Cornegy Jr. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  2. Mays, Jeffery C. (March 26, 2019). "Brooklyn Wins Bragging Rights to the World's Tallest Politician". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  3. "Tallest politician (Male)".
  4. "Patch User Profile for Robert E. Cornegy Jr". Bed-Stuy, NY Patch. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  5. Rhoden, William C. "JACKSON COACH LOOKS BEYOND COURT". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  6. Mays, Jeffery C. (September 19, 2017). "Robert Cornegy Jr. rebounds as New York City councilman". The Undefeated. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  7. "Biography". mtprauhwprtlcouncil.nyc.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  8. "Cornegy comes out on top after recount in central Brooklyn City Council race". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  9. Max, Ben. "2017 New York City General Election Results". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. Engquist/span>, Will Bredderman and Erik. "Who won the race for City Council speaker? None of your businesses". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  11. Max, Ben. "City Council Names New Leadership, Committee Chairs and Members". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  12. "NYC law requires public buildings to provide breast-feeding rooms". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  13. Inc., Granicus. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 1348-2016". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  14. "NYC passes bill to fine landlords for harassing business tenants". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  15. Inc., Granicus. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 0798-2015". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  16. "Cornegy Bill Looks To Level Playing Field In Construction Industry". www.kingscountypolitics.com. December 13, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  17. Katinas, Paula (October 19, 2015). "Cornegy uses skills he learned as basketball player in council career". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  18. "Campaign Literature of the Day". Observer. March 13, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  19. "Robert Cornegy, Jr. Wins District Leader Race". Bed-Stuy, NY Patch. September 14, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  20. "NYC Task Force to Combat Gun Violence" (PDF).
  21. "A.G. Schneiderman Announces Additional $20 Million For Homeowner Protection Program, Plus New Grant Program To Prevent Foreclosure Scams, Funded Through Bank Settlements | New York State Attorney General". ag.ny.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  22. "Brooklyn : Council Member Robert Cornegy (36)". Age Friendly Neighborhoods. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  23. "NYC Council Planning for Retail Diversity Report" (PDF).
  24. "Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Sept. 20, 2017". www.kingscountypolitics.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  25. "De Blasio finds himself looking up to 7-foot-tall councilman". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
Albert Vann		 New York City Council, 36th District
2014–present		 Incumbent
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