Rosie Méndez

Méndez grew up in the Williamsburg Houses, a New York City Housing Authority development. She is the child of Puerto Rican parents, and attended New York City public schools through high school. She graduated from New York University and Rutgers Law School. In 2011, Méndez completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Her working and volunteering life has predominantly focused on community service. She began as a tenant organizer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She then worked on citywide housing issues as a housing specialist at the Parodneck Foundation. In 1995, Méndez graduated from law school and worked as an IOLA Legal Services Fellow at Brooklyn Legal Services. As a legal staff worker she became a member of the United Auto Workers (UAW).

Prior to her election to the Council, Méndez was the Democratic District Leader for her community for four terms. She served for three years as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Aide to her predecessor City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.

In 2005, Méndez won the heavily contested Democratic primary for New York City Council's 2nd district. In the heavily Democratic district the primary victory was considered tantamount to election. After a landslide victory in the general election in November 2005, Méndez took office as the 2nd district's Councilwoman in January 2006. She was re-elected in 2009 and 2013.

In June 2006, Méndez announced legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.[1] The bill received substantial support from other Council Members, including future Mayor Bill de Blasio, future Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, future Public Advocate Leticia James and future Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. Méndez, at a rally that year organized by the League of Humane Voters of New York City, told the media "We cannot say we’re an enlightened society when we allow animals to be tortured and abused for entertainment purposes." Though the bill had 25 co-sponsors,[2] Council Speaker Christine Quinn strongly opposed the legislation and the bill died at the end of session. Méndez reintroduced the bill again in 2010[3] and then again in 2016. By 2016, the stars had aligned and, with the support of Council Member Corey Johnson, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the bill received a hearing in October. In June 2017, the bill was voted out of the Health Committee unanimously. On June 21, 2017, the Council passed Méndez's bill by a vote of 43-6.[4] From the floor of the Council, Méndez thanked her "friend and constituent" John Phillips, who led the campaign to pass the bill and who brought the issue to her attention in 2006.[5][6]

Méndez is openly gay[7] and was also the Chairperson of the New York City Council's LGBT Caucus.[8]

• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of self-identified LGBTQ New Yorkers
• Nuyorican
• Puerto Ricans in New York City

• Official website
• Official campaign website
• Information on the 2005 primary campaign in District 2