Inside Government with PoliticsNY is new a Q&A series that gives New Yorkers a glimpse inside the role of the elected officials who represent them. This edition of Inside Government with PoliticsNY features New York State Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. Assembly Member Gallagher represents the 50th Assembly District in Brooklyn which includes the neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
Q: What piece of legislation are you most proud to have passed this legislative session?
A: We started this session with the image of Mr. Robert Brooks’ brutal murder by prison staff burned into our minds. I’m incredibly proud that two of my original bills were included in the Prison Reform Omnibus Bill that passed this session — the SCOC expansion bill and the Terry Cooper Autopsy Accountability Act. Incarcerated people deserve to trust that there will be oversight, accountability, and transparency when they are in state custody.
Q: How does your office work to support your constituents in their day-to-day lives?
A: I was trained as a young organizer in this community, and in many ways, that’s still a role I play in my district. I love to connect different people and organizations to help them to problem solve and build power. I see our office’s role as a facilitator for the empowerment of the regular people in my district – whether they’re up against giant corporations, the insurance industry, government bureaucracy, or even in a local dispute.
Q: What is the most prevalent issue facing your constituents and how are you working to resolve it?
A: The biggest issue facing our constituents is housing. The rent in Greenpoint has gone up 40% since the pandemic, and we’re losing the people who made this community so special. It is abundantly clear that the private market won’t solve the problem it created, and we need a new approach. That’s why I have a social housing bill (A6265) to create a public solution for housing that is permanently affordable, beautiful, climate-friendly, and union-built.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish by the end of 2025?
A: There is tremendous grassroots energy in NYC right now – people are frustrated with government inaction, as well as the high cost of living. I’m hoping to do deeper organizing within my district to help my constituents advocate for the legislation and quality of life they deserve. Organizing for the kind of change and power we need to see is an ongoing project. It doesn’t stop after an election or a bill passes.
Q: What is the proudest moment of your political career?
A: The proudest moment of my political career was the first time I rode my bike down a roadway that I helped to redesign, McGuinness Boulevard. I used to live on McGuinness, and I witnessed so many senseless crashes. It was incredibly gratifying to unite with like-minded community members and fellow elected officials to bring safety measures to the road, so our neighbors can feel safe and confident when they walk or ride down the street.
