✰PREMIUM
Brooklyn’s Assembly Majority Whip and Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn delivering Thursday address on pivotal progress & bold plans for borough

Brooklyn Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn is set to deliver her anticipated ninth annual “State of the District” address on Thursday, Jan. 16 at Brooklyn College, highlighting the immense “achievements, progress on unprecedented challenges and ambitious future goals” for her 42nd District (Flatbush, Ditmas Park and Midwood) and “all Brooklynites and New Yorkers.” 

As the high-ranking State Assembly’s majority whip leading and steering legislation and the chair of Brooklyn’s Democratic Party, which represents 21 Assembly Districts and over 1.3 million Democrats, Bichotte Hermelyn’s Address has been a highly-attended and anticipated annual hallmark event. 

Thursday’s ninth address is certainly no exception; with issues like housing shortages, the migrant crisis and crime affecting Brooklynites and capturing national attention. 

Barrier breaking & record-shattering progress

While addressing big progress tackling the city’s largest issues, the assemblymember plans to showcase record-breaking progress and achievements for New York City, including:

• Minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) hit a second record-breaking year, and New York City awarded $6.4 billion MWBE contracts in Fiscal Year 2024; 
• A maternal mortality crisis disproportionately affecting Black women prompted leaders to implement nation-leading policies, including NYS’ new paid prenatal leave law;
• And laws made it easier and quicker to build housing and to protect public safety, including on social media. 

The Brooklyn College venue is a revered institution at the heart of Bichotte Hernelyn’s district and its Haitian Studies Institute, which the lawmaker championed, is located in one of the largest Haitian populations in the world. 

Brooklyn has the “largest concentration of Haitian-owned businesses and community-based organizations in the world,” noted Brooklyn College President Michelle Anderson, who is also slated to speak. The Haitian Studies Institute is a global center of study, research and policy. 

• Bichotte Hermelyn, the first Haitian American New York City legislator, has been an outspoken fighter against the anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media and through activism.

Looking forward to the new legislative session

The assemblymember is already sponsoring major policies in Albany, like Mayor Eric Adams’ “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” plan.

• “It would put over $63 million back into pockets of the working-class,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. 

• According to the Mayor’s Office, this would eliminate city income taxes for more than 429,000 New Yorkers, while cutting taxes for another 152,000 in New York State. 

How to watch

Seats for the State of the District Address are limited and registration is required. Register here. 

Stay tuned for the Brooklyn Eagle’s recap.