Rita Joseph
NYC Council Member · Since 2022
What This Office Can Do
- Proposes and votes on city laws
- Approves or rejects the city budget
- Holds agencies accountable through public hearings
- Directs discretionary funds to local projects
Background
New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph, elected in 2021 to represent Brooklyn's 40th District, is a former public school teacher, proud union member, and community organizer with over two decades of classroom experience. A once-teen mother who earned a full college scholarship, she began her advocacy at age 19 by leading a historic 150,000-person rally that challenged the FDA's discriminatory 'Bad Blood' rule against Haitians. She currently serves as Chair of the NYC Council's Higher Education Committee.
- Career
- Public school teacher and community organizer
- Education
- Earned a full college scholarship (institution not specified)
Policy Priorities
- Higher Education Access — Serves as Chair of the NYC Council's Higher Education Committee, driving an agenda to expand access, affordability, and pathways to success for all New Yorkers.
- Educational Equity — Champions educational equity drawing on over two decades of experience as a public school teacher.
- Immigration Advocacy — Active member of the Council's Immigration Committee.
- Early Childhood Education — Serves on the Sub-Committee on Early Childhood Education.
- Housing and Buildings — Active member of the Housing and Buildings Committee.
- Children, Youth, and Disability Services — Active member of the Children and Youth and Disabilities committees.
Issue Stances
Sourced from public statements, council votes, and news coverage via AI research. Verify with primary sources.
Issue Stances
Legislative Record
Resolution calling on the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.R.7467/S.3815, also known as Virginia’s Law, in relation to eliminating the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits filed by survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking
Reporting on warming centers
Procedures for and reporting on curing ballots for voters in department of correction custody
Regulating the police department’s response to first amendment events
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.J.Res.80/S.J.Res.38, establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
Requiring the department of health and mental hygiene to create a training program for providers of pregnancy and postpartum-related services about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.1532/A.4576, to require school districts to establish policies and procedures regarding the treatment of transgender or gender non-conforming students
Standards and reporting regarding indoor air quality in schools within the city school district
Conduct & Ethics
Data sourced from NYC Legistar, NYC Campaign Finance Board, NYC Conflicts of Interest Board, and curated public records. This page is a permanent record of Rita Joseph's service in District 40.