Shekar Krishnan Explained

Shekar Krishnan
Office:Member of the New York City Council
from the 25th district
Term Start:January 1, 2022
Predecessor:Daniel Dromm
Birth Date:5 June 1985
Party:Democratic
Education:Cooper Union (BS)
University of Michigan (JD)
Website:

Shekar Krishnan (born June 5, 1985)[1] is an American attorney and politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 25th district, which covers the northwestern Queens neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, parts of East Elmhurst, and a small piece of Woodside.[2]

Early life

Krishnan was born to immigrant parents from Kerala, India.[3]

He received a Bachelor of Sciences in engineering from The Cooper Union and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.[4]

Career

Krishnan worked as an associate for law firms Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.[5] He was also an attorney at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, directing the organization’s fair housing and tenant advocacy divisions. He is the co-founder of Communities Resist, a legal services organization that represents tenants and neighborhood coalitions in fair housing litigation and anti-displacement advocacy in gentrified neighborhoods.[6] [7]

2021 City Council campaign

See also: 2021 New York City Council election. Krishnan announced his candidacy in the 2021 Democratic primary for the 25th District of the New York City Council on November 17, 2020.[8] Incumbent Councilmember Daniel Dromm was term-limited and could not run for reelection. He was endorsed by Dromm, U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez, and State Senators Julia Salazar and John Liu.[9] He centered his campaign on immigrant rights, the taxi medallion crisis, affordable housing, and climate justice.[10]

Krishnan won the ranked-choice primary with 53.4% of all votes cast.[11] He won the general election with 60% of the vote.[12] Along with Shahana Hanif, Krishnan is one of the first South Asians to serve in the New York City Council.[13] Days after being elected, Krishnan was arrested along with Hanif and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for protesting alongside taxi drivers.[14]

Electoral history

See also

Notes and References

  1. voteshekaar . 1400460243188940812 . Come for the cupcakes, stay for the canvass! Come through this Saturday!.
  2. Web site: Council Members & Districts . New York City Council. June 25, 2021.
  3. Web site: Meet lawyer Shekar Krishnan, who hopes to be among the first South Asians on the NYC council. October 29, 2021. November 8, 2021. Prakash. Priyali. Scroll.in.
  4. Web site: Local Express: Shekar Krishnan. February 22, 2017. November 8, 2021. Nicollette. Barsamian. Queens Gazette.
  5. Web site: 2014 . New Staff at Brooklyn A: Help us welcome these great new additions to our team! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150917104851/https://bka.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BKA-Summer-Newsletter-2014.pdf . September 17, 2015 . April 18, 2024 . Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
  6. Web site: Shekar Krishnan announces candidacy for western Queens City Council seat. Parry. Bill. November 20, 2020. November 8, 2021. QNS.com.
  7. Web site: Meet the nonprofit candidates likely to join New York’s City Council. Ponce de Léon. Gabe. July 29, 2021. November 8, 2021. NYNMedia.
  8. Web site: PODCAST: We Talk To Shekar Krishnan, Candidate For the 25th Council District. December 2, 2020. November 8, 2021. Michael. Dorgan. Jackson Heights Post.
  9. Web site: Council Member Daniel Dromm Endorses Shekar Krishnan for District 25 Seat. June 8, 2021. November 8, 2021. Griffin. Allie. Jackson Heights Post.
  10. Web site: NYC Council has 5 new Asian Americans, a record that mirrors city more accurately. November 3, 2021. November 8, 2021. Wang. Claire. NBC News.
  11. Web site: Shekar Krishnan Likely to Win Primary for Jackson Heights/Elmhurst Council Seat. Songalia. Ryan. Murray. Christian. June 22, 2021. November 8, 2021. Sunnyside Post.
  12. Web site: Say hello to your new city leaders. Donlevy. Katherine. November 4, 2021. November 8, 2021. Queens Chronicle.
  13. Web site: Shekar Krishnan, Shahana Hanif make history winning New York City council races. November 3, 2021. November 8, 2021. Kumar. Arun. American Bazaar.
  14. Web site: Wins For NYC Council Seats & Taxi Debt Relief Deal Showcase Political Might Of South Asians. November 6, 2021. November 8, 2021. Venugopal. Verun. Gothamist.