Keith Wright - 09-15-09 Air date

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• published: 11 Sep 2009
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Keith Wright - 09-15-09 Air date Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright 70th Assembly District Biography A native of Manhattan, Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright has earned a reputation as a dedicated and thoughtful public servant who gets results for his constituents. Active in his Harlem community, Wright has helped grow small businesses, create affordable housing, and increase opportunities for youth. Wright was elected to the Assembly in 1992, and appointed Assistant Majority Whip in 1998. As chair of the Social Services Committee, Wright is currently charged with the important task of leading the fight for financial, medical and other support services for lower income households throughout New York State. These services include welfare, energy assistance programs, and medicaid, and Assemblyman Wright has historically been a vocal supporter for the expansion of such programs in Harlem, New York City and New York State at-large. A member of both the Labor Committee and the Subcommittee of Equal Economic Opportunity and Human Rights, Wright is a prime sponsor of legislation to create a "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" which will ensure that domestic workers receive fair wages, working hours and benefits. Additionally, Wright is prime sponsor of legislation that would allow seniors to travel free on public transportation on off-peak hours. Among other legislative accomplishments, Wright, as a member of the Housing Committee, was a co-sponsor of the critical legislation that protected rent controls. Wright also chairs the Subcommittee on Public Housing, where he champions the rights of tenants through extensive hearings and legislation. A member of the Correction Committee and the Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform, Wright is a strong opponent of the death penalty and the Rockefeller Drug Laws and an advocate for criminal justice reform. Following the terrible Alberta Spruill incident, a case of mistaken identity that led to death when police stormed the wrong apartment, Wright introduced legislation that would reform "no knock" search warrants. That legislation was an integral part of the Community Relations Policing Package, which served to change the way in which the police dealt with communities of color. Other committee assignments include Banks and Codes. Wright is also the former chair and current member of the Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Legislative Caucus and a member of the Puerto Rican/ Hispanic Task Force. As chair of the Harlem Community Development Corporation (CDC), Wright leveraged limited resources to make a substantial, tangible impact on economic development in Harlem, developing and renovating properties to create hundreds of units of affordable housing, grow small businesses, increase services for children and seniors and expand cultural venues. Wright is also responsible for bringing to Harlem its first High School football team in decades the 369th Harlem Hellfighters of the Thurgood Marshall Academy. A graduate of Rutgers Law School, Tufts University, the Fieldston School and the Ethical Culture School, Wright credits his parents for teaching him the importance of strong values, commitment to community and defense of civil rights. Wright is the son of legendary New York Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright and mother Constance Wright a long time educator and former principal in the New York City public school system. Prior to serving as Assemblyman, Wright held positions in the Citys Human Resources Administration, the Manhattan Borough Presidents Office and the New York City Transit Authority. Keith Wright lives in Harlem with his wife, Susan, and children, Jared and Jordan. He is a board member of Tufts University, and attends St. Phillips Episcopal Church.