Jose Peralta

José Peralta

Peralta in 2008
Member of the New York Senate
from the 13th district
Assumed office
March 17, 2010
Preceded by Hiram Monserrate
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 39th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – March 17, 2010
Preceded by Frank Seddio
Succeeded by Francisco Moya
Personal details
Born José Rafael Peralta
(1971-11-10) November 10, 1971[1]
New York City[1]
Nationality United States
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Evelyn[2]
Children 2[2]
Residence Jackson Heights, Queens, New York
Alma mater Queens College, City University of New York
Profession Politician
Website NY Senate website

José Rafael Peralta (born November 10, 1971)[1] represents District 13 in the New York State Senate, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside.[3] He previously represented District 39 in the New York State Assembly, which is located in Queens, New York and includes Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.[4]

On March 16, 2010, he was elected in a landslide to the New York State Senate.[5] According to the Associated Press, Jose Peralta won the special election, outpolling Hiram Monserrate 65 percent to 27 percent and Republican Robert Beltrani with 8 percent.[3]

Early life and family

Peralta is a first-generation Dominican-American.[6] After immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic, Peralta's father was employed as a bank teller.[6] His mother, Rose Hernandez,[7] worked as a seamstress.[6] At the age of 8, Peralta moved with his family from Washington Heights, New York to Queens. Peralta attended public elementary school in New York City, and graduated from Flushing High School in 1989.[6] He enrolled at Queens College, City University of New York, and became the first Latino Student Body President at the college.[6] Peralta graduated from Queens College in 1996, with a degree in psychology.[8][9]

After graduating from Queens College, Peralta was a community liaison in the New York State Assembly.[4][10] Peralta represented the interests of immigrants on the New York City Central Labor Council,[10][11] serving in the position of Director of the Commission on the Dignity for Immigrants.[4][6]

Peralta was a political staffer on campaigns in New York including Brian McLaughlin's campaign for New York State Assembly, Toby Stavisky's campaign for New York State Senate, Alan Hevesi election bid for New York City Comptroller and Hillary Clinton's campaign for United States Senate.[10] Peralta has two sons, Myles and Matthew, and he is married to Evelyn.[2]

New York State Assembly

In the November 5, 2002 election, Peralta won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing District 39.[10] He ran as a Democrat, and beat candidate Charles Gonzales, a Republican.[10] Peralta received 76 percent of the votes cast.[12][13][14] He was the first Hispanic from Queens, New York who won an election to serve in the state Assembly.[15][16][17] The 39th Assembly District in New York was created in 2002, as a result of the significant increase in immigrant population in the region.[15][18] Peralta was sworn in as a member of the Assembly by Civil Court Judge Diccia Pineda, also of Dominican heritage.[7] Judge Diccia was the first Hispanic from Queens to become a member of the Civil Court.[7] Peralta took the oath of office in Corona, New York, at the New York Hall of Science.[7] In attendance at Peralta's swearing-in ceremony were United States Senator Charles Schumer, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver, and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin.[7]

In March 2004, Peralta requested that state Republican leadership pass legislation which proposed to increase the state's minimum wage to $7.15 per hour.[19] In April 2007, Peralta introduced anti-gang legislation in the Assembly, that focused on creating "Gang Free School Zones" surrounding schools in New York.[20] In June 2007, Peralta was among a majority of the Assembly that voted to support passage of a same-sex marriage bill in New York.[21] In January 2008, Peralta co-signed legislation with Sheldon Silver, Audrey Pheffer and Rory I. Lancman, which put forth a proposal of $150 million in funding for families that had the possibility of their homes being foreclosed upon.[22]

Peralta worked with fellow Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry to change the Rockefeller drug laws.[4] Peralta served in the Assembly as Chair of the Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities.[4] He worked to encourage banks to move into underserved regions, through his Banking Development District legislation.[4]

New York State Senate

In October 2009, Peralta stated his intention to run for the New York State Senate, for a seat representing District 13.[23] The Queens Democratic Party lent support to Peralta in his campaign for the Senate seat.[23] An article in The New York Times in October 2009 described Peralta as "one of the party’s rising stars".[24] Politician Hiram Monserrate was expelled from the Senate on February 9, 2010 by a 53-8 vote of his former colleagues after being convicted of misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend Karla Giraldo.[23] Peralta became a candidate for the March 16, 2010 special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant due to Monserrate's expulsion.[23]

The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers endorsed Peralta on February 26, 2010.[25] Civil rights activist Al Sharpton endorsed Peralta in February 2010.[26] On March 2, 2010, Peralta received an endorsement from New York City Council member Julissa Ferreras.[27] Peralta received the endorsement of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA), due to his support for LGBT rights.[28] Peralta also received endorsements from groups including the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women,[29] building services workers union the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sector 32BJ,[30] and Fight Back New York.[31] On March 16, 2010, Peralta was elected to the New York State Senate.[5] He was sworn in on March 17.[32]

Peralta also sponsored a number of bills of direct significance to our community, that were passed by the New York State Senate, including:

• Tougher Penalties on Human Trafficking: signed into law as part of the Women’s Equality Act package, this legislation increased penalties for perpetrators of human trafficking crimes within our neighborhoods, and across New York State. These acts are now higher level felonies, allowing the District Attorney to aggressively prosecute offenders, as well as provide needed services to victims who are forced to participate in illegal labor and sex work.

• Stopping Assaults on Crossing Guards: signed into law, it is now a felony for a person to assault school crossing guards – essential employees who go to work every day to keep our kids safe.

• Cracking Down on Fake IDs: a bill to increase penalties on ‘ID mills’ that continue to defraud our immigrant communities through sales on Roosevelt Avenue, as well as target our community members through increased acts of identity theft.

• Organized Crime in the 21st Century: a measure to include crimes such as identity theft and ATM card skimming as those that can be prosecuted under New York’s organized crime statute. This is a commonsense plan to allow State Law to catch up to advances in technology.

• Cleaning Up the Money Transmitter Business: a bill to punish agents of transmitters who fail to transmit money in accordance with the terms of a contract, holding them liable for damages up to an amount three times that suffered by a customer who is defrauded.

• Relieving the Small Food Industry: a bill to waive the license fee for food processing establishments operating in kitchen incubator facilities for the first two years for a first time licensee.

• Promoting Tourism within Queens: a bill that would utilize a small part of the occupancy tax collected from Queens’ hotels and use those funds to promote tourism within the borough.

Election results

Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 5,782
Charley S. Gonzalez (REP - IND - CON - RTL) ... 2,085
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 12,415
Giash U. Ahmed (REP) ... 1,966
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 7,081
(uncontested)
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 12,664
(uncontested)
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 10,337
Robert Beltrani (REP) ... 1,162
Hiram Monserrate (YWC) ... 4,223
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 23,962
Richard La Salle (REP - IND - CON) ... 4,979
Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 49,893

(uncontested)

Jose R. Peralta (DEM - WOR) ... 19,968

(uncontested)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "State Senate: Jose Rafael Peralta (D), District 13". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on March 29, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Santos, Fernando; Rebecca White (March 16, 2010). "Monserrate and Peralta Hit the Polls in State Senate Race". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. City Room. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  3. 1 2 Trapasso, Clare; Feeney, Michael J.; Standora, Leo (2010-03-16). "Ousted state Sen. Hiram Monserrate loses bid to regain seat as Assemblyman Jose Peralta triumphs". New York: Associated Press.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cruz, Claudia (March 2, 2010). "Special Election Profile: Jose Peralta". The Queens Courier. Schneps Publications, Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  5. 1 2 Santos, Fernanda (March 16, 2010). "Monserrate Loses Bid to Regain Seat". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography". Jose Peralta for State Senate. www.joseperalta.com. 2010. p. Bio. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Toscano, John (February 5, 2003). "Weiner Wins Key Transportation Panel Post; 1st Queens Hispanic Assembly Member sworn". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  8. ↑ "State Assembly 39th District - Voters Guide". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. November 3, 2002. p. G22.
  9. ↑ "Alumni Relations". QC Queens College. Queens College, City University of New York. 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biographies - Jose Peralta". Gotham Gazette. Citizens Union Foundation. 2002. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  11. ↑ Virasami, Bryan; Ron Howell (February 15, 2002). "Putting Latinos, Asians On Map". Newsday. www.puertorico-herald.org. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  12. ↑ Murphy, William (January 3, 2003). "Pataki Moving To Latin Beat". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. p. A16.
  13. ↑ Silvestre, Edmund M. (November 14, 2002). "Gonzales loses bid for assembly". Filipino Reporter.
  14. ↑ Campo, Antonio C. (December 12, 2002). "Piece of cake: Dream of Fil-Am political empowerment dies in Qns". Filipino Reporter.
  15. 1 2 Ruiz, Albor (January 23, 2005). "Dem club embracing its future". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  16. ↑ Howell, Ron (August 20, 2002). "Who Will Be the First Latino? - Three Assembly hopefuls vie to make history in Queens". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. p. A29.
  17. ↑ Toscano, John (May 21, 2003). "Eye on politics - DA Brown, Council Candidates Get Dem Nod". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  18. ↑ Toscano, John (February 2, 2005). "Onorato: GOP State Senate Changes Add Up To 'Real Reform Rejected'". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  19. ↑ Woodberry Jr., Warren (March 18, 2004). "New York Assemblyman Pushes Republicans to Pass Minimum-Wage Hike". New York Daily News. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
  20. ↑ Toscano, John (April 11, 2007). "Gang Menace In Schools Addressed By Peralta Bill". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  21. ↑ "Gay-Marriage Bill Passes, Fails, and Freaks Out a Bronx Dem". New York Magazine. www.nymag.com. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  22. ↑ Hampton, Matt (January 10, 2008). "Politicians Attack Foreclosure Crisis". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Davis, Pete (March 2, 2010). "A truly Special Election in Queens". The Queens Courier. Schneps Publications, Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  24. ↑ Confessore, Nicholas (October 28, 2009). "Queens Party Is Expected to Dump Monserrate". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  25. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 26, 2010). "Department Of Questionable Timing". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  26. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 25, 2010). "Odds and Ends". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  27. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 2, 2010). "Ferreras E-mails For Peralta". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  28. ↑ Chang, Ailsa (March 1, 2010). "Religious Groups Endorse Monserrate". WNYC. www.wnyc.org. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  29. ↑ "Sears Out, Beltrani GOP Choice In Special Election; Peralta Support Swells". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. March 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  30. ↑ Velte, Marcy L. (March 1, 2010). "Same-sex marriage advocates gunning for Monserrate". Legislative Gazette. www.legislativegazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  31. ↑ Rovzar, Chris (March 4, 2010). "Is Hiram Monserrate Just Running Against Gay People Now?". New York Magazine. www.nymag.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  32. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 17, 2010). "Sen. Peralta". Daily News. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  33. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2002" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2002.
  34. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2004" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 6, 2004.
  35. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 7, 2006" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 14, 2006.
  36. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Special Election Results, 13th Senate District: March 16, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2010.
  38. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010.
  39. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 8, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2012.
  40. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2014" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2014.
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New York Assembly
Preceded by
Frank R. Seddio		 New York State Assembly, 39th District
2003–2010 		Succeeded by
Francisco Moya
New York State Senate
Preceded by
Hiram Monserrate		 New York State Senate, 13th District
2010–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Hiram Monserrate		 Chairman of the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection
March 2010–December 2010 		Succeeded by
Lee Zeldin
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