Stanford Law and University of Pennsylvania-educated lawyer Jenifer Rajkumar says she brings an unparalleled record of public service and leadership. This includes fighting workplace discrimination for 5,000 women — a case recognized by the United Nations as one of the top 10 in the world promoting women’s equality.
The outgoing Assembly Member, who has represented District 38 for many years and served as New York’s first-ever Director of Immigration Affairs, managing a $31 million project to provide legal services to immigrants, shared these sentiments when she kicked off her campaign for New York City Comptroller, on Nov. 21, adding, “I am ready to fight for the working people of New York City and remove the obstacles standing in the way of their dreams.”
Rajkumar, a public servant for all New Yorkers, brought together a coalition of hundreds of supporters from all Five Boroughs at The Palace in Woodside, noting that she is running to make history as the first South Asian and first woman of color to be Comptroller.
A champion of education, Rajkumar, a former CUNY professor, said. “No one thought I would be standing here today. But nothing can stop a determined South Asian woman. For every New Yorker who has been underestimated and counted out, this campaign is for you,” she told a rapt audience.
Rajkumar outlined her vision of wielding the Comptroller’s powers to address the most pressing issues facing New Yorkers. She said she would develop solutions to address the 9,000 people committing most crimes, crack down on reckless e-bikes, close the gender wage gap, create a bridge to college for high school graduates, improve access to affordable housing, and safeguard $270 billion in pension fund assets for 700,000 current and retired City employees. She called for bold leadership and a culture of service to restore trust in City government.
She highlighted her record of achievements in Albany, at every step accomplishing what detractors told her was impossible. Rajkumar became the first South Asian woman elected to the New York State Office, defeating an incumbent by the widest margin of any primary challenger. She went on to pass the historic Diwali School Holiday bill so that now and forever, 600,000 New Yorkers can celebrate one of their most sacred days of the year without children missing school. This year, she passed the SMOKEOUT Act, empowering the city to close over 1,200 illegal smoke shops in months.
She concluded her remarks with a rallying cry: “Are you ready to make this truly the greatest city in the world? Let’s win this together!”
A coalition of activists from diverse communities, religious leaders of all faiths, local business owners, women leaders, and New Yorkers from all walks of life — many immigrants who came to New York to achieve the American Dream- applauded Rajkumar.
Among them were members of New York’s Indian, African American, Latino, Jewish, AAPI, Muslim, Dominican, Colombian, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Tibetan, Filipino, Caribbean, Pakistani, Sikh, and LGBTQ+ communities. The crowd reflected the overwhelming momentum for her people-powered campaign, which raised more than any other Comptroller candidate in the latest filing period.
