Inna Vernikov
Inna Vernikov | |
|---|---|
| File:Inna-Vernikov.jpg | |
| Minority Whip of the New York City Council | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Borelli |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 48th district | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Chaim Deutsch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1984 Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Republican (2021-present) Democratic (until 2020) |
| Education | Baruch College (BA) Florida Coastal School of Law (JD) |
| Website | council |
Inna Vernikov (born August 30, 1984) is a Ukrainian-American attorney and politician serving as a member of the New York City Council for the 48th District. The Minority Whip of the City Council, her district includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Midwood, West Brighton Beach, and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.[1] Formerly a Democrat, Vernikov is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Vernikov was born in Chernivtsi in then- Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now southwestern Ukraine), to Jewish parents. She attended ORT Specialized School #41, a Ukrainian Jewish day school. As Vernikov was growing up, the living standards of the newly independent Ukraine were declining due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union; so at age 12, she immigrated with her family to the United States.[2]
Vernikov received her undergraduate degree at Baruch College and her Juris Doctor from the Florida Coastal School of Law.[citation needed]
Career
Vernikov served as an aide to New York State Assemblymember Dov Hikind. Prior to running for City Council, Vernikov was an immigration and divorce attorney. She is a member of the board for both Tikva, an organization supporting Jewish orphans in Ukraine, and Americans Against Antisemitism.[3][better source needed]
New York City Council
A former registered Democrat, Vernikov became a Republican to run for office and after seeing the rise in antisemitism and what she sees as socialism in New York City.[2] While campaigning, she stated “Jews coming from the former Soviet Union are very familiar with communism and socialism, and many of us feel strongly that what today’s Democratic Party is promoting is exactly what we ran from—a place where speech was censored, where we were not allowed to practice religion, where we didn’t have freedom or economic opportunity.”[2]
Vernikov received the support of the district's former councilman Democrat Chaim Deutsch, and Donald Trump Jr. Vernikov was elected to the City Council after defeating the Democratic nominee Steve Saperstein. She is the first Republican to represent a portion of Brooklyn in the New York City Council since Marty Golden in 2002.[4]
As a councilwoman, Vernikov organized multiple community events including political rallies, marches, and bicycle rules. She organized a rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan.[5] She had also organized a march against antisemitism after two Jewish teenagers were assaulted for wearing a hoodie with the logo of the Israel Defense Forces.[6]
Vernikov, of Jewish background, is an avid supporter of Israel and has organized and participated in pro-Israel events. She also organized a bike ride from Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay to Avenue M in Midwood in support of Israel after a wave of terrorist attacks swept the nation.[when?][7] She also marched in the 2022 Celebrate Israel Parade with other members of the New York City Council.[8]
After the faculty at City University of New York Law School passed a resolution supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, Vernikov announced she would pull $50,000 in funding for the law school and redirect it towards Legal Services NYC.[9][10]
References
- ^ "District 48". Inna Vernikov.
- ^ a b c "Fed up with socialism and anti-Semitism, attorney seeks to clean up New York City". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ "About Inna Vernikov – New York Divorce & Immigration Attorney". Law Offices Of Inna Vernikov. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ Brachfeld, Ben (November 3, 2021). "REPUBLICAN INNA VERNIKOV WINS SOUTH BROOKLYN COUNCIL SEAT AMID STRONG GOP SHOWING CITYWIDE". The Brooklyn Paper.
- ^ "Councilwoman Vernikov To Hold Anti-Mandate Rally". Shorefront News. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Vernikov to lead march against anti-Semitism". Brooklyn Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Vernikov, Inna. Join us on your 🚴 to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel & bring awareness to the violent acts of terror that have claimed the lives of eleven innocents in one week. Facebook, 31 Mar 2022, 7:09 PM, https://www.facebook.com/CouncilwomanInnaVernikov/posts/pfbid0zzCUyzxjg5AjoYDo2dEjnqiQVPZMqT57a8DmGhjta7TVHqNJ41WPp7eg3bJzZdaUl. Accessed 16 June 2022.
- ^ Inna Vernikov [@councilwoman_inna_vernikov]. Multiple photos of Inna Vernikov and other members of the New York City Council marching down Fifth Avenue behind a New York City Council banner whilst holding flags of the State of Israel. Instagram, 22 May 2022, 4:28 PM, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd366e3Pp0h/?hl=en.
- ^ NYC’s Inna Vernikov pulls CUNY Law School funding over Israel stance, By Carl Campanile, New York Post, May 27, 2022
- ^ NYC councilwoman pulls CUNY Law School funding over faculty endorsement of BDS; GOP councilwoman Inna Vernikov is pulling $50,000 earmarked for CUNY Law School in response to the faculty endorsing a BDS resolution, BY MICHAEL ARRIA, Mondo Weiss, MAY 30, 2022
