Jimmy Van Bramer
 |
Jimmy Van Bramer | |
|---|---|
 Van Bramer in 2010. | |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 26th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Gioia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jimmy Van Bramer |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic / Working Families Party |
| Residence | New York |
| Alma mater | St. Johns University |
| Occupation | City Council Member |
| Committees | Civil Rights; Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations, Chair; Finance; General Welfare; Health; Lower Manhattan Redevelopment; Parks & Recreation; Transportation; Public Housing |
 |
Jimmy Van Bramer is a member of the New York City Council. He was elected to the New York City Council to represent the 26th district on November 3, 2009. He represents Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Astoria, and Maspeth. Van Bramer is one of four openly LGBT member of the New York City Council.
Early life
Jimmy Van Bramer is a lifelong resident of Queens and the son of two active union members. His father, William Van Bramer, was a lifelong member of Printers' and Pressman's Union Local 2. His mother, Elizabeth, helped support the family by taking a variety of jobs in their neighborhood. She was a member of Local 1893 of the International Brotherhood of Painters. [citation needed]
Education
Jimmy Van Bramer graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School, and from St. Johns University in 1994.
Career
As Council Member, Van Bramer introduced legislation that has already passed in the Council to make it easier for children to apply for library cards. He presently sits on nine committees, Civil Rights; Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations, Chair; Finance; General Welfare; Health; Lower Manhattan Redevelopment; Parks & Recreation; Transportation; Public Housing. [citation needed]
Before joining the City Council, Van Bramer served as the Chief External Affairs Officer of the Queens Public Library. In this capacity, Van Bramer was the library's link between community members and government. Van Bramer has also worked to protect the rights of regular people in the democratic process by working on the Clean Money, Clean Elections campaign. As the organization's Deputy Field Director, Van Bramer brought together Queens community leaders and working people from every walk of life to win important changes in election laws. He worked as a reporter for Lesbian and Gay New York (LGNY), now Gay City News, a community newspaper, where he brought attention to the AIDS epidemic and bias/hate crimes. He represents his neighborhood and the 37th Assembly District on the New York State Democratic Committee. [citation needed]
Personal life
Van Bramer currently lives in Sunnyside Gardens with Dan Hendrick, his partner of eleven years. On November 22, 2011, Van Bramer was engaged to Hendrick, and a summer 2012 wedding is scheduled. This will make Van Bramer the first elected official of New York City to marry a same-sex partner since the enactment of the Marriage Equality Act.
