Simcha Felder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Template:Short description Template:DMCA

Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.

Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
Simcha Felder
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found.
Felder in 2019
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
Member of the New York City Council
from the 44th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 10, 2025
Preceded byKalman Yeger
In office
Template:En dash range
Preceded byNoach Dear
Succeeded byDavid G. Greenfield
Member of the New York State Senate
In office
Template:En dash range
Preceded byOpen seat (redistricted)
Succeeded bySam Sutton
Constituency17th district (2013–2023)
22nd district (2023–2025)
Personal details
BornScript error: No such module "person date".
DiedScript error: No such module "person date".
PartyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations
Senate Republican Conference (2013–2019)[1][2]
EducationTouro University (BS)
Baruch College (MBA)
WebsiteCity Council website

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Simcha Felder is an American politician from the state of New York and a member of the New York City Council.

A Democrat, Felder represented the 44th district in the New York City Council from 2002 to 2010. He later served in the New York State Senate, representing the 17th district from 2013 to 2022 and the 22nd district from 2023 to 2025. In 2025, he returned to the City Council to represent District 44 once again.

In 2025, Felder was described by Spectrum News/New York 1 as "a revered long-serving politician in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community". He is known for his advocacy for yeshivas, for his willingness to caucus with Republicans (which has created consternation amongst other Democrats), and for his conservative record.

Early life, education, and early career

Felder's father was Rabbi Harry Felder, spiritual leader of Beth Aaron Congregation in Borough Park.[3] Felder is an Orthodox Jew.[4] His brothers are Rabbi Shmuel Felder and Rabbi Chaim Moshe Felder.[5]

Felder is a certified public accountant. He holds a bachelor's in accounting from Touro University and a master's degree in business administration from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.[6][7]

Felder has worked as a tax auditor for the New York City Department of Finance.[6] In the 1990s, he worked for the New York City Comptroller's Office.[8] Felder has also served as chief of staff to Democratic Assemblymember Dov Hikind.[9]

New York City Council (2002–2010)

Felder was elected to the New York City Council in District 44 in 2001.[10] He was re-elected in 2005[11] and 2009.[12]

During his tenure on the City Council, Felder gained popularity among his conservative Jewish constituents for advocating on their behalf and for supporting Israel.[13] Although personally opposed to homosexuality as being against Orthodox Judaism, he backed Christine Quinn for City Council Speaker in what was seen as a political move to gain allies.[14] Although Felder claimed to support Quinn, he said he could not actually vote for her because of religious reasons. When the time came to vote on Quinn's candidacy for Council Speaker, Felder took a trip to the restroom and did not cast a vote.[15]

Felder backed city funding for religious schools, while maintaining that he opposed displays of religion in public schools.[16][17] Felder has also gained attention by calling for better labeling of caffeine content in foods and beverages,[18] as well as a ban on the distribution of unsolicited fliers.[19] Felder also became known for his attempt to ban the feeding of pigeons in New York City.[20]

In 2005, Felder crossed party lines to endorse then-Republican Mike Bloomberg in his bid for re-election as New York City mayor.[21] Felder asserted that Bloomberg was the only Republican he had ever voted for, and implied that Bloomberg would be the only Republican he would ever support.[22]

Felder was Chair of the council's Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime uses in his first term. In January 2006, he became Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations. As Chair of Governmental Operations, Felder supported Mayor Bloomberg's plan to curb Pay to Play contracting practices, and the Mayor's bid to extend term limits, so that the Mayor could run for a third term.[23]

The committee also provided oversight of the City Board of Elections' implementation of the Help America Vote Act, and enacted legislation to transfer the Environmental Control Board from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. The committee also enacted legislation to extend term limits from two terms to three. As a member of the council's Land Use Committee, Felder was part of a group of New York state legislators that has consistently blocked plans to renovate United Nations headquarters, calling the UN anti-American and anti-Israel.[24] In spite of such calls, the UN announced in 2007 that it would undergo a $1 billion makeover.[25]

In April 2006, Felder accused the highest-ranking uniformed member of the NYPD, Chief Joseph Esposito, of using inappropriate language when Esposito attempted to quell individuals who entered a police station during a riot in Borough Park. Felder indicated that he personally heard the chief say, "Get the fucking Jews out of here." The Civilian Complaint Review Board, which investigates police misconduct, later found the accusation against Esposito unsubstantiated, but did reprimand him for using profanity.[26]

Felder resigned his City Council post in 2010 to take a position working for New York City Comptroller John Liu.[27]

New York State Senate (2013–2025)

File:Avenue H Station on Q Line Now Fully Accessible (51314325200) (cropped).jpg
Felder speaking at a press conference in 2021

In 2008, Felder challenged incumbent State Senator Kevin Parker in a Democratic primary in Senate District 21.[28] Parker won the primary with less than 50% of the vote.[29]

Felder was elected to the New York State Senate in District 17 in November 2012. The district had been reconfigured as a "Super Jewish" district; reportedly, the Republican-controlled chamber drew the district specifically with Felder in mind. Even though incumbent David Storobin had won the seat in a special election, the GOP offered little support to him, and Felder handily defeated him.[30]

Following his election to the Senate, Felder announced that, despite being elected as a Democrat, he intended to caucus with the Republicans.[31] Felder also stated his willingness to return to the Senate Democratic Conference if doing so would benefit his district.[4] Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio called Felder's defection a "disgrace and a complete betrayal of his constituents".[31]

Felder is known as a conservative Democrat.[32] As a State Senator, Felder was the only Democrat to vote against $15-per-hour minimum wage legislation. He cast deciding votes against an immigration bill called the New York Dream Act, stated that ending stop-and-frisk was a mistake, opposed plastic bag fees, and supported Iran divestment and anti-BDS laws.[4][33] Felder opposes abortion.[34] On the final day of the 2013 legislative session, Felder voted against a hostile amendment that would have attached a pro-choice bill to an unrelated piece of legislation; the measure failed by one vote.[35]

Felder was re-elected to the Senate without opposition in 2014[36] and 2016.[37] In the latter election, he ran on the Democratic, Republican, and Conservative lines.[37]

Felder is known for his advocacy for yeshivas.[38][39] In April 2018, other lawmakers accused Felder of "essentially holding the $168 billion budget hostage until the state agreed not to interfere with the curriculum at the private Jewish schools known as yeshivas".[40]

After an April 2018 agreement returned the Independent Democratic Conference (a breakaway faction of Democrats) to the mainline Democratic conference, Felder became the swing vote in the State Senate; this placed a spotlight on his continued affiliation with Senate Republicans. On April 24, 2018, Felder announced that he intended to continue caucusing with Senate Republicans during the remaining weeks of the 2018 legislative session; Felder made this statement despite the possibility that two special elections being held that day could give the Democratic Party a numerical majority in the State Senate, and despite Governor Andrew Cuomo's public support for Democratic control of the Senate.[41] On April 25, Cuomo sent Felder an open letter to pressure him to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference.[42] Felder continued to caucus with the Republicans.[30]

In June 2018, Democratic State Committee members approved an informal resolution recommending Felder's ouster from the party. Former state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, speaking to reporters afterward, reiterated the committee's exasperation with Felder. Jacobs said:[30]

Page Template:Blockquote/styles.css has no content.

It's my belief is that the party is not merely a vessel for someone's personal ambition to take someone from where they are to where they want to be. The party represents certain principles. Here, you have someone who took the Democratic line, ran on it, won on it, and immediately stood with the Republicans.

In the 2018 Democratic primary in September 2018, Felder defeated Blake Morris,[43] a lawyer.[44] Felder won re-election on November 6, 2018.[45]

The 2018 elections saw the Democrats win control of the State Senate for only the second time since World War II. Felder sought to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference. However, on December 31, 2018, the Senate Democratic Conference announced that Felder would not be allowed to rejoin its ranks. Even without Felder, the Democrats had 39 Senate seats, seven more than the 32 needed for a majority.[46] On January 9, 2019, the Daily News reported that Felder had decided against caucusing with the Republicans, and was looking forward to rejoining the Senate Democrats "'at the appropriate time'".[2]

Felder was accepted into the Democratic caucus on July 1, 2019, after having voted with the Democrats on multiple major pieces of legislation.[47]

In 2022, following redistricting, Felder - who represented New York's 17th Senate District - sought re-election in New York's 22nd Senate district.[48] Felder won re-election in the 22nd Senate District in November 2022.[49]

Felder's final day in the legislature was April 9, 2025. He stepped down from his Senate seat after being elected to the New York City Council.[50] His farewell speech marked only the third time he had ever spoken on the Senate floor.[51]

New York City Council (2025–present)

Felder returned to the New York City Council in 2025.[52][53]

Following the 2024 election of New York City Council member Kalman Yeger to the New York State Assembly, Felder announced his candidacy for Yeger's seat on the New York City Council representing District 44.[54] Felder had held the same seat during his previous City Council tenure. On March 25, 2025, he won the seat with more than 81% of the vote.[55]

In 2025, Felder was described by Spectrum News/New York 1 as "a revered long-serving politician in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community".[56]

Personal life

Felder resides in Borough Park, Brooklyn.[57] He and his wife, Elana, have four children.[58]

References

Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.

  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vielkind, Jimmy (August 10, 2016). "Republicans crow that Felder is running on GOP line". Politico.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lovett, Kenneth (January 9, 2019). "Without the Dems or the Republicans, Brooklyn state Sen. Felder an island to himself". Daily News.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Beth Aaron Congregation". Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Runyeon, Frank (October 4, 2016). ""Heretic". "Maverick". "Opportunist". "Advocate". Who is the real Simcha Felder?". City & State. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lytle, Baruch (March 19, 2025). "State Senator Simcha Felder, Eyeing Move To City Council, On Babka, Trump, And His Approach To Public Service". JewishPress.com.
  6. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Witt, Stephen (April 12, 2018). "Simcha Felder: Independent Thinker, Political Pragmatist". politicsny.com.
  7. ^ https://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/general_2003/cd_statement/CD44_Felder_313.htm
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Katinas, Paula (November 30, 2015). "In Public Service: Felder aims to make life easier for residents". Brooklyn Eagle.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Katz, Celeste (April 24, 2012). "Dov Hikind, David Greenfield Endorse Simcha Felder For New "Super-Jewish" State Senate Seat". nydailynews.com.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2001 New York City Election Results" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2005 New York City Council Election Results, District 44" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2009 New York City Council Election Results, District 44" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council's Felder Sides With Mayor". New York Sun. April 14, 2005.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Boro Park Pol Favors Gay Speaker Hopeful". The Jewish Week. December 30, 2005.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Felder's Private Office". New York Observer. January 13, 2006. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."City Adds Funds For Catholic, Jewish Schools". New York Sun. July 10, 2006.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Simcha Felder Against Allowing Religious Symbols In Schools". New York Sun. June 19, 2007.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."NYC Councilman Wants Caffeine Labeling". Associated Press. February 20, 2007.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Law would destroy my livelihood!". The Brooklyn Paper. May 5, 2007.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."$1,000 fine for feeding pigeons? N.Y. considers". NBC News. November 14, 2007.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Felder: I'm a Malcolm Smith Democrat". New York Daily News. June 2, 2008.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Felder is Not a Doghouse Democrat". Room Eight NY. August 4, 2008.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Last Days of Pay to Play". New York Magazine. February 26, 2007.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."UN Takes A Beating". The Jewish Week. December 17, 2004.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.N. signs contract with Skanska for HQ renovation". Reuters. July 27, 2007.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Parascandola, Rocco (August 4, 2007). "Probe: Chief didn't use slur". Newsday. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mayor Bloomberg sets date for City Council special election to fill Simcha Felder's vacant seat". silive.com. February 1, 2010.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Witt, Stephen (August 5, 2008). "Race's red hot rhetoric - Parker, Stewart, Felder in fierce war of words • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Confessore, Nicholas; Hicks, Jonathan P. (September 10, 2008). "Silver Sidesteps a Challenge, but Other Incumbents Fall in Primary". The New York Times.
  30. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Silberstein, Rachel (May 30, 2018). "Sen. Simcha Felder, explained". Times Union.
  31. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Katz, Celeste (November 14, 2012). "Brooklyn Dems' Frank Seddio Calls Simcha Felder Plan To Caucus With Senate GOP "A Betrayal"". New York Daily News.
  32. ^ Multiple sources:
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Group picks slick pol for Oil Slick Award". Forest Hills Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Guttman, Nathan (July 24, 2017). "Jewish And Pro-Life: Still A Minority, No Longer A Contradiction In Terms". forward.com.
  35. ^ Multiple sources:
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2014 New York State Senate Election Results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
  37. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2016 New York State Senate Election Results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Coltin, Jeff (August 28, 2018). "Simcha Felder's outsized impact on education". City & State NY.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vielkind, Jimmy (March 29, 2018). "With budget stalled, Felder pushes moratorium for yeshivas". POLITICO.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wang, Vivian; McKinley, Jesse (April 3, 2018). "The Curious Case of the Yeshiva Carve-Out". The New York Times.
  41. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Campbell, John; Spector, Joseph (April 24, 2018). "Simcha Felder to stick with Senate Republicans, denying potential Democratic control". Democrat and Chronicle.
  42. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cutler, Nancy. "Cuomo crows about a Democratic Senate majority as he waits on Simcha Felder". The Journal News.
  43. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."IDC and other New York legislative 2018 primary results". City & State NY. September 14, 2018.
  44. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Clark, Amy Sara (August 8, 2018). "Can A Progressive Upend Felder?". The Jewish Week.
  45. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Feldman, Ari (November 7, 2018). "Simcha Felder Is Kingmaker No More — Faces "Different World" In Albany". The Forward.
  46. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lovett, Kenneth (December 31, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: NYS Senate Dems say thanks, but no thanks to Simcha Felder's return to Democratic conference". Daily News.
  47. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Reisman, Nick (July 1, 2019). "Felder Joins Senate Dem Fold". NYstateofpolitics.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  48. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Khurshid, Samar (September 22, 2022). "Races to Watch in New York's 2022 General Election". Gotham Gazette.
  49. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2022 New York state legislative general election results". City & State NY. November 8, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  50. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Simcha Felder Leaves NY State Senate for City Council, Leaving a Lasting Legacy". Boro Park 24. April 9, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  51. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Beeferman, Jason (April 9, 2025). "Late budget blaming continues". Politico. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  52. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."District 44 - Simcha Felder". council.nyc.gov. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  53. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Tracy, Matt (April 24, 2025). "Council approves bills to protect gender-affirming care after hospitals cave to Trump". gaycitynews.com.
  54. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Simcha Felder Enters Race For NYC Council Special Election". BoroPark 24. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  55. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Simcha Felder wins back his former City Council seat in landslide vote". Brooklyn Eagle. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  56. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rivoli, Dan (March 26, 2025). "Veteran of Orthodox Jewish politics returns to Council". ny1.com.
  57. ^ Rivlin-Nadler, Max; and Evans, Lauren. "Meet The Senator Who Stands Between New Yorkers And Universal Health Care", The Village Voice, May 25, 2017. Accessed February 8, 2019. "That one vote is represented by State Senator Simcha Felder, of Borough Park, Brooklyn."
  58. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2003 General Election Voter Guide". www.nyccfb.info. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
Retrieved from "https://cosmopedia.co/index.php?title=Simcha_Felder&oldid=2307809"