Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.

National signing day is in the books! Nala Catherine Ellen Cornegy aka “Bunny Rabbit” signed her commitment letter to become a member of the University of Virginia’s Womens volleyball team!!! Well worth the 4 1/2 hour drive. Special thank you to her Episcopal as well as Virginia Elites coaches for all the support and hard work to get her to this point! headed back to New York beaming with pride!

National signing day is in the books! Nala Catherine Ellen Cornegy aka “Bunny Rabbit” signed her commitment letter to become a member of the University of Virginia’s Womens volleyball team!!! Well worth the 4 1/2 hour drive. Special thank you to her Episcopal as well as Virginia Elites coaches for all the support and hard work to get her to this point! headed back to New York beaming with pride!

Today I am reminded of the famous quote from the incomparable Shirley Chisholm; “Service is the the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth!” Thank you Dr. King for your service!

Dear Friends,

I want to start off with a word of gratitude to the Creator for giving me the opportunity to serve this community. I have been blessed with having the greatest job I could imagine, and I want to share my appreciation for the greater powers for the bounty of our community.

The voters gave me the honor of representing the 36th Council District since January 1st, 2013. This district covers northern Weeksville, a community that was founded in 1838 by African Americans who understood that civil rights and self-determination were connected to home ownership. The district was where Bertram Baker became the first African American elected to public office, where Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman in Congress, and where my mentor, Al Vann, revitalized this tradition with his vision of reform and self-determination. I do not have time to thank everyone, but my strengths as a legislator owe a huge debt to the trailblazers that helped establish rights and opportunities for all of us.

What has it felt like to bear the burden of such greatness? It has been incredibly fun! I can’t imagine anything more invigorating than Senior Swim. I hosted seven of these epic events, which attracted hundreds of seenagers (as I call them), who partied like no one else. I hosted two Battle of the Bands, where we shut down the streets to make a joyful noise. We are turning Brooklyn into a hub of HBCU leaders, and we are supporting educational excellence with marching bands, amazing dancing and Black brilliance.

True justice requires our engagement. Policy change requires neighborhood action. That’s why I led the effort to bring the community together to create the 565-foot long Black Lives Matter Mural in front of Restoration Plaza. This effort sends a message that a true justice system must focus on rehabilitation and building life up by honoring over 150 victims of racist killings. We have shared the joy in celebrating Black Love with the mural as a witness to a marriage. We have shared Black Art, yoga, wellness and the mural was home of a moving floral tribute honoring victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As this pandemic ravaged Brooklyn, my office did not slow our service to the community. In March of 2020, we stayed out in the streets bringing food and fellowship for free with our weekly Wellness Wednesday grocery distributions. Nothing centers me more than service to the community, and it is uplifting to see everyone join together with our neighbors as we help ourselves and each other at these events.

My commitment to transformation goes beyond these activities. I chose a unique staff, and I hired both an Arts and Culture Ambassador and a licensed social worker. I established the D36 NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community), which helps amplify the talents of our seenagers, and has been actively putting on programs. It has been so successful that it has become a model for expanding neighborhood NORCs across New York City.

In order for our community to progress, we need systemic changes. I have worked hard to be a thoughtful legislator, creating systemic and long-lasting change. In my first term, I introduced several bills I am proud of. Avonte Oquendo went missing from his New York school on October 4, 2013. He was 14 years old, a boy with autism who couldn’t speak. After more than three months of searching, his remains were found in the East River. I introduced and passed Avonte’s Law to protect children with autism or other developmental disabilities who may wander away from safety. I introduced the Kalief Browder Bill, requiring the Department of Corrections to provide much-needed vocational and educational programming, therapy and other life-changing services to those detained or incarcerated on Rikers Island for longer than 10 days.

Supporting children means supporting nursing mothers. If we really want a city that supports families, then we need to create spaces to support physical health and emotional bonding, which is why I introduced and passed Lactation Station legislation. My office was also the first to have a Lactation station with a Lactation Specialist on staff.

African American leaders have been working to create a self-reliant community for centuries, which is why they established the free Black community of Weeksville. When the current institution faced a financial crisis in 2019, Council Member Laurie Cumbo and I stepped into action. Weeksville is now the first Black CIG (Cultural Institutions Group), guaranteeing the museum will have its basic operating costs covered by New York City.

In my first term, I served as Chair of the Committee on Small Business. I was able to pass dozens of laws to support mom-and-pop businesses, providing them with access to capital and sensible regulations including commercial tenant anti-harassment and neglect legislation, offering protection against nefarious landlords. I established Chamber On The Go, which, instead of forcing entrepreneurs to head to Downtown Brooklyn to get services, brought information directly into businesses. This not only allowed business owners to get information vital for their survival, it also helped the Brooklyn Chamber by allowing them to see for themselves the innovations in our community. This program was so successful, it has now been replicated on a City-wide level.

In my second term, I served as Chair of the Housing and Buildings Committee; of the Commission on Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises; and of the Democratic Conference. I was able to pass dozens of bills to support homeowners and tenants, including bills to help the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption program, fighting deed fraud and extending the Rent Stabilization Law. I have also worked to modernize how the Department of Buildings works, and we are moving towards an era where we can use new technology like drones to help with inspections. Everyone benefits if our buildings are safer, including owners, tenants and construction workers.

I have worked diligently to create pathways to build wealth in our communities. The most effective path is through home ownership. By working in partnership with legislators, community boards, nonprofits, developers and faith groups, we have worked to bring new home ownership opportunities into Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights. Because of these partnerships, there will be families that will be able to build equity and pass it down to their children.

As a father of six, I understand the importance of uplifting our young people. I support the Cure Violence philosophy and I believe the violence that plagues our community must stop. We must advance the narrative that our youth are potential engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs; they have the potential to go where their dreams take them. That’s why I worked to make sure that they have the opportunity to benefit from the Gifted and Talented program here in our neighborhood.

I could not have passed all these bills or organized all these events without the help of an amazing staff. They have shown what dedication, attention to detail, hard work and love can do for the community. I am truly grateful for all their countless hours, months and years of service, I join the whole community in thanking them.

There are not enough pages to thank all the community members and faith leaders, but I do want to thank my spiritual guide. I am a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, a religious institution that has been in Bed-Stuy since 1917. Reverend Lawrence Aker, III serves as the Senior Pastor for the congregation, and he has supported my inner strength as I faced the challenges as a legislator.

Too often, people in our community hear a message that we cannot succeed. I have worked for eight years to change the narrative. We have the most creative, athletic, brilliant, and fly people on the planet. Our community will continue to thrive in new ways, and I look forward to sharing that after I leave my role as Council Member.

I cannot thank Michelle Cornegy and our six children enough for sacrificing so much.

It is with heartfelt appreciation that I thank the constituents of District 36 for all of their love and support over these last eight years. I hope you take away, as I will, some very special memories of the good times we spent together. Thank you for sharing your time and families with me.

Yours In Service,
Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.

Ending 8 years of service with gratitude New York City Council

Now available for free download: The epic 105-page resource guide!

Do you have the tools you need to create your own narrative? I believe the answer is yes. We have such a wide variety of organizations and individuals here in Brooklyn that can help you overcome every challenge, to rise to your greatest potential.

This resource guide is the result of faith in our community. It is the product of my desire to help you accomplish your goals, whether that be running a successful business, being a caring grandparent or finding support for mental health challenges.

Click here to explore:
https://council.nyc.gov/robert-cornegy/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2021/12/Cornegy-D36-Resource-Guide-Combined-r.pdf