Justin Brannan | |
---|---|
Member of the New York City Council | |
Assumed office January 1, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Vincent Gentile |
Constituency | 43rd district (2018–2024) 47th district (2024–present) |
Personal details | |
Born | Justin Lee Brannan October 14,1978 New York City,New York,U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Leigh Holliday |
Education | College of Staten Island Fordham University (BA) |
Justin Lee Brannan (born October 14,1978) is an American politician and musician. A Democrat,he is the current New York City Councilmember for the 43rd district,based in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn. A former musician,he was a founding member of the New York City hardcore bands Indecision and Most Precious Blood.
Brannan is an outspoken vegetarian and animal welfare advocate. A Third Degree Master Freemason,Brannan founded the Bay Ridge Democrats,an active Democratic political club based in southwest Brooklyn. [1] [2] In 2012 he was named one of the "New York City Rising Stars:40 Under 40" by City &State newspaper for his work as Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for New York City Councilman Vincent Gentile. [3]
Brannan is married to artist and educator Leigh Jewel Holliday. [4] The couple were married in the lobby of Bear Stearns where they met as employees. [4] Brannan and Holliday opened a fine art school for children in Bay Ridge called The Art Room. [5]
Brannan attended Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn. [6] He studied journalism and mass media at Fordham University and College of Staten Island.[ citation needed ]
Before entering politics,Justin Brannan was a hardcore punk guitarist for the bands Indecision from 1993 to 2000 and Most Precious Blood from 2000 onwards. [6] Both bands were known for their outspoken commitment to social justice and vegetarianism. The band’s messages focused on social justice,human rights,environmentalism,relationships,individuality and espousing straight-edge views against drugs,alcohol and promiscuous sex. [7] [8] [9]
Indecision is widely known for their song "Hallowed be Thy Name". The song features a lyric ("For Those I Love I Will Sacrifice") wrote by Brannan when he was sixteen years old that fans across the world have turned into a tattoo. [8] [10] Most famously,an image of the tattoo was seen on the ribs of a 19-year-old US Army infantryman named Kyle Hockenberry being treated in a medevac helicopter following an explosion that cost him both of his legs and one arm. [11] The photo was taken for a military newspaper and won photographer Laura Rauch an award from the Society of Professional Journalists. [12] [11] [13] [8] [14] Brannan also works closely with the 9/11 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation commemorating the heroes of 9/11 and "Building for America’s Bravest",a program that constructs Smart Homes for military returning home with devastating injuries[ citation needed ].
Brannan also founded the deathgrind band Caninus,known for using two dogs as vocalists. [15]
Brannan was a touring punk rock musician before he landed at Bear Stearns, [16] working his way up as a clerk in their wealth management division, [17] and working as a financier [18] in the venture capital space raising money for start-up alternative energy companies based in Silicon Valley. He later worked as a fundraising consultant for a number of non-profit humanitarian organizations in New York City.[ citation needed ]
Brannan served as the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for Council member Vincent J. Gentile,representing the 43rd district which includes Bay Ridge,Bath Beach,Dyker Heights and portions of Bensonhurst. [4] [6]
In 2017,Brannan won the Democratic primary to replace Gentile in the 43rd district. Brannan won 39% of the vote in a five-way race,narrowly beating Khader El-Yateem,who garnered 31% of the vote, [19] by 682 votes. [20]
Brannan drew criticism during the campaign for taking money from real estate interests. [21] Contributors to Brannan's campaign include Sal Raziano of the real estate firm Casandra Properties and Anthony Constantinople of Constantinople &Vallone,a lobbying firm currently under investigation for conflicts of interest and payroll discrepancies surrounding its Sports &Arts program at a Lower East Side public school. [22]
During the campaign,several concerned citizens filed a complaint with the New York City Campaign Finance Board in which they accused Brannan of neglecting to disclose campaign expenses when he failed to alert election regulators that Gentile’s campaign for Brooklyn DA paid the rent for Brannan’s campaign office. [23]
In the general election,Brannan won with 51% of the vote to the Republican candidate,John Quaglione's 47%. Brannan won by a slightly smaller margin in the 2021 election.
Following the decision by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander to challenge incumbent Eric Adams in the 2025 Democratic primary for mayor,Brannan opened a campaign account for Comptroller. [24] [25]
In May 2021,a former aide to ex-City Councilman Vincent Gentile,Michael Bistreich,settled a lawsuit with New York City for $850,000 where he alleged Justin Brannan bullied him. Judge Verna Saunders ultimately found Bistreich had established a strong case for discrimination. [26] [27]
In June 2023,72-year-old Democratic District Leader Charles Ragusa filed an ethics complaint with the New York City Council alleging that Justin Brannan threatened him. A representative for Justin Brannan confirmed the councilman threatened to oust Ragusa from his party leadership position (but disputed the use of expletives,as had been alleged by Ragusa). [28]
Election history | |||
---|---|---|---|
Location | Year | Election | Results |
NYC Council District 43 | 2017 | Democratic Primary | √Justin Brannan 38.66% Khader El-Yateem 30.89% Nancy Tong 15.84% Vincent Chirico 8.02% Kevin Carroll 6.36% |
NYC Council District 43 | 2017 | General | √Justin Brannan (D) 50.23% John Quaglione (R) 47.14% Robert Capano (Reform) 1.34% Angel Medina (Women's Equality) 1.09% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Justin Brannan | 12,202 | ||
Working Families | Justin Brannan | 1,178 | ||
Total | Justin Brannan (incumbent) | 13,180 | 51.1 | |
Republican | Brian Fox | 11,387 | ||
Conservative | Brian Fox | 1,192 | ||
Total | Brian Fox | 12,718 | 48.7 | |
Write-in | 45 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 25,804 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by Sunset Park to the north,Dyker Heights to the east,the Narrows and the Belt Parkway to the west,and Fort Hamilton Army Base and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the south. The section of Bay Ridge south of 86th Street is sometimes considered part of a sub-neighborhood called Fort Hamilton.
Dyker Heights is a predominantly residential neighborhood in the southwest corner of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It is on a hill between Bay Ridge,Bensonhurst,Borough Park,and Gravesend Bay. The neighborhood is bounded by 7th and 14th Avenues,65th Street,and the Belt Parkway on the west,east,north,and south,respectively.
Most Precious Blood is an American hardcore punk band from New York City formed from the remnants of the band Indecision. They blend the song structures of hardcore with heavy metal,and the band cites Sick of It All,Aphex Twin,The Sisters of Mercy,and The Obsessed as influences,among others. They were signed to Trustkill Records until it dissolved in 2010. They are now with Trustkill president Josh Grabelle's new label Bullet Tooth.
Fort Hamilton High School is a public high school in Brooklyn,New York,United States,under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Education. Students in Bay Ridge,Sunset Park and Dyker Heights are zoned to Fort Hamilton HS. It is named for the Army garrison at Fort Hamilton.
Xaverian High School is an independent Catholic high school located in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn,New York,serving grades 6 through 12. Grades 9-12 offer a college preparatory program and grades 6-8 are middle school.
Domenic Michael Recchia Jr. is an American attorney and politician from New York City. A member of the Democratic Party,Recchia formerly represented the 47th district of the New York City Council,which included areas of Bensonhurst,Brighton Beach,Coney Island,and Gravesend in south Brooklyn.
Indecision was an American hardcore punk band that was started in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn in 1993,and officially disbanded in the summer of 2000 though they still play shows occasionally for charity.
Vincent Joseph "Vinnie" Gentile is an American politician who served in the New York City Council from the 43rd district from 2003 to 2017. He is a Democrat. The district includes Bath Beach,Bay Ridge,Bensonhurst,and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn.
Martin J. Golden is an American politician from Brooklyn,New York,one of the five boroughs of New York City. A Republican,Golden represented the 43rd district in the New York City Council from 1998 to 2002 and represented the 22nd district of the New York State Senate from 2003 to 2018.
Bradford S. Lander is an American politician,urban planner,and community organizer who currently serves as the New York City Comptroller. A member of the Democratic Party,Lander is a progressive politician,and has been described as "one of the most left-leaning politicians in the city."
David G. Greenfield is an American politician,law professor,and non-profit executive. He served as a Democrat in the New York City Council from the 44th district from 2010 to 2017. In 2018,he became CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty,a Jewish charity in New York City.
The 2013 New York City mayoral election occurred on November 5,2013,along with elections for Comptroller,Public Advocate,Borough President,and members of the New York City Council. The incumbent mayor of New York City,Michael Bloomberg,a Republican-turned-Independent,was term-limited and thus unable to seek re-election to a fourth term in office.
The 2013 elections for borough presidents were held on November 5,2013,and coincided with elections for Mayor,Public Advocate,Comptroller,and members of the New York City Council. Primary elections were held on September 10,2013.
Khader El-Yateem is a Palestinian-American community organizer and Lutheran pastor. He is the Executive Director for Service and Justice at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). El-Yateem was a candidate for New York City Council.
Andrew Gounardes is an American lawyer and politician. He is a Democrat and a member of the New York State Senate,representing the 26th district,which encompasses the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge,Dyker Heights,Sunset Park,Greenwood Heights,Red Hook,Park Slope,Gowanus,Carroll Gardens,Boerum Hill,Cobble Hill,Downtown Brooklyn,Fort Greene,Brooklyn Heights,Vinegar Hill,and DUMBO in Brooklyn.
New York City's 43rd City Council district is one of 51 districts in the New York City Council. It has been represented by Democrat Susan Zhuang since 2024,succeeding Justin Brannan.
New York City's 47th City Council district is one of 51 districts in the New York City Council. It has been represented by Democrat Justin Brannan since 2024;following redistricting,Brannan defeated then-incumbent Ari Kagan.
Ari Kagan is an American politician who was a member of the New York City Council from the 47th district,representing Bensonhurst,Coney Island,Gravesend,and Sea Gate. Elected in November 2021,he assumed office on January 1,2022.
The 2025 New York City Comptroller election will be held on November 4,2025. Incumbent New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is eligible for a second term,but is retiring to run for Mayor of New York City.
The 2025 New York City borough president elections will be held on November 4,2025. All five incumbent borough presidents are eligible to run for reelection.