Carl Heastie

Born in New York City, Heastie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University in Suffolk County, New York, and a M.B.A. in Finance from Baruch College in New York City.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/carl-heastie-set-assembly-speaker-similar-silver-article-1.2099133|title=Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie, set to become the next speaker, is similar to Sheldon Silver|first1=Ken|last1=Lovett|first2=Glenn|last2=Blain|newspaper=New York Daily News |date=January 31, 2015|access-date=February 16, 2018}}

Before his election to the Assembly, Heastie worked as a budget analyst for the New York City Comptroller. Heastie has also worked as an adjunct professor at Monroe College.

Heastie was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2000 and represents the 83rd District, which covers the Williamsbridge, Wakefield, Edenwald, Eastchester, and Baychester sections of the Northeast Bronx.

Since joining the Assembly, Heastie became one of the lead negotiators for the construction of a new K-8 school in his district. He has also sponsored legislation to require mandatory reporting of alleged child abuse of students in New York City. He became Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee in 2013.

Heastie became Chair of the Bronx Democratic Party in 2008, a post that he relinquished after becoming Assembly Speaker in 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/02/new-york-assembly-speaker-sheldon-silver-resigns/22766771/ |title=Bronx Democrat to be N.Y. speaker as Silver resigns |first1=Joseph |last1=Spector |first2=Jon |last2=Campbell |newspaper=USA Today |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=February 14, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.myfoxny.com/story/28012867/heastie-becomes-first-african-american-assembly-speaker |title=Heastie becomes first African-American Assembly speaker |first=David |last=Klepper |publisher=Associated Press |date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215043627/http://www.myfoxny.com/story/28012867/heastie-becomes-first-african-american-assembly-speaker |archive-date=February 15, 2015 }}

In January 2015, Heastie's Assembly colleagues considered him a frontrunner to be elected Speaker, following the arrest of Sheldon Silver on federal corruption charges arising from an investigation led by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.{{cite news |url=http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2015/01/30/upstate-assemblyman-drops-out-of-race-to-replace-silver.html |title=Upstate Assemblyman Drops Out of Race to Replace Silver |first=Zack |last=Fink |publisher=NY1 News |date=January 30, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/gonzalez-carl-heastie-verge-sheldon-silver-post-article-1.2097349 |title=Carl Heastie on the verge of capturing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's post |first=Juan |last=Gonzalez |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=January 30, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2015}} On February 2, Assembly Democrats voted unanimously for Heastie to become the new Speaker. The full Assembly elected him Speaker of the Assembly the next day.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/nyregion/new-speaker-in-albany-a-skilled-operator-embracing-change.html |title=New Speaker in Albany: A Skilled Operator, Embracing Change |first=Thomas |last=Kaplan |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=February 14, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/02/meet-carl-heastie-the-flawed-politician-who-might-lead-the-n-y-assembly/ |title=Meet Carl Heastie, the Flawed Politician Who Might Lead the N.Y. Assembly |first=Eleanor |last=Randolph |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2015}}

Heastie is the first African-American to serve as speaker of the Assembly. One of his first New York City appearances after becoming speaker was at Al Sharpton's rally in Harlem, where he told the crowd, "This is a tremendous opportunity for our community, for the first time, to have one of us sit at the table," and added "All of you are going to be sitting at that table with me for the first time".{{cite news |last1=Chayes |first1=Matthew |date=February 7, 2015 |title=At meeting with Al Sharpton, new Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says a person of color will now 'sit at the table' |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/carl-heastie-new-ny-speaker-meets-with-al-sharpton-1.9915154 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923153120/https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/carl-heastie-new-ny-speaker-meets-with-al-sharpton-1.9915154 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |access-date=1 March 2015 |publisher=Newsday}}{{cite news|title=Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Joins Sharpton's Saturday Morning NAN Rally|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/07/assembly-speaker-carl-heastie-joins-sharptons-saturday-morning-nan-rally/|access-date=1 March 2015|publisher=CBS|date=February 7, 2015}}

In April 2015, it was reported that--contrary to a judge's instructions--Heastie had neglected to sell a home that his mother, Helene Heastie, allegedly purchased with money embezzled from a nonprofit charity. After his mother's death, Heastie ceased attempts to sell the home, having been advised by his lawyer that he was no longer obligated to do so; he later sold it for a profit of $200,000.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/nyregion/carl-heastie-new-york-assembly-speaker-benefited-from-mothers-embezzling.html?_r=0 |title=Carl Heastie, New York Assembly Speaker, Benefited From Mother's Embezzling|first=Russ |last=Buettner |newspaper=New York Times |date=April 20, 2015}} An independent forfeiture law expert consulted by the New York Times asserted that the judge's order was "probably legally unenforceable without a formal forfeiture agreement," which prosecutors had not obtained. In 2015, Heastie's office issued a statement about the incident, saying that "the lessons imparted to the speaker [Heastie]... included owning up to mistakes and taking responsibility."{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/exclusive-carl-heastie-mom-embezzling-conviction-article-1.2107989 |title=Heastie addresses mom's felony embezzling conviction: 'a sad chapter' |first=Greg |last=Smith |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=February 9, 2015}}

Heastie has a daughter from a previous marriage.

• List of members of the New York State Assembly

• [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Carl-E-Heastie Official New York State website]
• [https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/carl-heastie-set-assembly-speaker-similar-silver-article-1.2099133 Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie Set to Become Next Assembly Speaker Similar to Sheldon Silver, N.Y. Daily News]

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Category:1967 births

Category:2016 United States presidential electors

Category:2020 United States presidential electors

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:African-American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Baruch College alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from the Bronx

Category:Speakers of the New York State Assembly

Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:Stony Brook University alumni

Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature

Category:2024 United States presidential electors