Cordell Cleare

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Cordell Cleare

| image = (01-17-24) NYS Senator Cordell Cleare (cropped).jpg

| caption = Cleare in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|05}}

| birth_place =

| nationality = American

| occupation = Politician
Activist

| party = Democratic

| website = {{URL|http://www.clearechoice.com|Campaign website}}

| state_senate2 = New York State

| district2 = 30th

| termstart2 = November 30, 2021

| status =

| predecessor2 = Brian Benjamin

}}

Cordell Cleare (born December 5, 1965) is an American activist and politician from Harlem, New York City. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been politically active in Harlem since the late 1990s and is currently the state-senator for New York's 30th State Senate district.{{cite web|url=https://citylimits.org/2021/09/27/manhattan-dems-pick-cordell-cleare-to-replace-brian-benjamin-in-harlem-senate-race/|title=Manhattan Dems Pick Cordell Cleare to Replace Brian Benjamin in Harlem Senate Race|website=City Limits|last1=Olumhense|first1=Ele|date=September 27, 2021|accessdate=October 20, 2021}}

Early life

Cordell Cleare was raised in Harlem, where her family lived for four generations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/cordell-cleare/about|title=About Cordell Cleare|publisher=New York State Senate|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

Career

Cleare worked for over 18 years for New York State Senator Bill Perkins and served as his Chief of Staff for several years.{{cite web|date=9 January 2001|title=HUD: The Horror Movie|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/hud-the-horror-movie-6416715|publisher=Village Voice|access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|first1=Nina|last1=Seigal|date=1999-03-07|title=NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: HARLEM; Legality of Sudden Evictions at S.R.O. Hotel Is Disputed|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/1999/03/07/nyregion/neighborhood-report-harlem-legality-of-sudden-evictions-at-sro-hotel-is-disputed.html|access-date=2017-07-07}} Cleare has served on the District #3 Community Education Council, and was a Community School Board member for six years.{{cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2013/may/31/harlems-cleare-winner/ |title=Harlem's 'Cleare' winner|website=New York Amsterdam News |date=May 31, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2017}} In 2008, Cleare campaigned for then-Senator Barack Obama's presidential run.{{cite web|first1=Diane|last1=Cardwell |url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/nyregion/04obamaaide.html |title=Inspired by Obama, Filmmaker Takes on Politics - NYTimes.com |website=The New York Times |date=February 4, 2008 |access-date=July 7, 2017}} In 2012, she supported Obama's run for re-election, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/photos/2013/dec/12/52981/ |title=Photo New York Amsterdam News: The new Black view |website=News York Amsterdam News|date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2017}}

Cleare ran for New York City Council to represent District 9 in 2017, losing to her old boss Perkins.{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Cordell_Cleare |title=Cordell Cleare |publisher=Ballotpedia |date= |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/feb/09/cordell-cleare-our-choice-9th-council-district/ |title=Cordell Cleare is our choice for the 9th Council District | New York Amsterdam News: The new Black view |website=Amsterdamnews.com |date= 9 February 2017|access-date=2017-07-07}} She ran again for that seat in 2021, with both her and Perkins losing to Kristin Richardson Jordan.{{cite web|url=https://www.africanamericandayparade.com/history |title=HISTORY — African American Day Parade, Inc |website=Africanamericandayparade.com |date= |access-date=2017-07-07}}

On September 25, 2021, Cleare was selected by the Manhattan Democratic Committee to be the Democratic nominee in a special election for New York's 30th State Senate district. The district became vacant when incumbent Brian Benjamin was appointed Lieutenant Governor. However, it is so heavily Democratic that Cleare was effectively chosen as its next state senator. The special election occurred on November 2, 2021, and she won with over 88% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=951972|title = Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 30 Special Race - Nov 02, 2021}}

In March 2022, Congress member Carolyn Maloney endorsed State Senator Cleare for reelection.{{Cite web|url=http://www.otdowntown.com/news/congresswoman-maloney-endorsed-by-state-senator-cleare-and-vice-versa-LX1981287|title = Congresswoman Maloney Endorsed by State Senator Cleare — and Vice Versa}}

Activism

Cleare was a tenant organizer and then the Chair of the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning. She became involved with the organization after her two-year-old son was diagnosed with lead poisoning, an issue she called “completely preventable.”{{cite web |title=Leading Advocate on Lead Poisoning Prevention Receives Library's 1997 Brooke Russell Astor Award |url=https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |website=New York Public Library |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202055247/https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead}} Cleare raised awareness about lead poisoning through workshops at schools and community centres, health fairs, and government officials. In 1997, Cleare was awarded the New York Public Library’s eleventh annual Brooke Russell Astor Award for her activism work, which included a $10,000 prize.{{cite web |title=Leading Advocate on Lead Poisoning Prevention Receives Library's 1997 Brooke Russell Astor Award |url=https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |website=New York Public Library |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202055247/https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Cleare’s advocacy helped create the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill that passed in the New York City Council in 2004.{{cite web |title=Candidate: Cordell Clear |url=https://nylcv.org/candidate/cordell-cleare-2/ |website=New York League of Conservation Voters |access-date=14 February 2022}}

Cleare was endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters during the 2021 New York City Council election.{{cite news |title=Cordell Cleare Endorsed For N.Y. City Council Race by League of Conservation Voters |url=https://www.blackstarnews.com/ny-watch/politics/cordell-cleare-endorsed-for-ny-city-council-race-by-league-of |access-date=15 February 2022 |work=Black Star News |date=May 5, 2021}}

Cleare’s platform for her state senate election included the discontinuation of fossil fuels for the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the protection of green spaces.

Awards

1997: Brooke Russell Astor Award - Co-chair of the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning{{cite web |url=https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |title=Leading Advocate on Lead Poisoning Prevention Receives Library's 1997 Brooke Russell Astor Award | the New York Public Library |access-date=2017-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202055247/https://www.nypl.org/press/press-release/1997/11/03/leading-advocate-lead-poisoning-prevention-receives-librarys-1997-bro |archive-date=2017-02-02 }}