Daniel Garodnick

Garodnick was born in New York City and is a graduate of Trinity School (1990). He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College (1994).{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/05/us/campus-journal-dartmouth-seeks-ethics-for-the-age-of-computers.html |title=Campus Journal: "Dartmouth Seeks Ethics for the Age of Computers |work=The New York Times |date=January 5, 1994}} He earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School (2000),{{cite web |url=http://www.law.upenn.edu/alumni/alumnijournal/fall2008/alumni_briefs/page08.html |title=Alumni Briefs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801135110/http://www.law.upenn.edu/alumni/alumnijournal/fall2008/alumni_briefs/page08.html |archive-date=2010-08-01 |website=Penn Law Journal |date=Fall 2008}} where he was Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

Between college and law school, Garodnick spent time in both Millen, Georgia and Portsmouth, Virginia helping to rebuild African American churches that had been burned by arson.{{Cite news|url=https://cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/interviews-and-profiles/dan-garodnick-interview-mayoral-run-next.html|title=Dan Garodnick is a no-nonsense negotiator. Does he have what it takes to run for mayor?|last=Powell|first=Nick|date=2017-04-14|work=City and State NY|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116071451/https://cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/interviews-and-profiles/dan-garodnick-interview-mayoral-run-next.html|archive-date=November 16, 2018}} He also spent two years working for the New York Civil Rights Coalition as the director of a program to teach New York City public school ways to combat racial discrimination, and how to use government to effect social change.

An attorney, Garodnick practiced as a litigator at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison where he focused on securities litigation and internal investigations of companies. While there, he represented the Partnership for New York City in the successful Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit regarding public school funding.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}, and same-sex couples seeking marriage equality in New York State.

Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk to Judge Colleen McMahon of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/primary_2005/cd_profile/CD04_Garodnick_721.aspx|title=2005 NYC Voter Guide: Candidate Profile: Dan Garodnick|website=New York City Campaign Finance Board|access-date=2018-10-20}}

He served as a Member of the New York City Council for 12 years, President of Riverside Park Conservancy, and as Director of the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

In May 2008, Garodnick married Zoe Segal-Reichlin, general counsel of Everytown for Gun Safety.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/fashion/weddings/11Segal-Reichlin.html |title=Weddings: Zoe L. Segal-Reichlin and Daniel R. Garodnick |work=The New York Times |date=May 11, 2008}} They have two children.{{Cite news|last=Satow|first=Julie|date=May 19, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/nyregion/sunday-routine-councilman-daniel-garodnick.html|title=How Daniel Garodnick, a New York Councilman, Spends His Sundays|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en}}

Garodnick was elected to New York City Council in 2005, winning 63 percent of the vote in the general election and defeating both the Republican and Libertarian candidates. In the five-way Democratic primary that year he won 59% of the vote. He won reelection in 2009 and 2013.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

During his twelve-year tenure, The New York Times praised Garodnick for his “independent streak” and noted that he had “distinguished himself in the fight to preserve middle-class housing.”{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/opinion/the-next-council-speaker.html|title=Opinion {{!}} The Next Council Speaker|last=Board|first=The Editorial|date=2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The Wall Street Journal has called him “smart and fair”{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-councilman-daniel-garodnick-faces-tough-tests-in-real-estate-battles-1410569682|title=New York City Councilman Daniel Garodnick Faces Tough Tests in Real Estate Battles|last=Kusisto|first=Laura|date=2014-09-13|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-03-17|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} and POLITICO New York noted that he is known as a “policy wonk” who has “bucked the establishment."{{Cite news|last=Dawsey|first=Josh|date=February 21, 2017|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/02/jeffries-rules-out-mayoral-run-as-garodnick-tests-waters-109743|title=Jeffries rules out mayoral run, Garodnick explores bid|work=Politico|access-date=2018-03-17}}

In 2017, City & State called Garodnick a “no-nonsense negotiator.” Garodnick earned this reputation for repeatedly bringing parties to an agreement in difficult negotiations. In 2007, Garodnick successfully stepped in to broker an agreement between renowned Chef Daniel Boulud and the staff at his eponymous restaurant, who sought redress and compensation after Asian and Latino employees had been discriminated against and passed over for promotions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.colorlines.com/articles/out-box-public-service|title=Out of the Box Public Service|last=Izen|first=Megan|date=2007-08-21|work=Colorlines|access-date=2018-03-17|language=en}} In 2008, when a developer proposed rezoning the largest stretch of undeveloped, privately owned land in Manhattan, Garodnick was able to adjust the plan to reduce the height of the towers, provide for acres of gardens and a school, as well as a $10 million contribution from the developer for a future pedestrian bridge over the FDR Drive.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/nyregion/13solow.html|title=Plan for Ambitious East Side Project Clears Big Hurdle|last=Bagli|first=Charles V.|date=2008-03-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} In 2015, when the de Blasio administration and Council Member Carlos Menchaca were at a logjam over the $115 million redevelopment of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Garodnick helped broker an agreement between both sides.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/officials-strike-agreement-for-brooklyn-terminal-development-1428540068|title=Officials Agree on Brooklyn Terminal Development|last=Gay|first=Mara|date=2015-04-09|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}

Garodnick is best known for his work fighting for his childhood home in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, where he spearheaded the largest housing preservation deal in New York City history in 2015, with 5,000 units for middle-class families. He wrote a book on the subject, called "Saving Stuyvesant Town: How One Community Defeated the Worst Real Estate Deal in History," published by Three Hills Press, an imprint of Cornell University Press. He also negotiated the East Midtown Rezoning in 2017, covering an 80 block area in midtown Manhattan, which the Daily News said worked "stunningly well"

almost immediately began to generate new commercial space, and to deliver significant public improvements to the area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/12/08/dan-garodnicks-next-task-albany-must-return-penn-station-zoning-back-to-nyc/ |title=Dan Garodnick's next task: Albany must return Penn Station zoning back to NYC |website=New York Daily News |date=December 8, 2024 }}

Garodnick's last term as councilman ended on December 31, 2017, when he was succeeded by Keith Powers.

Garodnick authored and passed over 60 laws during his tenure on the New York City Council.{{Cite web|url=http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/PersonDetail.aspx?ID=34485&GUID=F37BBD29-92A8-4EEB-B3A8-AD5D5E590CF5|title=Daniel R. Garodnick|website=New York City Council|language=en|access-date=2018-05-08}}

After exploring a race for New York City Comptroller.,{{cite news|last=Rauh|first=Grace|date=3 April 2012|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/158716/manhattan-councilman-sets-sights-on-2013-comptroller-s-race|title=Manhattan Councilman Sets Sights on 2013 Comptroller's Race|work=NY1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112065234/http://www.ny1.com/content/news/158716/manhattan-councilman-sets-sights-on-2013-comptroller-s-race|archive-date=12 January 2014}} Garodnick instead ran for re-election in District 4 and for City Council Speaker. Garodnick was endorsed for Speaker by the Democratic Organizations of Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn, as well as the New York Times Editorial Board which cited his independence and support for middle class housing.{{citation| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/opinion/the-next-council-speaker.html | title=Opinion | the Next Council Speaker | work=The New York Times | date=January 7, 2014 }} Mark-Viverito earned the support of newly-elected mayor Bill de Blasio, and defeated Garodnick on January 8, 2014.{{citation|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2014/01/the-last-hours-of-mark-viveritos-campaign-010362 |title=The last hours of Mark-Viverito's campaign |date=January 8, 2014 }}

On February 7, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams appointed Garodnick as Director of the Department of City Planning, and Chair of the City Planning Commission. He led the administration’s ambitious land use agenda, which included three City of Yes initiatives—one for the environment, one for economic development, and one for housing—all of which were approved by the New York City Council.{{citation|url=https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/city-of-yes/city-of-yes-overview.page |title=City of Yes: Overview - DCP }} The economic development initiative was the largest expansion of manufacturing space in 60 years. The housing initiative, which allowed for additional housing throughout the city, including office conversions, transit oriented development, affordable housing bonuses and parking reforms, is expected to deliver 82,000 units of housing over 15 years, was the largest pro-housing zoning reform in the city's history.{{citation|url=https://citylimits.org/2024/12/06/how-each-nyc-councilmember-voted-on-city-of-yes-for-housing/ |title=How Each NYC Councilmember Voted on City of Yes for Housing |date=December 6, 2024 }}

Garodnick also advanced 5 neighborhood plans, near the new Metro-North Stations coming to the Bronx, on a key stretch of Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, in Manufacturing Districts in Midtown Manhattan, and Long Island City and downtown Jamaica in Queens. He successfully approved the Green Fast Track initiative which eliminates red tape and streamlines the environmental review process for small- and medium-sized all-electric residential developments.{{citation |url=https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/green-fast-track/green-fast-track-overview.page |title=Green Fast Track Overview - DCP }} In July 2023, Garodnick was named in the top ten of City & State Newspaper's Real Estate Power 100.{{citation |date=July 5, 2023 |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/07/2023-real-estate-power-100/388039/#daniel-garodnick |title=The 2023 Real Estate Power 100 |website=City & State New York}}, and in February 2025, number twenty in City & State's Power 100 in New York City government. {{citation |date=February 18, 2025 |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2025/02/2025-new-york-city-power-100/402926/?oref=csny_powerlist_nl#dan-garodnick |title=The 2023 Real Estate Power 100 |website=City & State New York}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180505101953/http://www.garodnick.com/ Official campaign site]

{{s-start}}

{{s-civ|New York City Council}}

{{s-bef|before=Eva Moskowitz}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the New York City Council
from the 4th district|years=2006–2017}}

{{s-aft|after=Keith Powers}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garodnick, Daniel}}

Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:Dartmouth College alumni

Category:New York City Council members

Category:New York (state) Democrats

Category:Trinity School (New York City) alumni

Category:University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni

Category:Politicians from Manhattan

Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians

Category:Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison people