Lynn Schulman

Schulman was born in Queens, New York, and raised in the neighborhood of Forest Hills.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Maya |date=2022-02-02 |title=Queens councilwoman on adding hospital capacity needs to the rezoning process |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/asked-answered/new-york-city-councilwoman-lynn-schulman-importance-expanding-hospital-capacity |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Crain's New York Business |language=en}} She was educated in the New York City public school system, and her mother worked as a substitute teacher.{{Cite web |title=51 Council Members in 52 Weeks: District 29, Lynn Schulman {{!}} The Brian Lehrer Show |url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/51-council-members-52-weeks-district-29-lynn-schulman/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=WNYC |language=en}} She went on to graduate from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science, and later from Brooklyn Law School with a Juris Doctor degree.

Schulman first became involved in politics when she campaigned for Bella Abzug, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York seeking election to the Senate.{{Cite web |last=Schindler |first=Paul |date=2009-08-20 |title=Lesbian Aims for Council Seat |url=https://gaycitynews.com/lesbian-aims-for-council-seat/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Gay City News |language=en-US}}

Schulman, an attorney, worked in various government and healthcare nonprofit roles prior to her election to the City Council. In New York City government, she served in the mayoral administration of Ed Koch and the offices of New York City Councilwomen Carol Greitzer and Sara M. Gonzalez.{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Aarti |date=2001-08-22 |title=Which One Has the Edge? Six candidates vow to fight education, safety issues in District 29 |work=Newsday |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/279451944 |access-date=2023-02-07|id={{ProQuest|279451944}} }}{{Cite news |last=Shifrel |first=Scott |date=2001-08-31 |title=Name is pol's secret weapon |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/305689143 |access-date=2023-02-07|id={{ProQuest|305689143}} }} Schulman also worked in New York State government as an aide to New York State Assemblyman William F. Passannante. Schulman was then employed at the HIV/AIDS services nonprofit GMHC, before she managed business affairs at the Woodhull Medical Center for over a decade. Afterward, Schulman returned to New York City government, where she worked in the Office of the New York City Council Speaker until her inauguration.{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Kayla |date=2021-06-11 |title=NYC Council District 29 Election: Lynn Schulman Seeks Queens Seat |url=https://patch.com/new-york/foresthills/nyc-council-district-29-election-lynn-schulman-seeks-queens-seat |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Forest Hills, NY Patch |language=en}}

Schulman also held multiple volunteer public service roles in Forest Hills. She served as vice chair of Queens Community Board 6 and as a member of the 112th Precinct Council, District 28 Community Education Council, and the Board of Directors of the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce.{{Cite web |last=Saphirstein |first=Shabsie |date=2022-03-30 |title=Lynn Schulman Inaugurated To NYC Council |url=https://www.queensjewishlink.com/index.php/local/79-community-corner/shabsie-saphirstein/6328-lynn-schulman-inaugurated-to-nyc-council |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Queens Jewish Link |language=en-gb}} Schulman gained local notoriety for her healthcare advocacy, which she said "was born out of the HIV/AIDS movement" and later influenced by her breast cancer diagnosis during her 2021 City Council campaign.

Schulman ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 2001 and 2009 in the same district that she now represents. The New York Times editorial board endorsed Schulman during her 2009 campaign, writing, "Ms. Schulman argues more powerfully for better access to schools and more affordable housing and health care."{{Cite news |date=2009-09-05 |title=Opinion {{!}} For New York City Council |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/opinion/05sat3.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |issn=0362-4331}}

During Schulman's 2021 primary campaign for the vacant 29th City Council district seat, she received influential endorsements from the Working Families Party, LGBTQ Victory Fund, U.S. Representative Grace Meng, and labor unions including 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East, the Communications Workers of America, the Freelancers Union, and the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union.{{Cite web |author= |date=2020-06-19 |title=2021 City Council Candidate Lynn Schulman endorsed by national LGBTQ organization |url=https://politicsny.com/2020/06/19/2021-city-council-candidate-lynn-schulman-endorsed-by-national-lgbtq-organization/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Politics NY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Allie |date=2021-03-26 |title=Candidates Lynn Schulman and Sandra Ung Earn Key Endorsements in Respective Council Races |url=https://foresthillspost.com/candidates-lynn-schulman-and-sandra-ung-earn-key-endorsements-in-respective-council-races |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Forest Hills Post |language=en-US}}

Schulman defeated eight other candidates in a June 2021 Democratic primary, the first cycle in which ranked choice voting was implemented in New York City. She received 60.0 percent of the vote in the final round, and the results were certified the following month by the New York City Board of Elections.{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Kayla |date=2021-07-06 |title=Lynn Schulman Wins Forest Hills' City Council Primary Race |url=https://patch.com/new-york/foresthills/lynn-schulman-likely-winner-forest-hills-city-council-race |website=Forest Hills, NY Patch}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-20 |title=2021 Primary Official Ranked Choice Rounds |url=https://www.vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2021/20210622Primary%20Election/rcv/DEM%20Council%20Member%2029th%20Council%20District.pdf |website=Board of Elections in the City of New York}} Schulman then advanced to the November 2021 general election, in which she defeated one candidate running on the Republican and Conservative party lines to win the position.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-29 |title=Statement and Return Report for Certification, General Election 2021 |url=https://www.vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2021/20211102General%20Election/00400700029Queens%20Member%20of%20the%20City%20Council%2029th%20Council%20District%20Recap.pdf |website=Board of Elections in the City of New York}}

Schulman took office as a member of the New York City Council on January 1, 2022. She was named chair of the committee on health by Speaker Adrienne Adams soon after. Schulman also sits on the committees on aging, criminal justice, education, fire and emergency management, and governmental operations, as well as the subcommittee on zoning and franchises.{{Cite news |last=Khurshid |first=Samar |date=2022-01-20 |title=Speaker Adams Names City Council Leadership, New Committee Chairs and Members |work=Gotham Gazette |url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/11044-speaker-adams-city-council-leadership-committees-chairs-members |access-date=2023-02-07}}

Schulman's primary legislative focuses have included increasing hospital capacity, protecting maternal rights, investing in green space, and improving government responses to public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022-2023 monkeypox outbreak.{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Health Care Power 100 |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/01/2023-health-care-power-100/381744/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=City & State NY |date=17 January 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Caroline |date=2022-08-11 |title=City Council passes maternal health 'bill of rights' and other measures to address disparities in maternal mortality |url=https://gothamist.com/news/city-council-passes-maternal-health-bill-of-rights-and-other-measures-to-address-disparities-in-maternal-mortality |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}

Schulman, who is Jewish and gay, is a member of the Jewish Caucus, LGBTQIA+ Caucus, and Women's Caucus.{{Cite web |last=Saphirstein |first=Shabsie |date=2021-10-27 |title=Exclusive Interview: Lynn Schulman Has Sights On City Council District Seat |url=https://www.queensjewishlink.com/index.php/local/26-community-corner/5352-exclusive-interview-lynn-schulman-has-sights-on-city-council-district-seat |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Queens Jewish Link |language=en-gb}}{{Cite news |last=Gold |first=Michael |date=2021-07-08 |title=The Next City Council Will Look More Like New York |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/nyregion/new-york-city-council-diversity.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Power of Diversity: Pride 100 |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2022/06/2022-power-diversity-pride-100/367749/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=City & State NY |date=6 June 2022 |language=en}}

In December 2024, amid a housing shortage in New York City, Schulman voted against Mayor Adam's zoning proposal(The City of Yes) to permit construction of 80,000 new housing units across the city.{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=New York City Is Set to Approve a Plan to Create 80,000 New Homes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/nyregion/nyc-housing-city-of-yes.html |work=New York Times}} Lynn was one of 20 out of 51 members of the City Council to vote against the legislation. The vote was very divisive among the members who live in Queens. Community boards across the city also voted divisively in regards to this new zoning proposal. Parking minimums were also an issue in this debate.https://citylimits.org/2024/12/05/what-the-councils-revamped-city-of-yes-for-housing-deal-includes/

==Personal life==

Schulman is a lesbian. Her partner of 29 years, Adelaide Connaughton, died in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://gaycitynews.com/in-remembrance-appreciation-undiminished-determination/|title=In Remembrance, Appreciation & Undiminished Determination|last=Roskoff|first=Allen|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=June 16, 2025|website=Gay City News}}

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Category:1957 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:American LGBTQ city council members

Category:Brooklyn Law School alumni

Category:Jewish American people in New York City politics

Category:Jewish American women in politics

Category:New York (state) Democrats

Category:New York City Council members

Category:New York University alumni

Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Queens, New York

Category:Women New York City Council members

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