Shaun Abreu
{{Short description|American politician (born 1991)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Shaun Abreu
|image = FWNY25 U.S. Marines and Sailors hold wreath laying ceremony (Abreu).jpg
|caption = Abreu in 2025
|office = Member of the New York City Council
from the 7th district
|term_start = January 1, 2022
|term_end =
|predecessor = Mark Levine
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|8}}
|birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Columbia University (BA)
Tulane University (JD)
|website = {{url|council.nyc.gov/district-7/|Official website}}
{{url|shaunabreu.nyc|Campaign website}}
}}
Shaun Abreu (born January 8, 1991){{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ShaunAbreu/status/1347678454586765313 |title=Today is my 30th birthday, and I have one special request! |author=@ShaunAbreu |date=January 8, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021}} is an American politician and tenants' rights attorney from New York City. He is a member of the Democratic Party serving as the city councilman for the 7th district of the New York City Council.
Early life and education
Abreu was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic. His mother was a clerk at Zabar's, and his father was a union member and a janitor at Port Authority Bus Terminal. At nine years old, his family was evicted from their home, forcing them to stay with neighbors.{{Cite web|url=https://shaunabreu.nyc/about-shaun/|title=Meet Shaun|website=Shaun Abreu, Democrat for City Council|access-date=July 9, 2021}}
Abreu graduated from George Washington High School in Washington Heights, and went on to receive a degree in political science and government from Columbia University and a J.D. degree from Tulane University Law School. After graduating law school in 2018, he became a tenants' rights attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group.{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/nyc-council-district-7-election-shaun-abreu-seeks-uptown-seat|title= NYC Council District 7 Election: Shaun Abreu Seeks Uptown Seat|website=Patch.com|author=Nick Garber|date=June 15, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2021}}
Career
While still a student at Columbia, Abreu worked as Mark Levine's deputy campaign manager during Levine's successful 2013 campaign for the New York City Council. He also served as a member of Manhattan Community Board 9.
=2021 City Council campaign=
In November 2020, Abreu announced his 2021 campaign to succeed the term-limited Levine in the City Council's 7th district, which covers Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, Hamilton Heights, and parts of Harlem and Washington Heights.{{Cite web|url=https://politicsny.com/2020/11/11/attorney-shaun-abreu-throws-hat-into-the-ring-for-city-council/|title= Attorney Shaun Abreu Throws Hat into the Ring for City Council|website=Politics NY|author=Politics NY|date=November 11, 2020|access-date=July 9, 2021}} Garnering endorsements from Levine, U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and most of the city's major unions, Abreu was regarded as the frontrunner in the race.{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/mark-levine-endorses-abreu-upper-manhattan-city-council-race|title=Mark Levine Endorses Abreu In Upper Manhattan City Council Race|website=Patch.com|author=Nick Garber|date=March 3, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://shaunabreu.nyc/congressman-adriano-espaillat-endorses-shaun-abreu/|title=Congressman Adriano Espaillat Endorses Shaun Abreu for City Council District 7|website=Shaun Abreu, Democrat for City Council|access-date=July 9, 2021}}
Five of Abreu's eleven opponents – Maria Ordoñez, Stacy Lynch, Marti Allen-Cummings, Dan Cohen, and Corey Ortega – sought to counter this advantage through ranked-choice voting and formed a coalition, wherein each of the five candidates advised their own voters to rank the other four coalition members on their ballot.{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/5-harlem-council-candidates-endorse-each-other-rare-move|title=5 Harlem Council Candidates Endorse Each Other In Unusual Move|website=Patch.com|author=Nick Garber|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2021}}
On election night on June 22, Abreu led the field with 27 percent of the vote, with four members of the opposing coalition coming in second through fifth.{{Cite web|url=https://web.enrboenyc.us/CD243180.html|title=2021 Primary Election Unofficial Election Night Results, Member of the City Council 7th Council District - Democratic |publisher=New York City Board of Elections|access-date=July 9, 2021}} When ranked-choice votes and absentee ballots were taken into account two weeks later, Abreu maintained his lead, with 63 percent of the vote to Ordoñez's 37 percent; Abreu formally declared victory on July 2, and his opponents conceded in the succeeding days.{{Cite web|url=https://web.enrboenyc.us/rcv/024318_13.html|title=Unofficial Ranked Choice Rounds, Member of the City Council 7th Council District - Democratic |publisher=New York City Board of Elections|access-date=July 9, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ShaunAbreu/status/1411150294390607874|title=I have never been prouder to call District 7 my home. I can't wait to get to work.|author=@ShaunAbreu|access-date=July 9, 2021}} In the November general election, Abreu won with over 88% of the vote.
= Tenure =
Abreu is a member of the Vote Blue Coalition, a progressive group and federal PAC created to support Democrats in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania through voter outreach and mobilization efforts.{{cite web |url=https://votebluenyc.org/coalition/ |title=Coalition |website=Vote Blue |language=en |access-date=2024-07-17}}
In 2024 Abreu opposed a ballot measure approved by New York City voters to empower the New York City Department of Sanitation to enhance cleaning and sanitation in New York City {{cite web | url=https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-ballot-measure-would-expand-trash-pickup-and-street-vendor-crackdowns | title=NYC ballot measure would expand trash pickup — and street vendor crackdowns | date=14 October 2024 }}
Personal life
Abreu lives in Manhattan Valley. He is a member of UAW Local 2325, an association for legal aid attorneys.
References
{{reflist}}
{{New York City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abreu, Shaun}}
Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians
Category:American politicians of Dominican Republic descent
Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni
Category:George Washington Educational Campus alumni
Category:Lawyers from New York City
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan