Simcha Felder

Felder's father was Rabbi Harry Felder, spiritual leader of Beth Aaron Congregation in Borough Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.minyanmaps.com/shuls/shulinfo.php?ShulID=1998805268|title=Beth Aaron Congregation|access-date=June 4, 2012}} Felder is an Orthodox Jew. His brothers are Rabbi Shmuel Felder and Rabbi Chaim Moshe Felder.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/interviews-and-profiles/state-senator-simcha-felder-eyeing-move-to-city-council-on-babka-trump-and-his-approach-to-public-service/2025/03/19/|title=State Senator Simcha Felder, Eyeing Move To City Council, On Babka, Trump, And His Approach To Public Service|first=Baruch|last=Lytle|date=March 19, 2025|website=JewishPress.com}}

Felder is a certified public accountant. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.{{Cite web|url=https://politicsny.com/2018/04/12/simcha-felder-independent-thinker-political-pragmatist/|title=Simcha Felder: Independent Thinker, Political Pragmatist|first=Stephen|last=Witt|date=April 12, 2018|website=politicsny.com}}

Felder has worked as a tax auditor for the New York City Department of Finance. In the 1990s, he worked for the New York City Comptroller's Office.{{Cite web|url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/11/30/in-public-service-felder-aims-to-make-life-easier-for-residents/|title=In Public Service: Felder aims to make life easier for residents|first=Paula|last=Katinas|date=November 30, 2015|website=Brooklyn Eagle}} Felder has also served as chief of staff to onetime Democratic Assemblymember Dov Hikind.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2012/04/24/dov-hikind-david-greenfield-endorse-simcha-felder-for-new-super-jewish-state-senate-seat/|title=Dov Hikind, David Greenfield Endorse Simcha Felder For New "Super-Jewish" State Senate Seat|first=Celeste|last=Katz|website=nydailynews.com|date=April 24, 2012}}

Felder was elected to the New York City Council in District 44 in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/downloads/pdf/results/2001/generalelection/general2001.pdf|title=2001 New York City Election Results|website=Vote.NYC|access-date=November 22, 2021}} He was re-elected in 2005{{cite web|url=https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/downloads/pdf/results/2005/general/Brooklyn/Kings%20City%20Council%2044%20Recap.pdf|title=2005 New York City Council Election Results, District 44|website=Vote.NYC|date=November 22, 2021}} and 2009.{{cite web|url=https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/downloads/pdf/results/2009/General/6.28KingsCouncil44Recap.pdf|title=2009 New York City Council Election Results, District 44|website=Vote.NYC|access-date=November 22, 2021}}

During his tenure on the City Council, Felder gained popularity among his conservative Jewish constituents for advocating on their behalf and for supporting Israel.{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/article/12210 |title=Council's Felder Sides With Mayor |newspaper=New York Sun |date=April 14, 2005}} Although personally opposed to homosexuality as being against Orthodox Judaism, he backed Christine Quinn for City Council Speaker in what was seen as a political move to gain allies.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11846 |title=Boro Park Pol Favors Gay Speaker Hopeful |newspaper=The Jewish Week |date=December 30, 2005}} Although Felder claimed to support Quinn, he said he could not actually vote for her because of religious reasons. When the time came to vote on Quinn's candidacy for Council Speaker, Felder took a trip to the restroom and did not cast a vote.{{cite news |url=http://www.observer.com/node/28404 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706161817/http://www.observer.com/node/28404 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |title=Felder's Private Office |newspaper=New York Observer |date=January 13, 2006}}

Felder backed city funding for religious schools while maintaining that he opposed displays of religion in public schools.{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/article/35680 |title=City Adds Funds For Catholic, Jewish Schools |newspaper=New York Sun |date=July 10, 2006}}{{cite news |url=http://74.53.136.170/9917/2007/06/19/new-york-ny-simcha-felder-against |title=Simcha Felder Against Allowing Religious Symbols In Schools |newspaper=New York Sun |date=June 19, 2007}} Felder has also gained attention by calling for better labeling of caffeine content in foods and beverages,{{cite news |url=http://wcbstv.com/health/health_story_051004053.html |title=NYC Councilman Wants Caffeine Labeling |agency=Associated Press |date=February 20, 2007}} as well as a ban on the distribution of unsolicited fliers.{{cite news |url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/18/30_18livelihood.html |title=Law would destroy my livelihood! |newspaper=The Brooklyn Paper |date=May 5, 2007}} Felder also became known for his attempt to ban the feeding of pigeons in New York City.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21790392 |title=$1,000 fine for feeding pigeons? N.Y. considers |publisher=NBC News |date=November 14, 2007}}

In 2005, Felder crossed party lines to endorse then-Republican Mike Bloomberg in his bid for reelection as New York City mayor.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/felder-malcolm-smith-democrat-blog-entry-1.1671346 |title=Felder: I'm a Malcolm Smith Democrat |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=June 2, 2008}} Felder

asserted that Bloomberg was the only Republican he had ever voted for and implied that Bloomberg would be the only Republican he would ever support.{{cite news |url=http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gatemouth/bobmshell_sincha_felder_is_not_a_dohouse_democrat_kendall_stewart_refuses_to_commit.html |title=Felder is Not a Doghouse Democrat |publisher=Room Eight NY |date=August 4, 2008}}

Felder was Chair of the Council's Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime uses in his first term. In January 2006, he became Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations. As Chair of Governmental Operations, Felder supported Mayor Bloomberg's plan to curb Pay to Play contracting practices and the Mayor's bid to extend term limits so the Mayor could run for a third term.{{cite journal |url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/28159/ |title=The Last Days of Pay to Play |journal=New York Magazine |date=February 26, 2007}}

The committee also provided oversight of the City Board of Elections' implementation of the Help America Vote Act and enacted legislation to transfer the Environmental Control Board from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. The Committee also enacted legislation to extend term limits from two terms to three. As a member of the Council's Land Use Committee, Felder was part of a group of New York state legislators that has consistently blocked plans to renovate United Nations headquarters, calling the UN anti-American and anti-Israel.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/un_takes_beating |title=UN Takes A Beating |newspaper=The Jewish Week |date=December 17, 2004}} In spite of such calls, the UN announced in 2007 that it would undergo a $1 billion makeover.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2724925120070727 |title=U.N. signs contract with Skanska for HQ renovation |work=Reuters |date=July 27, 2007}}

In April 2006, Felder accused the highest-ranking uniformed member of the NYPD, Chief Joseph Esposito, of using inappropriate language when Esposito attempted to quell individuals who entered a police station during a riot in Borough Park. Felder indicated that he personally heard the chief say, "Get the fucking Jews out of here." The Civilian Complaint Review Board, which investigates police misconduct, later found the accusation against Esposito unsubstantiated, but did reprimand him for using profanity.{{cite news|url=http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-ccrb0804,0,3405338.story |title=Probe: Chief didn't use slur |newspaper=Newsday |date=August 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182139/http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-ccrb0804,0,3405338.story |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

Felder resigned his City Council post in 2010 to take a position working for New York City Comptroller John Liu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2010/02/mayor_bloomberg_sets_date_for.html|title=Mayor Bloomberg sets date for City Council special election to fill Simcha Felder's vacant seat|date=February 1, 2010|website=silive.com}}

File:Avenue H Station on Q Line Now Fully Accessible (51314325200) (cropped).jpg

In 2008, Felder challenged incumbent State Senator Kevin Parker in a Democratic primary in Senate District 21.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/races-red-hot-rhetoric-parker-stewart-felder-in-fierce-war-of-words/|title=Race's red hot rhetoric - Parker, Stewart, Felder in fierce war of words • Brooklyn Paper|first=Stephen|last=Witt|website=www.brooklynpaper.com|date=August 5, 2008 }} Parker won the primary with less than 50% of the vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/nyregion/10primary.html?ref=nyregion|title=Silver Sidesteps a Challenge, but Other Incumbents Fall in Primary|last1=Confessore|first1=Nicholas|date=September 10, 2008|work=The New York Times|last2=Hicks|first2=Jonathan P.}}

Felder was elected to the New York State Senate in District 17 in November 2012. The district had been reconfigured as a "Super Jewish" district; reportedly, the Republican-controlled chamber drew the district specifically with Felder in mind. Even though incumbent David Storobin had won the seat in a special election, the GOP offered little support to him, and Felder handily defeated him.

Following his election to the Senate, Felder announced that despite being elected as a Democrat, he intended to caucus with the Republicans.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/11/brooklyn-dems-frank-seddio-calls-simcha-felder-plan-to-caucus-with-senate-gop- |title=Brooklyn Dems' Frank Seddio Calls Simcha Felder Plan To Caucus With Senate GOP 'A Betrayal' |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=November 14, 2012}} Felder also stated his willingness to return to the Senate Democratic Conference if doing so would benefit his district.{{cite news|url=http://cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-state-articles/%E2%80%9Cheretic.%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cmaverick.%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Copportunist.%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cadvocate.%E2%80%9D-who-is-simcha-felder/#.WlGGszdG3iU | title="Heretic." "Maverick." "Opportunist." "Advocate." Who is the real Simcha Felder? |last=Runyeon |first=Frank | date=October 4, 2016 | work=City & State |access-date=January 6, 2018}} Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio called Felder's defection a "disgrace and a complete betrayal of his constituents."

Felder is known as a conservative Democrat.{{cite news|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/decision-2018/2018/09/05/new-york-state-senate-balance-of-power|title=Analysis: Eyes on Senate in Albany power struggle and these 5 races |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |last=Benjamin |first=Liz |date=September 5, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/young-republicans-to-maintain-control-in-senate/article_8b15d8b2-f045-11e7-a648-43fb25486500.html|title=Young: Republicans to maintain control in Senate |website=oleantimesherald.com|last=Miller |first=Rick|date=January 3, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/new-york-democrats-select-their-candidatesand-purge-state-senator/|title=New York Democrats Select Their Candidates—And 'Purge' a State Senator |website=wnyc.org |last=Mogul |first=Fred |date=May 24, 2018}} As a State Senator, Felder was the only Democrat to vote against $15-per-hour minimum wage legislation. He cast deciding votes against an immigration bill called the New York Dream Act, stated that ending stop-and-frisk was a mistake, opposed plastic bag fees, and supported Iran divestment and anti-BDS laws.{{Cite news|url=http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27278678/article-Group-picks-slick-pol-for-Oil-Slick-Award?instance=lead_story_left_column|title=Group picks slick pol for Oil Slick Award |access-date=2018-08-22}} On the final day of the 2013 legislative session, Felder voted against a hostile amendment that would have attached a pro-choice bill to an unrelated piece of legislation.{{cite news|url=http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2013/06/klein-offers-hostile-abortion-amendment-fails/| title=Klein Offers Hostile Abortion Amendment, Fails (Updatedx2)|work = State of Politics | date=June 21, 2013 |access-date=January 6, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/1743/abortion-vote-scheduled-shabbat/#/#HJPFBQCE8q73hkYl.97 | title=Abortion Bill Scheduled for Shabbat |last=Balofsky |first=Ahuva | work=BreakingIsraelNews.com | date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=January 6, 2018}} Unlike nearly all other New York Democrats, Felder is a staunch opponent of abortion.{{cite web |url=http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2013/07/nys-sen-dems-delay-abortion-rights-vote.html |title=NYS Sen. Dems Delay Abortion Vote |publisher=The Lid |date=July 7, 2013}}

Felder was reelected to the Senate without opposition in 2014{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2014/general/2014NYSenate.pdf|title=2014 New York State Senate Election Results|website=Elections.NY.gov}} and 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2016/General/2016NYSenate.pdf|title=2016 New York State Senate Election Results|website=Elections.NY.gov}} In the latter election, he ran on the Democratic, Republican, and Conservative lines.

In April 2018, other lawmakers accused Felder of "essentially holding the $168 billion budget hostage until the state agreed not to interfere with the curriculum at the private Jewish schools known as yeshivas".{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Vivian |last2=McKinley |first2=Jesse |date=April 3, 2018 |title=The Curious Case of the Yeshiva Carve-Out |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/nyregion/yeshivas-budget-new-york.html |access-date=}}

After an April 2018 agreement returned the Independent Democratic Conference (a breakaway faction of Democrats) to the mainline Democratic conference, Felder became the swing vote in the State Senate; this placed a spotlight on his continued affiliation with Senate Republicans. On April 24, 2018, Felder announced that he intended to continue caucusing with Senate Republicans during the remaining weeks of the 2018 legislative session; Felder made this statement despite the possibility that two special elections being held that day could give the Democratic Party a numerical majority in the State Senate, and despite Governor Andrew Cuomo's public support for Democratic control of the Senate.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=John |last2=Spector |first2=Joseph |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Simcha Felder to stick with Senate Republicans, denying potential Democratic control |work=Democrat and Chronicle |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2018/04/24/simcha-felder-stick-senate-republicans-denying-democratic-control/546916002/ |access-date=}} On April 25, Cuomo sent Felder an open letter to pressure him to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference.{{cite web |last=Cutler |first=Nancy |title=Cuomo crows about a Democratic Senate majority as he waits on Simcha Felder |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/perspective/2018/04/26/cuomo-felder-democrats/550708002/ |access-date= |website=The Journal News}} Felder continued to caucus with the Republicans.

In June 2018, Democratic State Committee members approved an informal resolution recommending Felder's ouster from the party. Former state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, speaking to reporters afterward, reiterated the Committee's exasperation with Felder. Jacobs said:{{cite web |last=Silberstein |first=Rachel |date=May 30, 2018 |title=Sen. Simcha Felder, explained |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Sen-Simcha-Felder-explained-12954696.php |access-date= |website=Times Union}}

{{blockquote|text=It's my belief is that the party is not merely a vessel for someone's personal ambition to take someone from where they are to where they want to be. The party represents certain principles. Here you have someone who took the Democratic line, ran on it, won on it, and immediately stood with the Republicans.}}

In the 2018 Democratic primary in September 2018, Felder defeated Blake Morris,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2018/09/idc-and-other-new-york-legislative-2018-primary-results/178118/|title=IDC and other New York legislative 2018 primary results|website=City & State NY|date=September 14, 2018 }} a lawyer.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Amy Sara |date=8 August 2018 |title=Can A Progressive Upend Felder? |url=https://www.jta.org/2018/08/08/ny/can-a-progressive-upend-felder |website=The Jewish Week}} Felder won re-election on November 6, 2018.{{cite web |last=Feldman |first=Ari |date=7 November 2018 |title=Simcha Felder Is Kingmaker No More — Faces 'Different World' In Albany |url=https://forward.com/news/413824/simcha-felder-is-kingmaker-no-more-faces-different-world-in-albany/? |access-date= |website=The Forward}}

The 2018 elections saw the Democrats win control of the State Senate for only the second time since World War II. Felder sought to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference. However, on December 31, 2018, the Senate Democratic Conference announced that Felder would not be allowed to rejoin its ranks. Even without Felder, the Democrats had 39 Senate seats, seven more than the 32 needed for a majority.{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Kenneth |title=EXCLUSIVE: NYS Senate Dems say thanks, but no thanks to Simcha Felder's return to Democratic conference |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-felder-stewart-cousins-senate-20181230-story.html |access-date= |website=Daily News|date=December 31, 2018 }} On January 9, 2019, the Daily News reported that Felder had decided against caucusing with the Republicans, and was looking forward to rejoining the Senate Democrats "'at the appropriate time'".{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Kenneth |title=Without the Dems or the Republicans, Brooklyn state Sen. Felder an island to himself |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-felder-democrats-republicans-senate-20190109-story.html |website=Daily News|date=January 9, 2019 }}

Felder was accepted into the Democratic caucus July 1, 2019 after having voted with the Democrats on multiple major pieces of legislation.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701131715/https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/07/felder-joins-senate-dem-fold/|url=https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/07/felder-joins-senate-dem-fold/|title=Felder Joins Senate Dem Fold|first=Nick|last=Reisman|work=NYstateofpolitics.com|archive-date=July 1, 2019|date=July 1, 2019|access-date=July 1, 2019}}

In 2022, following redistricting, Felder--who represented New York's 17th Senate District--sought re-election in New York's 22nd Senate district.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/11571-races-to-watch-new-york-2022-general-election|title=Races to Watch in New York’s 2022 General Election|first=Samar|last=Khurshid|website=Gotham Gazette|date=September 22, 2022}} Felder won re-election in the 22nd Senate District in November 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/11/2022-new-york-state-legislative-general-election-results/379489/|title=2022 New York state legislative general election results|date=November 8, 2022|website=City & State NY|access-date=April 12, 2025}}

Felder's final day in the legislature was April 9, 2025. He stepped down from his Senate seat after being elected to the New York City Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.boropark24.com/news/simcha-felder-leaves-ny-state-senate-for-city-council-leaving-a-lasting-legacy|title=Simcha Felder Leaves NY State Senate for City Council, Leaving a Lasting Legacy|date=April 9, 2025|access-date=April 9, 2025|website=Boro Park 24}} His farewell speech marked only the third time he had ever spoken on the Senate floor.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2025/04/09/heastie-late-budget-blaming-kathy-hochul-state-legislature-00281102|title=Late budget blaming continues|last=Beeferman|first=Jason|date=April 9, 2025|access-date=April 9, 2025|website=Politico}}

Felder returned to the New York City Council in 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://council.nyc.gov/simcha-felder/district-44/|title=District 44 - Simcha Felder|website=council.nyc.gov|access-date=June 9, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://gaycitynews.com/council-vote-gender-affirming-care-hospitals-trump/|title=Council approves bills to protect gender-affirming care after hospitals cave to Trump|first=Matt|last=Tracy|date=April 24, 2025|website=gaycitynews.com}}

Following the 2024 election of New York City Councilmember Kalman Yeger to the New York State Assembly, Felder announced his candidacy for Yeger's seat on the New York City Council representing District 44.{{cite web|url=https://www.boropark24.com/news/simcha-felder-enters-race-for-nyc-council-special-election|title=Simcha Felder Enters Race For NYC Council Special Election|website=BoroPark 24|date=2 December 2024|access-date=5 December 2024}} Felder had held the same seat during his previous City Council tenure. On March 25, 2025, he won the seat with more than 81% of the vote.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-26 |title=Simcha Felder wins back his former City Council seat in landslide vote |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/03/26/simcha-felder-wins-city-council-landslide/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Brooklyn Eagle |language=en-US}}

Felder resides in Borough Park, Brooklyn.Rivlin-Nadler, Max; and Evans, Lauren. [https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/05/25/meet-the-senator-who-stands-between-new-yorkers-and-universal-health-care/ "Meet The Senator Who Stands Between New Yorkers And Universal Health Care"], The Village Voice, May 25, 2017. Accessed February 8, 2019. "That one vote is represented by State Senator Simcha Felder, of Borough Park, Brooklyn."

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/simcha-felder New York State Senate Site Simcha Felder]
• [https://ballotpedia.org/Simcha_Felder Ballotpedia: Simcha Felder]

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Category:Living people

Category:People from Borough Park, Brooklyn

Category:New York City Council members

Category:American Orthodox Jews

Category:Jewish state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators

Category:1958 births

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:Jewish American people in New York City politics

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