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Simcha Felder
Felder in 2019
Member of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2013
Preceded by	David Storobin
Constituency	17th district (2013–2023) 22nd district (2023–present)
Member of the New York City Council from the 44th district
In office January 1, 2002 – February 1, 2010
Preceded by	Noach Dear
Succeeded by	David G. Greenfield
Personal details
Born	(1958-12-30) December 30, 1958 (age 66) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Republican Caucus (2013–2019)
Website	Official website

Simcha Felder (born December 30, 1958) is an American politician from Borough Park, Brooklyn. He represents the 22nd district in the New York State Senate. A Democrat, Felder has been a member of the State Senate since 2013; he caucused with Senate Republicans from 2013 to 2018 and has caucused with Senate Democrats since 2019. Prior to his State Senate tenure, Felder represented the 44th district on the New York City Council from 2002 to 2010.

Early life and early career

Felder's father was Rabbi Harry Felder, spiritual leader of Beth Aaron Congregation in Borough Park.

Early in his career, Felder served as chief of staff to Democratic New York State Assembly member Dov Hikind.

New York City Council (2002-2010)

Felder was elected to the New York City Council in District 44 in 2001. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2009.

During his tenure on the City Council, Felder gained popularity among his conservative Jewish constituents for advocating strongly on their behalf and for supporting Israel. 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. 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 Quinn for Council Speaker, Felder did not cast a vote and took a trip to the restroom.

Felder backed city funding for religious schools, while maintaining that he opposes displays of religion in public schools. Felder has also gained attention by calling for better labeling of caffeine content in foods and beverages, as well as a ban on the distribution of unsolicited fliers. Felder is perhaps best known for his attempt to ban the feeding of pigeons in New York City.

In 2005, Felder crossed party lines to endorse then-Republican Mike Bloomberg in his bid for reelection as New York City mayor. 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.

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.

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. In spite of such calls, the UN announced in 2007 that it would undergo a $1 billion makeover.

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 house 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 Chief Esposito for using profanity. When subsequently asked to comment on the Review Board's finding, Felder's office stated that Felder had "no comment" about the incident and that he "wants to put the matter behind him".

Felder announced his Democratic presidential primary election vote for Senator Barack Obama "in protest" for what he felt was bad behavior by the campaign of New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, following comments made by former president Bill Clinton regarding the South Carolina primary.

New York State Senate (2013-present)

In 2008, Felder challenged incumbent State Senator Kevin Parker in a Democratic primary in Senate District 21. Parker won the primary with less than 50% of the vote.

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 the election to the Senate, Felder announced that despite being elected as a Democrat, he intended to caucus with the Republicans. Felder also stated his willingness to return to the Senate Democratic Conference if doing so would benefit his district. Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio called Felder's defection a "disgrace and a complete betrayal of his constituents."

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 pro-Israel policies like anti-BDS laws and Iran divestment. 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. Unlike nearly all other New York Democrats, Felder is a staunch opponent of abortion.

Felder was reelected to the Senate without opposition in 2014 and 2016. 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".

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. On April 25, Cuomo sent Felder an open letter to pressure him to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference. 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 their exasperation with Felder:

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, a lawyer. Felder won re-election on November 6, 2018.

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. 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'". Felder was accepted into the Democratic caucus July 1, 2019 after having voted with the Democrats on multiple major pieces of legislation.

New York City Council (2025 campaign)

Following the election of Councilman Kalman Yeger winning the New York State Assembly election in the 41st district, Senator Felder announced that he will run in the special election for the New York City Council 44th district (a seat he previously held from 2002-2010) which will occur March 25, 2025 after Kalman Yeger resigned to serve as Assemblyman.

References

1. Rivlin-Nadler, Max; and Evans, Lauren. "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."
2. "Beth Aaron Congregation". Retrieved June 4, 2012.
3. Katz, Celeste. "Dov Hikind, David Greenfield Endorse Simcha Felder For New "Super-Jewish" State Senate Seat". nydailynews.com.
4. "2001 New York City Election Results" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
5. "2005 New York City Council Election Results, District 44" (PDF). Vote.NYC. November 22, 2021.
6. "2009 New York City Council Election Results, District 44" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
7. "Council's Felder Sides With Mayor". New York Sun. April 14, 2005.
8. "Boro Park Pol Favors Gay Speaker Hopeful". The Jewish Week. December 30, 2005.
9. "Felder's Private Office". New York Observer. January 13, 2006. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008.
10. "City Adds Funds For Catholic, Jewish Schools". New York Sun. July 10, 2006.
11. "Simcha Felder Against Allowing Religious Symbols In Schools". New York Sun. June 19, 2007.
12. "NYC Councilman Wants Caffeine Labeling". Associated Press. February 20, 2007.
13. "Law would destroy my livelihood!". The Brooklyn Paper. May 5, 2007.
14. "$1,000 fine for feeding pigeons? N.Y. considers". NBC News. November 14, 2007.
15. "Felder: I'm a Malcolm Smith Democrat". New York Daily News. June 2, 2008.
16. "Felder is Not a Doghouse Democrat". Room Eight NY. August 4, 2008.
17. "The Last Days of Pay to Play". New York Magazine. February 26, 2007.
18. "UN Takes A Beating". The Jewish Week. December 17, 2004.
19. "U.N. signs contract with Skanska for HQ renovation". Reuters. July 27, 2007.
20. "Probe: Chief didn't use slur". Newsday. August 4, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
21. Simcha Felder for Obama. YouTube. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021.
22. Witt, Stephen (August 5, 2008). "Race's red hot rhetoric - Parker, Stewart, Felder in fierce war of words • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com.
23. Confessore, Nicholas; Hicks, Jonathan P. (September 10, 2008). "Silver Sidesteps a Challenge, but Other Incumbents Fall in Primary". The New York Times.
24. ^ Silberstein, Rachel (May 30, 2018). "Sen. Simcha Felder, explained". Times Union.
25. ^ "Brooklyn Dems' Frank Seddio Calls Simcha Felder Plan To Caucus With Senate GOP 'A Betrayal'". New York Daily News. November 14, 2012.
26. ^ Runyeon, Frank (October 4, 2016). ""Heretic." "Maverick." "Opportunist." "Advocate." Who is the real Simcha Felder?". City & State. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
27. "Group picks slick pol for Oil Slick Award". Retrieved August 22, 2018.
28. "Klein Offers Hostile Abortion Amendment, Fails (Updatedx2)". State of Politics. June 21, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
29. Balofsky, Ahuva (July 11, 2013). "Abortion Bill Scheduled for Shabbat". BreakingIsraelNews.com. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
30. "NYS Sen. Dems Delay Abortion Vote". The Lid. July 7, 2013.
31. "2014 New York State Senate Election Results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
32. ^ "2016 New York State Senate Election Results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
33. Wang, Vivian; McKinley, Jesse (April 3, 2018). "The Curious Case of the Yeshiva Carve-Out". The New York Times.
34. Campbell, John; Spector, Joseph (April 24, 2018). "Simcha Felder to stick with Senate Republicans, denying potential Democratic control". Democrat and Chronicle.
35. Cutler, Nancy. "Cuomo crows about a Democratic Senate majority as he waits on Simcha Felder". The Journal News.
36. "IDC and other New York legislative 2018 primary results". City & State NY. September 14, 2018.
37. Clark, Amy Sara (August 8, 2018). "Can A Progressive Upend Felder?". The Jewish Week.
38. Feldman, Ari (November 7, 2018). "Simcha Felder Is Kingmaker No More — Faces 'Different World' In Albany". The Forward.
39. Lovett, Kenneth (December 31, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: NYS Senate Dems say thanks, but no thanks to Simcha Felder's return to Democratic conference". Daily News.
40. Lovett, Kenneth (January 9, 2019). "Without the Dems or the Republicans, Brooklyn state Sen. Felder an island to himself". Daily News.
41. Reisman, Nick (July 1, 2019). "Felder Joins Senate Dem Fold". NYstateofpolitics.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
42. "Simcha Felder Enters Race For NYC Council Special Election". BoroPark 24. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

External links

• New York State Senate Site Simcha Felder
• SimchaFelder.org Simcha Felder Campaign Site
• Felder2009.org Another Simcha Felder Campaign Site
• Simcha Felder for New York State Senate Facebook Group
• Ballotpedia: Simcha Felder

v t e Members of the New York State Senate
204th New York Legislature (2021–2022) President of the Senate Antonio Delgado (D) President pro tempore and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R)
▌Anthony Palumbo (R) ▌Mario Mattera (R) ▌Dean Murray (R) ▌Monica Martinez (D) ▌Steven Rhoads (R) ▌Kevin Thomas (D) ▌Jack Martins (R) ▌Alexis Weik (R) ▌Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R) ▌James Sanders Jr. (D) ▌Toby Ann Stavisky (D) ▌Michael Gianaris (D) ▌Jessica Ramos (D) ▌Leroy Comrie (D) ▌Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D) ▌John Liu (D) ▌Steve Chan (R) ▌Julia Salazar (D) ▌Roxanne Persaud (D) ▌Zellnor Myrie (D) ▌Kevin Parker (D) ▌Simcha Felder (D) ▌Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D) ▌Andrew Lanza (R) ▌Jabari Brisport (D) ▌Andrew Gounardes (D) ▌Brian P. Kavanagh (D) ▌Liz Krueger (D) ▌José M. Serrano (D) ▌Cordell Cleare (D) ▌Robert Jackson (D) ▌Luis R. Sepúlveda (D) ▌Gustavo Rivera (D) ▌Nathalia Fernandez (D) ▌Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) ▌Jamaal Bailey (D) ▌Shelley Mayer (D) ▌Bill Weber (R) ▌Robert Rolison (R) ▌Peter Harckham (D) ▌Michelle Hinchey (D) ▌James Skoufis (D) ▌Jake Ashby (R) ▌Jim Tedisco (R) ▌Dan Stec (R) ▌Neil Breslin (D) ▌Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D) ▌Rachel May (D) ▌Mark Walczyk (R) ▌Chris Ryan (D) ▌Peter Oberacker (R) ▌Lea Webb (D) ▌Joseph Griffo (R) ▌Pam Helming (R) ▌Samra Brouk (D) ▌Jeremy Cooney (D) ▌George Borrello (R) ▌Tom O'Mara (R) ▌Kristen Gonzalez (D) ▌Patrick M. Gallivan (R) ▌Sean Ryan (D) ▌Rob Ortt (R) ▌April McCants-Baskin (D)
▌Democratic (41) ▌Republican (22) New York State Legislature New York State Assembly New York State Senate

• Living people
• People from Borough Park, Brooklyn
• New York City Council members
• American Orthodox Jews
• Jewish American state legislators in New York (state)
• Democratic Party New York (state) state senators
• 1958 births
• 21st-century American Jews
• Jewish American people in New York City politics
• 21st-century members of the New York State Legislature