Jimmy Van Bramer | |
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Member of the New York City Council from the 26th District | |
Assumed office January 1, 2010 |
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Preceded by | Eric Gioia |
Personal details | |
Born |
Queens, New York |
August 19, 1969
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Dan Hendrick |
Alma mater | St. John's University (B.A.) |
Website | Official website |
James G. "Jimmy" Van Bramer (born August 19, 1969) is the Majority Leader of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat and the Council Member for the 26th District, which includes portions of Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Long Island City, Maspeth, Sunnyside and Woodside in Queens.
Jimmy Van Bramer is a lifelong resident of Queens and the son of two active union members. His father, William Van Bramer, was a lifelong member of Printers' and Pressman's Union Local 2. His mother, Elizabeth, helped support the family by taking a variety of jobs in their neighborhood. She was a member of Local 1893 of the International Brotherhood of Painters.
Van Bramer graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School, and from St. Johns University in 1994. Before joining the City Council, Van Bramer served as the Chief External Affairs Officer of the Queens Public Library. In this capacity, he was the library's link between community members and government. He worked as a reporter for Lesbian and Gay New York (now Gay City News) a community newspaper, where he brought attention to the AIDS epidemic and bias/hate crimes. He represents his neighborhood and the 37th Assembly District on the New York State Democratic Committee.
In September 2007, he was named one of City & State's "40 under 40" for being a young influential member of New York City politics. Van Bramer currently lives in Sunnyside Gardens with Dan Hendrick. They married on July 28, 2012. Van Bramer is one of seven openly LGBT members of the New York City Council, alongside Rosie Mendez, Corey Johnson, Ritchie Torres, James Vacca, Daniel Dromm and Carlos Menchaca.