{{Short description|New York City Council member}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ari Kagan | image = Ari Kagan, 2023.jpg | caption = Kagan in 2023 | office = Member of the New York City Council<br>from the 47th district | term_start = January 1, 2022 | term_end = December 31, 2023 | predecessor = Mark Treyger | birth_name = Arkadiy Kagan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|1|29}} | birth_place = Minsk, Soviet Union (now Belarus) | death_date = | death_place = | other_party = Soviet Communist Party (before 1991)<br>Democratic (2002–2022) | party = Republican (2022–present) | education = Lviv Higher Military-Political School, Journalism Department <br>Baruch College (BBA) | allegiance = {{flag|Soviet Union}} | branch = {{army|USSR}} | service_years = 1984–1991 | succeeded = Justin Brannan }} '''Ari Kagan''' (born '''Arkadiy Kagan'''; 1967) is an American politician who was a member of the New York City Council from the 47th district, representing Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate. Elected in November 2021, he assumed office on January 1, 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Кандидат Ари Каган: для Горсовета маленьких проблем не бывает |url=https://www.golosameriki.com/a/ari-kagan-ny-elections/1738327.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Golus Ameriki (Voice of America) |language=ru}}</ref> After being elected as a Democrat, he switched his party membership to the Republican Party during his City Council term. Kagan lost his re-election bid to Democrat Justin Brannan in 2023.
== Early life and education == Kagan was born in Minsk in 1967.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Prince |first=Cathryn J. |date=February 10, 2017 |title=When it comes to supporting the US president, former Soviet Jews say Israel trumps all |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/when-it-comes-to-supporting-the-us-president-fsu-jews-say-israel-trumps-all/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref> His parents were survivors of the Holocaust. His paternal grandmother Sofiya was killed in the Minsk ghetto in 1942 while his father Mikhail survived.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Galak |first=Ilya |date=April 4, 2012 |title=Russian American journalist Ari Kagan: "Hard work pays everywhere" |url=https://statenislandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/russian-american-journalist-ari-kagan-hard-work-pays-everywhere/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Citizens Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NARA – AAD – Display Full Records – Application (SS-5) Files, 1936 – 2007 (Last Names K through L) |url=https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=3079&mtch=10&cat=all&tf=F&q=mikhail+kagan&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=393615&rlst=393615,393616,914481,914482,2672896,5899866,937779,1023939,1023940,923021 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=aad.archives.gov}}</ref>
After graduating Secondary School No. 20 in Minsk, he attended the Leningrad Suvorov School until the Spring of 1984 after which he joined the Soviet Army and in the Fall of 1984, he was admitted to the Journalism Department at Lviv Higher Military-Political School, from which he graduated in Spring 1988.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Ари Каган |url=https://ilyagalak.livejournal.com/598.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=ilyagalak.livejournal.com}}</ref>
In 1991, Kagan left the Soviet Army and the Soviet Communist Party. He said he "became disillusioned with the Soviet-Communist ideology".<ref name=":1" /> He immigrated as a refugee to the United States with his family in May 1993, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the U.S., he attended Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Advertising in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Ari Kagan, 55, City Council member from Brooklyn |url=https://www.jta.org/2022/06/28/ny/ari-kagan-55-city-council-member-from-brooklyn |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2015 |title=J5048 |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/resolutions/2009/j5048 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=NY State Senate |language=en}}</ref>
In 2002, he legally changed his name from "Arkadiy" to "Ari" when he became naturalized as a U.S. citizen. In a 2010 interview, Kagan said of the name change: "Firstly, Ari is shorter than Arkadiy, and Americans do not distort my name, and secondly, I like my new name because it resembles the abbreviation of the words "America - Russia - Israel"."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Интервью с Ари Каганом |url=http://www.alefmagazine.com/pub2332.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=АЛЕФ |language=ru}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ungar-Sargon |first=Batya |date=August 16, 2013 |title=Who's Behind KGB Claims in Brooklyn City Council Race? |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/kgb-claims-in-russian-district |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Tablet Magazine}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
== Career ==
=== Journalism === As a military journalist, Kagan worked in Soviet Latvia with the newspapers ''Sovetskiy Tankist'' in Dobele ''and Dlya Rodiny!'' in Riga.<ref name=":1" /> Kagan said that he was "lucky to work in various papers during the Gorbachev era of Glasnost and Perestroika when criticism of authorities was allowed and sometimes even encouraged".<ref name=":3" /> He told TabletMag that "I was not a dissident. But I was honest with myself, with my family, with my readers."<ref name=":2" /> After resigning from the Soviet Army in 1991, Kagan worked for two anti-Communist papers: "Independent Baltic Newspaper" (Riga) and "Byelorussian Enterprener" (Minsk).{{cn|date=March 2025}}
In Brooklyn, Kagan worked as a writer for the Russian-language newspapers ''Yevreiski Mir'' and ''Vecherniy New York''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sugar |first=Sara |date=August 12, 2013 |title=Sandy a Big Issue in Crowded Council Race |url=https://citylimits.org/2013/08/12/sandy-a-big-issue-in-crowded-council-race/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=City Limits |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan-Kazis |first=Josh |date=June 13, 2012 |title=Black Firebrand Vies in Heavily Jewish District |url=https://forward.com/news/157699/black-firebrand-vies-in-heavily-jewish-district/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Feet in 2 Worlds |date=February 15, 2008 |title=Podcast: Doubts about Obama |url=https://abl.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/15/doubts-about-obama/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=A Better Life? Podcast |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He also presented a weekly television program on the Brooklyn-based ''Russian Television Network of America'' (RTN).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chilcote |first=Ryan |date=December 14, 2017 |title=To this Russian-American community, Russia has become a political scapegoat |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/to-this-russian-american-community-russia-has-become-a-political-scapegoat |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}</ref> From 2005 to 2021, Kagan hosted the morning Radio Show "New York City News" on Russian language Davidzon Radio (620 AM).{{cn|date=March 2025}}
=== Democratic Party politics === In 2012, Kagan was elected as a Democratic District Leader in the 45th New York State Assembly District. He founded the political club Bay Democrats in 2014.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Guedes-Reed |first=Caleb |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Ari Kagan, 55, City Council member from Brooklyn |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/ari-kagan-55-city-council-member-from-brooklyn/article_78c98ece-1708-5a01-aa68-1705c61bd59d.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Berke |first=Ned |date=January 27, 2014 |title=Dem District Leader Ari Kagan Finally Gets His Club |url=https://bklyner.com/dem-district-leader-ari-kagan-finally-gets-his-club-sheepshead-bay/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Bklyner |language=en}}</ref> In December 2022, Kagan became a Republican and stepped down from his District Leader post.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Sommerfeldt |first=Chris |date=December 4, 2022 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn Councilman Ari Kagan expected to switch parties from Democrat to GOP |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-ari-kagan-switches-parties-brooklyn-20221205-5sjgcitybnb5jmclzcspwgub2y-story.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Stark-Miller |first=Ethan |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Brooklyn Council Member Ari Kagan switching to GOP, challenging Justin Brannan in 2023 general election |url=https://www.amny.com/politics/brooklyn-ari-kagan-switching-gop-challenge-justin-brannan/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=amNewYork |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Work for elected officials === Kagan worked as a community liaison for Comptrollers John Liu and Scott Stringer, as an assistant to the United States Congressman Michael McMahon and later as Director of District Operations to Council Member Mark Treyger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 NYC Voter Guide: Ari Kagan |url=https://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/primary_2013/cd_profile/CD48_Kagan_1717.aspx |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=www.nyccfb.info}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Rose |date=February 9, 2021 |title=Who's running for City Council in the 47th District |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/47th-district-whos-running-for-city-council/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.brooklynpaper.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== New York City Council === In November 2021, Kagan was elected to the New York City Council as a Democrat, succeeding Mark Treyger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adcroft |first=Patrick |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Ari Kagan eyes seats on multiple committees after City Council win |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2021/11/18/ari-kagan-eyes-seats-on-multiple-committees-after-city-council-win |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=NY1 |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2022, Kagan switched his party affiliation to Republican, citing disagreements with Democrats on crime and education. He joined the City Council's Republican conference.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-05 |title=Council Member Kagan Switches Party to Challenge Brannan |url=https://www.amny.com/politics/brooklyn-ari-kagan-switching-gop-challenge-justin-brannan/ |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=www.amny.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams suggested that Kagan might lose his position as Chair of the Council's Committee on Resiliency and Waterfronts. "Voters sent Council member Kagan to the Council as a member of the majority conference and this drastic about-face seriously calls into question his commitment to the policy priorities of our conference that will impact his committee roles, particularly his chairmanship given the fact that he is joining a party that denies climate change," Adams said. Kagan resigned from the Committee Chairmanship shortly thereafter, telling the ''Daily News'' that he "resigned rather than to wait until being expelled by the Council leadership".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gartland |first=Michael |date=December 8, 2022 |title=NYC Councilman Ari Kagan steps down as committee head after Dem-to-GOP flip |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-city-council-ari-kagan-resigns-committee-chair-20221208-5amhrzrwaffxvh3yr7jrun5qua-story.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref>
Kagan announced that he would run for re-election in the newly re-drawn 47th district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stark-Miller |first=Ethan |date=2023-01-21 |title=City Council showdown: Kagan not deterred by early fundraising deficit in race against Brannan {{!}} amNewYork |url=https://www.amny.com/news/kagan-not-detered-by-early-fundraising-deficit-in-council-race-against-brannan/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=www.amny.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The new map of the 47th district was criticized, as it connected Bay Ridge to Coney Island through a one-block stretch and divided a Coney Island housing complex (Warbasse Houses) between two districts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Honan |first=Katie |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Redistricting Commission Sends Contentious Draft Maps to City Council After Re-Do |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/10/6/23391695/nyc-redistrict-committee-sends-maps-to-city-council |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The City}}</ref>
In his 2023 re-election bid, Kagan won the Republican primary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Camille |first=Jada |date=2023-06-28 |title=Ari Kagan comes out on top in District 47 Republican primary, will face Democrat Justin Brannan in the 2023 general election |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/kagan-wins-republican-primary-to-face-brannan/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Brooklyn Paper}}</ref> He lost to Democrat Justin Brannan in the general election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Justin Brannan defeats Ari Kagan in heated southern Brooklyn Council race |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/11/justin-brannan-defeats-ari-kagan-heated-southern-brooklyn-council-race/391871/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=City & State NY |language=en}}</ref>
In 2024, Kagan worked as Assistant to the Republican Minority Leader of NYC Council Joe Borelli.
In January 2025, Kagan began working as Senior Advisor to the Brooklyn Republican State Senator Steve Chan. In December of 2025, he founded new a political club called Community First Republican Club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-20 |title=Community First Republican Club celebrates launch in southern Brooklyn • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/community-first-republican-club-launch-southern-brooklyn/ |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=www.brooklynpaper.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{New York City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kagan, Ari}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians Category:American people of Belarusian-Jewish descent Category:American politicians who switched parties Category:Baruch College alumni Category:Belarusian emigrants to the United States Category:Candidates in the 2025 United States elections Category:Jewish American people in New York (state) politics Category:Minsk Suvorov Military School alumni Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:New York (state) Republicans Category:Politicians from Brooklyn Category:Politicians from Minsk Category:Resigned Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Category:Soviet Army personnel Category:Jewish Soviet military personnel