{{Short description|American lawyer and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = David S. Yassky | office = Member of the New York City Council<br>from the 33rd District | term_start = January 1, 2002 | term_end = December 31, 2009 | predecessor = Ken Fisher | successor = Stephen Levin | image = DavidYassky.jpg | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = | birth_name = | spouse = Diana Fortuna | children = 2 | alma_mater = The Dalton School <br /> Princeton University<br />Yale Law School | profession = Lawyer | committees = | website = | footnotes = }} '''David S. Yassky''' is an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the New York City Council from 2002 until 2009, the chairperson of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission,<ref name="TLC Biography"/> and the Dean of Pace University School of Law from April 2014 to April 2018.<ref name="Pace Press Release, 2018"/><ref name="David Yassky Pace Faculty Page"/>

In 2006, Yassky ran for U.S. Congress in Brooklyn, losing to Yvette Clarke, and in 2009 he ran a losing campaign for the Democratic nomination for New York City Comptroller. In 2022, he ran in the primary for the New York State Senate.<ref name="Liotta, 2022"/>

==Education== The son of a prominent lawyer{{Who|date=August 2022}} and an entertainment executive, Yassky attended the Dalton School on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Princeton University and Yale Law School.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

==Career== He was a budget analyst for the New York City Mayor's Office of Management and Budget.{{when|date=March 2019}} He then served as chief counsel to the House Subcommittee on Crime, a subcommittee chaired by Charles Schumer.{{when|date=March 2019}} Yassky was a member of the faculty of the Brooklyn Law School.{{when|date=March 2019}}<ref>New York City 2009 General Election Guide, NYC Campaign Finance Board</ref>

===City Council=== Yassky was elected to the New York City Council in 2001, representing the 33rd district, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope. He was chair of the Council's Small Business Committee.

Yassky was one of 29 council members who voted in 2008 to extend term limits for themselves effectively ignoring two previous public votes imposing a limit of two terms. Hours before the final vote on term limits, Yassky proposed an amendment from the floor that would have altered the legislation to require approval by popular vote before term limits could change. The amendment failed by a vote of 28-22, but Yassky voted for the extension anyway.<ref name="Chan and Hicks, 2008"/><ref name="Hicks, 2008"/>

===2006 Congressional campaign=== In 2006, Yassky ran for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 11th Congressional District seat, an open seat held by the retiring Congressman Major Owens. He was part of a four-way race which also included New York State Senator Carl Andrews, New York City Council member Yvette D. Clarke and Major Owens's son Chris Owens.

During the primary, Major Owens called Yassky a "colonizer," and Al Sharpton called Yassky "greedy." City Council member Albert Vann sent an email to Black elected officials stating that "we are in peril of losing a 'Voting Rights' district ... as a result of the well financed candidacy of Council Member David Yassky, a white individual."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008541 | title = 'A White Individual': How the Voting Rights Act promotes racial polarization | publisher = Wall Street Journal | date = 2006-06-20 }}</ref> The area had been represented by politicians of African or Caribbean descent since the election of Shirley Chisholm in 1968.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/nyregion/25brooklyn.html | title = Rivals In House Race Debate White Candidate's Motives | work = New York Times | author = Hicks, Jonathan P. | date = 2006-08-25 }}</ref>

In August 2006, ''The New York Times'' endorsed Yassky, citing his "stellar record on the Council" and criticizing his rivals for not making a substantial case for their election, and the Democratic leadership within Brooklyn for failing to find qualified Black candidates for this seat.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/30/opinion/30wed2.html | title = Editorial: For Congress in Brooklyn | work = New York Times | date = 2006-08-30 }}</ref>

In a primary election held on September 12, 2006, Yassky garnered 26% of the popular vote. The winner was Yvette Clarke, with about 30%.<ref>[http://www.ny1.com/ny/Election/2006primary/index.html?page_name=congress 2006 Congressional Primary Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312104840/http://www.ny1.com/ny/Election/2006primary/index.html?page_name=congress |date=2007-03-12 }}. NY1 News.</ref>

===2009 Comptroller election=== In 2009, Yassky ran for the office of New York City Comptroller. He was endorsed by Ed Koch<ref name="Paybarah, Sep 21, 2009"/> and his former boss, Sen. Charles Schumer.<ref name="Paybarah, Sep 9, 2009"/><ref name="David Yassky Endorsements List"/> ''The New York Times'' on August 23, 2009, attributed its endorsement to his "skill, intelligence, and independence."<ref name="New York Times Endorsement, 2009"/> In the Democratic primary held on September 15, 2009, Yassky was the runner-up with 107,474 votes, or approximately 30% of the votes cast. He lost in the run-off with 44.4% of the vote to John Liu, who had more support among union members and minority groups.

===NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission===

Yassky was named chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 2010.<ref name="Del Signore, 2010"/> During his tenure he promoted the Taxi of Tomorrow program, which required the variety of the automobiles making up the 13,000 NYC yellow cabs to be replaced by the Nissan NV200.<ref name="Grynbaum, 2011"/> By 2018, only 2,671 of the 12,000 medallion holder were driving the NV200 and the requirement was reversed, stating that the reversal was intended to give drivers more choices. ''The New York Times'' noted that "the decision [came] at a time when the yellow taxi industry is in financial free-fall, decimated by the extraordinary rise of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft."<ref name="Blint-Welsh, 2018"/> Yassky quit the TLC in 2013 after incoming mayor Bill de Blasio announced his intention to replace him.<ref name="Flegenheimer, 2013"/><ref name="Bekiempis, 2013"/>

===Pace University School of Law===

Yassky became dean of Pace University School of Law in April 2014.<ref name="Kaminer, 2014"/><ref name="David Yassky Pace Faculty Page"/> Yassky stepped down as dean in 2018.<ref name="Pace-step-down"/> Yassky briefly campaigned for a State Senate seat, and when the Pace faculty and students learned of this, he told the Pace faculty that he knew he would not be selected for the seat.<ref name="Rubino, September 19, 2017"/>

==Personal life== Yassky has been married to Metropolitan Opera CFO Diana Fortuna since 1990,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEED61E3BF932A35754C0A966958260 | title = Diana Fortuna, State Aide in Capital, Is Married to David Yassky, a Lawyer | work = New York Times | date = July 1, 1990 }}</ref> and they live in Brooklyn Heights with their two daughters.

==References== {{Reflist |refs= <ref name="Pace Press Release, 2018">{{Cite press release |url=https://law.pace.edu/news-and-events/news/dean-yassky-step-down-end-academic-year-associate-dean-anderson-named-interim |title=Dean Yassky to Step Down at End of Academic Year, Associate Dean Anderson Named Interim Dean |date=April 5, 2018 |publisher=Pace University |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802131220/https://law.pace.edu/news-and-events/news/dean-yassky-step-down-end-academic-year-associate-dean-anderson-named-interim |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Liotta, 2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.silive.com/politics/2022/02/first-brooklyn-candidate-enters-senate-race-covering-north-shore-reports-say.html |title=First Brooklyn candidate enters Senate race covering North Shore, reports say |first=Paul |last=Liotta |date=February 17, 2022 |website=Staten Island Advance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217211640/https://www.silive.com/politics/2022/02/first-brooklyn-candidate-enters-senate-race-covering-north-shore-reports-say.html |archive-date=February 17, 2022 | url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="TLC Biography">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/chair_bio.shtml |title=Chair's Biography - NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission |access-date=2010-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505003952/http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/chair_bio.shtml |archive-date=2010-05-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="Chan and Hicks, 2008">{{cite news |title = Council Votes, 29 to 22, to Extend Term Limits |url = http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/council-to-debate-term-limits-change/ |author1=Chan, Sewell |author2=Hicks, Jonathan P. |work=New York Times |department=City Room Blogs |date = 2008-10-23 |access-date = 2008-10-28 }}</ref> <ref name="Hicks, 2008">{{cite news |title = Yassky Defends His Vote on Term Limits |url = http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/yassky-defends-his-vote-on-term-limits/ |author = Hicks, Jonathan P. |work = New York Times |department=City Room Blogs |date = 2008-10-27 }}</ref> <ref name="David Yassky Pace Faculty Page">{{cite web |url=https://law.pace.edu/faculty/david-yassky |access-date=2022-03-13 |title = David Yassky {{!}} Pace Law School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805052742/https://law.pace.edu/faculty/david-yassky |archive-date=2018-08-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="Paybarah, Sep 21, 2009">{{cite news |url=https://observer.com/2009/09/yassky-versus-liu/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |title="Yassky Versus Liu" |date=September 21, 2009 |last=Paybarah |first=Azi |work=The New York Observer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314130431/https://observer.com/2009/09/yassky-versus-liu/ |archive-date=2022-03-14 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Paybarah, Sep 9, 2009">{{cite news |url=https://observer.com/2009/09/yasskys-schumer-ad/ |date=September 9, 2009 |title="Yassky's Schumer Ad" |last=Paybarah |first=Azi |work=The New York Observer |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027030141/http://observer.com/2009/09/yasskys-schumer-ad/ |archive-date=27 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="David Yassky Endorsements List">{{cite web |url=http://www.davidyassky.com/page/content/endorsements |title=David Yassky for NYC Comptroller {{!}} Endorsements |website=www.davidyassky.com |access-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202235327/http://www.davidyassky.com/page/content/endorsements |archive-date=2010-02-02 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="New York Times Endorsement, 2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/opinion/24mon4.html |title=For New York City Comptroller |author=<!--not stated--> |work=New York Times |department=Editorial |date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=September 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703132413/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/opinion/24mon4.html |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> <ref name="Del Signore, 2010">{{cite news |url=https://gothamist.com/news/sausage-made-bloomberg-appoints-yassky-head-of-tlc |title=Sausage Made: Bloomberg Appoints Yassky Head of TLC |last=Del Signore |first=John |date=March 12, 2010 |work=Gothamist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314140050/https://gothamist.com/news/sausage-made-bloomberg-appoints-yassky-head-of-tlc |archive-date=2022-03-14 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Grynbaum, 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/nyregion/nissan-minivan-chosen-as-new-york-citys-next-taxi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182946/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/nyregion/nissan-minivan-chosen-as-new-york-citys-next-taxi.html |title=City's Next Taxi: A Nissan Van Short on Looks, Perhaps, but Full of Comforts |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |date=May 3, 2011 |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael M. |work=New York Times |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> <ref name="Blint-Welsh, 2018">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/nyregion/nissan-taxi-requirement-reversed.html |title=It Was Billed as the 'Taxi of Tomorrow.' Tomorrow Didn't Last Long |work=New York Times |date =June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118201419/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/nyregion/nissan-taxi-requirement-reversed.html |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |last=Blint-Welsh |first=Tyler |access-date=2022-03-14 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> <ref name="Flegenheimer, 2013">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/nyregion/de-blasio-causes-stir-by-saying-he-would-fire-taxi-commissioner.html |title = De Blasio Causes Stir by Saying He Would Fire Taxi Commissioner |work = New York Times |date = September 19, 2013 |first=Matt |last=Flegenheimer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313023807/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/nyregion/de-blasio-causes-stir-by-saying-he-would-fire-taxi-commissioner.html |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> <ref name="Bekiempis, 2013">{{cite news |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130923/civic-center/taxi-limousine-commission-chief-tells-staff-he-plans-quit/ |title=Taxi and Limousine Commission Chief Tells Staff He Plans to Leave |first=Victoria |last=Bekiempis |work=DNAInfo |date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=2022-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201152818/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130923/civic-center/taxi-limousine-commission-chief-tells-staff-he-plans-quit/ |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Kaminer, 2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/nyregion/pace-law-school-picks-yassky-ex-taxi-official-as-dean.html |title=Pace Picks Yassky, Ex-Taxi Chief, as Its Law School Dean |work=New York Times |date=February 26, 2014 |first=Ariel |last=Kaminer |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308202011/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/nyregion/pace-law-school-picks-yassky-ex-taxi-official-as-dean.html |archive-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> <ref name="Pace-step-down">{{cite web |title=Dean Yassky to Step Down at End of Academic Year, Associate Dean Anderson Named Interim Dean {{!}} Pace Law School |url=https://law.pace.edu/news-and-events/news/dean-yassky-step-down-end-academic-year-associate-dean-anderson-named-interim |website=law.pace.edu |access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Rubino, September 19, 2017">{{Cite news |url=https://abovethelaw.com/2017/09/law-school-dean-knows-hes-a-loser/ |title=Law School Dean Knows He's A Loser |date= September 19, 2017 |first=Kathryn |last=Rubino |url-access=limited}}</ref> }}

==External links== *[http://www.davidyassky.com/ David Yassky for NYC Comptroller]

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box|title=New York City Council, 33rd district|before=Ken Fisher|years=2002&ndash;2009|after=Stephen T. Levin }} {{s-end}} {{S-start}} {{Succession box|title=New York City <br> Taxi and Limousine Commission<br>Commissioner|before=Matthew W. Daus|years=2010&ndash;2012|after=Meera Joshi }} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yassky, David}} Category:New York City Council members Category:People from Brooklyn Heights Category:Jewish American people in New York City politics Category:Dalton School alumni Category:Princeton University alumni Category:Yale Law School alumni Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Deans of law schools in the United States Category:Pace University faculty Category:Brooklyn Law School faculty Category:21st-century American Jews