{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sandra Ung | image = Sandra Ung MTA (cropped).jpg | native_name = {{no bold|黃敏儀}} | office = Member of the New York City Council<br />from the 20th district | term_start = January 1, 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = Peter Koo | successor = | birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1974|9|9}}}} | birth_place = Cambodia | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | education = Hunter College (BA)<br />Columbia University (JD) | website = {{URL|council.nyc.gov/district-20|Official website}}<br />{{URL|sandrafornewyork.com|Campaign website}} | module = {{Infobox Chinese |child = yes |t = 黃敏儀 |s = 黄敏仪 |p = Huáng Mǐn Yí}} }} '''Sandra Ung''' ({{lang-zh|t=黃敏儀}},<ref name="CCBANYC">{{Cite web |title=社區團體、機構 |trans-title=Organizations |url=https://www.ccbanyc.org/corganization.html |publisher=Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, New York City (CCBANYC) |date= |access-date=2022-04-18 |archive-date=2022-04-18 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220418114812/https://www.ccbanyc.org/corganization.html}}</ref> born September 9, 1974)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SandraForNY1/status/1305222973238976515|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913191333/https://twitter.com/SandraForNY1/status/1305222973238976515|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2020|title=Such a pleasure to be joined by so many friends to enjoy a lovely Sunday afternoon - thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate my birthday!|author=Sandra Ung|website=Twitter|date=September 13, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> is an American attorney and politician from New York City. She is a member of the New York City Council for the 20th district, which is based in Flushing, Queens.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Wang|first=Claire|date=November 3, 2021|title=NYC Council has 5 new Asian Americans, a record that mirrors city more accurately|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nyc-council-5-new-asian-americans-mirroring-city-accurately-rcna4412|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.nbcnews.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Ung was born in Cambodia to ethnically Chinese parents. Her family fled to Taiwan soon after she was born to escape the Cambodian genocide, and immigrated to the United States when Ung was seven years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.aabany.org/2020/12/09/sandra-ung-former-aabany-treasurer-runs-for-city-council-on-platform-of-unity-for-the-flushing-community/|title= Sandra Ung, Former AABANY Treasurer, Runs for City Council on Platform of Unity for the Flushing Community|website=We Blog @ AABANY|author=Claire Yoo|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref>
After growing up in Flushing, Queens, Ung attended Hunter College for her undergraduate degree, and went on to receive her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2001.<ref name="meet">{{Cite web|url=https://sandrafornewyork.com/meet-sandra|title= Meet Sandra |website=Sandra Ung for New York City Council|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref>
==Career== Prior to seeking elected office, Ung held a number of jobs in and around New York politics, among them chief of staff to Assemblyman (and father to Grace Meng) Jimmy Meng, legislative assistant to City Comptrollers Bill Thompson and John Liu, and most recently special assistant to Congresswoman Meng. She has also worked as a practicing attorney at the firm Dorsey & Whitney.<ref name="meet"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flushingpost.com/flushing-lawyer-announces-bid-for-city-council-seat|title= Flushing Lawyer Announces Bid for City Council Seat |website=Flushing Post|author=Allie Griffin|date=July 16, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref>
===2021 City Council campaign=== In July 2020, Ung announced she would run as a Democrat for the 20th district of the New York City Council, held by term-limited incumbent Peter Koo, in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politicsny.com/2020/07/08/longtime-flushing-resident-announces-run-for-city-council/|title=Longtime Flushing Resident Announces Run for City Council|website=Politics NY|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> She received influential endorsements from the Queens Democratic Party and Congresswoman Meng, and was among the top fundraisers in City Council races across the city, cementing her as the race's frontrunner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://queenseagle.com/all/queens-democratic-party-endorses-slate-of-eight-council-candidates-sits-out-six-races|title=Queens Democratic Party endorses slate of eight council candidates, sits out six races|website=Queens Daily Eagle|author=David Brand|date=February 17, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foresthillspost.com/candidates-lynn-schulman-and-sandra-ung-earn-key-endorsements-in-respective-council-races|title= Candidates Lynn Schulman and Sandra Ung Earn Key Endorsements in Respective Council Races |website=Forest Hills Post|author=Allie Griffin|date=March 25, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citylimits.org/2021/06/21/14-nyc-council-candidates-raised-100k-or-more-howd-they-do-it/|title= 14 NYC Council Candidates Raised $100K or More. How'd They Do It? |website=City Limits|author=David Brand|date=June 21, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref>
In an effort to overcome Ung's advantages, seven of her opponents in the race formed a coalition together in May 2021, with each candidate encouraging their voters to rank other non-Ung candidates on their ranked-choice ballots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2021/05/rage-against-the-queens-machine/182900/|title= Rage against the Queens Machine|website=City & State|author=Sydney Kashiwagi|date=May 5, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> The seven ran on significantly different platforms–among them were John Choe, the race's most left-wing candidate, and Neng Wang, its most conservative–but argued that they were united against the Queens Democratic Party's influence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/10573-free-for-all-flushing-city-council-election-koo|title= Free-for-All in Flushing as Voters Choose Next City Council Member|website=Gotham Gazette|author=Carmen Vintro|date=June 18, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref>
Ung nevertheless emerged with a lead on election night in June, receiving 24 percent of first-choice votes. When absentee ballots and ranked-choice votes were counted two weeks later, she defeated former Assemblywoman Ellen Young 55-45%; she formally declared victory on July 7.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/north/women-lead-some-northeast-races/article_478495aa-df63-11eb-875c-53686bb238d6.html|title= Women lead some northeast races|website=Queens Chronicle|author=Katherine Donlevy|date=July 8, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SandraForNY1/status/1412819475565625347|title=With absentee ballots now counted, I'm humbled to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for City Council. Proud to stand together with @LindaLeeforNYC, @schulman2021, @UFT, @NYHTC @local79nyc & @Grace4NY to advocate for working families in Queens!|author=Sandra Ung|website=Twitter|date=July 7, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> Ung easily won the November general election in the strongly Democratic district.<ref name=":0" />
=== City Council Tenure === Inaugurated in January, 2022, Ung was named as the Chair of the Committee on Government Operations for her first term in the City Council. The Committee has jurisdiction over Federal and State legislation (including Home Rule requests), municipal governmental structure and organization, and includes several important city agencies including New York City's Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Board of Elections, Board of Standards and Appeals, Campaign Finance Board, Commission on Public Information and Communication, Community Boards, Department of Records and Information Services, Financial Services Agency, and the Law Department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation |url=https://council.nyc.gov/committees/governmental-operations/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=New York City Council |language=en-US}}</ref>
As Chair, Ung held several oversight hearings on the city's elections, including on public campaign financing of elections. Ung also held hearings on New York City's Civic Engagement Commission and on NYC's Community Boards.
In her first term, Ung introduced 29 bills and resolutions, 12 of which passed during the City Council's 2022-2023 term. Ung's bills included a bill requiring the Board of Elections to redesign ballots to make it more clear for speakers of a language other than English,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York City Council - File #: Int 0696-2022 |url=https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5812787&GUID=4E1673C6-A420-422B-8B62-2E1E6D20170C&Options=&Search= |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=legistar.council.nyc.gov}}</ref> two bills that improved the 311 call experience for LEP (Limited English Proficiency) New Yorkers and a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to report on potential locations for the construction of a bus transit center in Flushing. Ung also passed several resolutions, including one calling for Lunar New Year to be made a federal holiday and one calling on the New York State Legislature to expand financial relief programs to assist New Yorkers struggling to pay their utility bills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York City Council - Sandra Ung |url=https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/PersonDetail.aspx?ID=259834&GUID=9E1C414C-8352-418E-A094-9C2748F18B87 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=legistar.council.nyc.gov}}</ref>
In her 2024 term, Ung was appointed to be the Chair of the Committee on Standards and Ethics. Ung was also appointed to the Leadership team of the Council, which works with the Council Speaker to steer the legislative body's priorities, and the Budget Negotiations Team, which negotiates the city's budget with the mayoral administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2024 |title=New York City Council Votes on Leadership and Committee Assignments |url=https://council.nyc.gov/press/2024/01/18/2544/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=New York City Council |language=en-US}}</ref>
Ung voted against The City of Yes legislation in December 2024. The bill passed with almost a majority vote. It paves the way for the conversion and construction of 80,000 new and legal housing units within the 5 boroughs of New York for middle income and low income families and households. The bill awaits Mayor Adam's signature.<ref>{{cite web | title=City of Yes gets final 'yes' from City Council | date=5 December 2024 | author=Ryan Schwach | url=https://queenseagle.com/all/2024/12/5/city-of-yes-gets-final-yes-from-city-council | website=Queens Daily Eagle }}</ref>
==Personal life== Ung lives in Flushing where she is the primary caretaker for her mother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=https://council.nyc.gov/sandra-ung/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Sandra Ung |language=en-US}}</ref> Ung is a marathon runner, having completed the New York City marathon.
==Home Healthcare Workers== In 2022, home healthcare workers organized a protest outside of Sandra Ung's City Council district office demanding that she support city legislation (called The No More 24 Act) limiting the number of hours that home healthcare aides can work in a day. They want their employers to limit their work schedule to 12 hours a day and 50 hours a week. Many of these workers provide care for 24 consecutive hours. This protest was organized by the Flushing Workers Center. The City Council Speaker's office said that the legislative efforts on the City Council level were misdirected because home health care is funded primarily through Medicaid, which is managed at the state level.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Stefanos |date=March 7, 2024 |title=Home Care Aides Fight to End 24-Hour Shifts: 'This Work Is Killing Them' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/nyregion/home-care-aides-city-council-bill-end-24-hour-shifts.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Council Member Ung wants the non-profit employers to hire more home healthcare workers and wants the State of New York to make adjustments to the Medicare reimbursement policy so that patients who need attentive care are not left unattended.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://foresthillspost.com/home-care-workers-hold-protest-outside-sandra-ungs-office-call-for-her-to-back-legislation-to-prevent-exploitation | title=Home Care Workers Hold Protest Outside Sandra Ung's Office, Call for Her to Back Legislation to Prevent Exploitation | date=27 September 2022 | author=Michael Dorgan | website=QNS.com}}</ref> Council Member Ung called the current system unjust and held a rally with SEIU 1199 homecare workers, union representatives and disability activists calling on the state government end 24-hour shifts and provide funding to split them into 2, 12-hour shifts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krichevsky |first=Sophie |date=Nov 3, 2022 |title=Ung says Albany must fund 24-hr. shift ban |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/ung-says-albany-must-fund-24-hr-shift-ban/article_c445e117-ab55-5965-80d5-5d805f2db485.html |website=Queens Chronicle}}</ref>
==Eastern Queens Greenway==
As a council member, Ung has directed funding to the Eastern Queens Greenway section of the Brooklyn–Queens Greenway on multiple occasions, including $6 million in 2023<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parry |first1=Bill |title=Eastern Queens Greenway project connecting local parks gets $6 million in City Council funding |url=https://qns.com/2023/10/eastern-queens-greenway-project-funding/ |website=QNS |publisher=Schneps Media |access-date=7 January 2026 |date=3 October 2023}}</ref> and $11.9 million in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gannon |first1=Michael |title=Council approves Greenway funding $11.9M set for Kissena Corridor |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/council-approves-greenway-funding/article_29d901c3-0ffb-5441-ace9-9ff2b76dfc40.html |website=Queens Chronicle |publisher=Queens Chronicle |access-date=7 January 2026 |date=10 October 2024}}</ref> Additionally she has questioned the Parks Commissioner on capital projects costs and timelines <ref>{{cite web |title=Council Member Sandra Ung questions Parks Commissioner on capital projects and Blue Belt program |url=https://citymeetings.nyc/meetings/new-york-city-council/2025-05-13-1000-am-committee-on-finance/chapter/council-member-sandra-ung-questions-parks-commissioner-on-capital-projects-and-blue-belt-program/ |website=citymeetings.nyc |access-date=7 January 2026}}</ref> after long delays between her funding and the projects construction.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Duggan |first1=Kevin |title=Parks Dept. Has Money But No Timeline to Finish Eastern Queens Greenway |url=https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/07/19/city-must-finally-fill-eastern-queens-greenway-gaps-advocates |website=Streetsblog NYC |publisher=Streetsblog |access-date=7 January 2026 |date=19 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Peter Koo}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the New York City Council<br />from the 20th district|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{New York City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ung, Sandra}} Category:1974 births Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Asian-American New York City Council members Category:American politicians of Chinese descent Category:American women of Chinese descent in politics Category:Asian-American people in New York (state) politics Category:Cambodian emigrants to the United States Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Hunter College alumni Category:Living people Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:New York City Council members Category:Politicians from Queens, New York Category:Taiwanese emigrants to the United States Category:Women New York City Council members Category:2024 United States presidential electors