Scott Stringer

A Democrat, Stringer also previously served as a New York State Assemblyman, and as the 26th borough president of Manhattan.

Scott M. Stringer (born April 29, 1960) is an American politician who served as the 44th New York City Comptroller.

In 1983, Stringer became a legislative assistant to New York State Assemblyman and future United States Congressman Jerry Nadler.

In 1983, he became a legislative assistant to New York State Assemblyman, and future Congressman, Jerry Nadler.

During these years, he supported Democratic candidate Governor Mario Cuomo.

Stringer graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Arts in Government Studies in 1986.

He has distant roots from Russia and Ireland, he has said, and his great-grandfather was from Poland.

In 1992, he successfully ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly vacated by Nadler, covering the Upper West Side.

Stringer served as New York State Assemblyman for 13 years and six terms, from 1992 until 2005, when he was elected the 26th borough president of Manhattan.

In 1992, Stringer ran for and won Nadler's New York State Assembly seat representing the Upper West Side, when Nadler replaced deceased Congressman Ted Weiss.

Stringer served for 13 years and six terms in the New York State Assembly, from 1992 until 2005.

During his Assembly career, Stringer served as Chairman of the Cities Committee, Chairman of the Real Property Taxation Committee, and Chairman of the Oversight, Analysis and Investigation Committee.

He led the fight to end empty seat voting and reform the State Assembly's rules of operation.

He authored anti-stalking legislation and was an advocate of affordable housing, and good government reform.

In 1999, Stringer was arrested at a police brutality protest outside 1 Police Plaza following the shooting of Amadou Diallo.

Later that year, Stringer organized a counter-rally to a Ku Klux Klan march.

On August 28, 2001, Village Voice political writer Wayne Barrett wrote a piece entitled, "Mother Dearest & the Courthouse Cabal," in which he discussed Stringer's involvement in courtroom politics, specifically questioning how Stringer's parents had benefited financially from his political ties, and whether some of his campaign contributors had done unethical things.

Barrett also raised questions about whether acting Supreme Court judge Louis York had attempted to gain Stringer's support in his bid for a full term on the court by appointing Stringer's mother nine times as a court evaluator and conservator.

In 2001, while a member of the Assembly, Stringer explored a run for New York City Public Advocate.

In 2005, he entered the race to succeed C. Virginia Fields as Manhattan Borough President.

His candidacy was endorsed by The New York Times.

In September 2005, he won the Democratic primary against 9 other candidates and was later elected in the November general election.

He took office as Borough President on January 1, 2006.

Stringer issued over 40 policy reports designed to raise awareness about local issues and improve New York City.

These reports have led the charge in addressing many of Manhattan's most important challenges and issues, including: increasing community input and response to development and planning projects across the borough; introducing comprehensive reform and empowerment measures to Manhattan's Community Boards; leading the fight to maintain and create new affordable housing units and schools across the borough; empowering parents to better participate in the public school system; investigating and recommending policy action on the city's many transportation issues; and helping working families and small businesses access resources to become and remain self-sufficient.

In November 2008 and December 2009 as Borough President, he hosted day-long conferences on the subject of progressive food policy.

For the second conference, attended by 1,000 New Yorkers, he joined with New York University and the not-for-profit Just Food to address the impact of food on the health of New York City's people and their environment.

He released several policy reports on food policy, including "Food in the Public Interest", "FoodStat", and "Red Tape, Green Vegetables".

Throughout his tenure as Borough President, Stringer supported new transportation initiatives such as bike lanes.

After numerous constituent complaints, in 2010 he undertook a survey, "Respect the Lane – Clear the Path", a policy report analyzing bike lane safety in Manhattan.

During the course of the three-day survey, a total of 1,700 infractions were witnessed.

The survey found that while bike lanes have a tremendous positive impact on New York City, the lanes were being misused by all parties; pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists.

He won the 2013 election to become New York City's 44th comptroller, and began serving on January 1, 2014.

Stringer was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary.

Stringer is Jewish, and was born and raised in Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan.

His mother, Arlene Stringer-Cuevas, was a cousin of former U.S. Representative Bella Abzug, and served on the New York City Council before working in the New York City Human Resources Administration.

His father, Ronald, was counsel to former New York City Mayor Abe Beame.

His stepfather, Carlos Cuevas, was at one time the New York City clerk and a Deputy Borough President in the Bronx.

Stringer attended Manhattan public schools, including PS 152, JHS 52, and John F. Kennedy High School (where he was editor of the school newspaper).

When Stringer was still in high school at age 16, then-Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton named Stringer to the Community Planning Board.