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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline AUGUST 23, 2024 | The Indian Eye 26

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar

Officially Announces She is Running to Become

the 46th Comptroller of New York City

A Stanford Law educated attor-
OUR BUREAU
ney who studied accounting, law and
New York, NY economics, Rajkumar has a record
of taking on multinational corpora-
ssemblywoman Jenifer Raj- tions. She has already saved millions
kumar (D-38) has officially
Aannounced she is running to of taxpayer dollars in her career. Col-
become the 46th Comptroller of New laborating with the U.S. Department
of Justice, she held multinational cor-
York City in 2025. If elected, the As- porations accountable for defrauding
semblywoman will become the first and overcharging the federal gov-
woman of color elected to the post in ernment. Her resulting wins saved
the 225-year history of the post’s ex- millions in taxpayer dollars and pre-
istence.
served the integrity of our medicare
and medicaid programs.
Upon announcing her cam- She was also notably part of the
paign, Rajkumar said: “Every legal team of Velez v. Novartis, a
class action on behalf of 5,000 women
win I have ever had has been workers labeled by the U.N. as one of

against all odds. I live for this; the top 10 cases advancing women’s
rights.
public service is my passion.” Rajkumar said, “My experience
as a lawyer equips me well to be the
Jenifer’s mom was born in a mud Chief Auditor of the City of New York
hut in India. Her parents immigrated who will dig in to the performance of
to the United States with just $300 our city agencies. As a former labor
and a suitcase. To honor the promise attorney, I know how to effective-
of a country that gave her family so ly execute the Comptroller’s role of
much opportunity, Jenifer decided protecting workers by enforcing wage
to dedicate her life to public service. violations on public works projects.
An ivy league educated attorney, she As a lawyer I know how to settle le-
graduated from Stanford Law School gal claims against the City and over-
and the University of Pennsylvania. see City contracts, two other critical
She later spent evenings teaching as functions of the Comptroller.”
a Professor at CUNY’s Lehman Col- The Assemblywoman has been
lege in the Bronx to help sculpt the known as “ominpresent” through-
young minds of the City. out the 5 boroughs, often appearing
Speaking of the Comptroller by the side of her ally Mayor Eric
role, Rajkumar said: “Traditionally, Adams who has described her as “a
the Comptroller is a man in an office foremost be the guardian of the hard- SMOKEOUT Act enabling New beast” and “a close friend.” Showing
crunching numbers, but I will make earned retirement money of our city York City to close down over 800 ille- up across the City in her signature
it so much more. I am on the ground workers, firefighters, teachers and gal smokeshops already, the historic red dresses, she is a fixture of public
with the people in every corner of this police officers. I will be laser fo- bill establishing Diwali as a School service known as the Lady in Red.
City hearing firsthand how govern- cused on maximizing pension returns Holiday in New York City after a 20 About her strong partnership

ment is and isn’t working for them. and performance. New Yorkers who year struggle by the community, and with the Mayor, Assemblywoman Ra-
Together, we will implement ‘the worked hard their whole lives deserve a nationally recognized bill giving do- jkumar stated: “True change happens
people’s audits’ of City government. a healthy pension and a Comptroller mestic workers the full protections by collaboration. The way to make
Government inefficiency costs lives, with the passion, dedication, and ex- of New York State’s Human Rights historic change that will outlive us for
and we will fix it. Ours is the largest perience to guard their money.” Law. generations to come is through part-
municipal budget in the world, and A record-breaking State Legis- Her other legislative wins include nerships across government. It is a
I have the experience, passion, and lator, Rajkumar made history as the several pieces of legislation to make joy working with my colleagues at all
energy to make sure that every New first South Asian American woman government work faster and better– levels of government from the Mayor
Yorker is getting what they pay for.” ever elected to a New York State including passing her bill to speed to the Governor to the state legisla-
Speaking of the Comptroller’s public office in 2020, ousting an 11 up the City’s procurement process to ture to the city council. The greatest
role as a fiduciary to New York City’s year incumbent and winning by the build capital projects more quickly, moments in government- the historic
5 public pension funds, totaling near- largest margin of any insurgent that legislation making our Courts work moments that we live for- happen by
ly $270 billion in assets, Rajkumar year. In less than 4 years, she passed more efficiently, and a bill to support working together. Together, we will
said: “As Comptroller, I will first and landmark legislation– including the crime victims. take our City to the next level.”

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