|
Assemblyman
Herman D. Farrell, Jr. was elected to the State Assembly
in 1974 from a district that encompasses West Harlem, Washington Heights
and Inwood.
In
March of 1994, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver appointed Mr. Farrell
Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He is also a member
of the Rules Committee and the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus,
as well as the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.
From 1979 until 1994, Farrell was Chairman of the Assembly Banks Committee.
In 1983, Governor Cuomo appointed him to the Temporary Committee on
Interstate Banking. From 1981 to 1984, he conducted a course at the
New School for Social Research on Banking in New York. In 1981-82, he
was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions of the National
Conference of State Legislators.
Among the legislation Assemblyman Farrell is proudest of is the passage
of the Omnibus Consumer Protection and Banking Legislation Act. The
provisions of this landmark act include consumer protections in the
auto leasing industry; the establishment of a toll-free number at the
New York State Banking Department to enable consumers to receive free
information on credit card interest rates, fees and grace periods; and
a requirement that banks provide low-cost lifeline checking accounts.
In addition, the bill prohibits discrimination based on residency in
the opening of bank accounts, and requires banks to make annual reports
of the number and amount of small business and small farm loans.
Assemblyman Farrell's outstanding accomplishments in the legislature
began with the Neighborhood Preservation Companies Act, pioneer legislation
that enables the state to fund community groups to provide tenant advocacy
and fight housing abandonment in their neighborhoods. Other legislation
that Farrell is particularly proud of include the passage of check clearing
legislation that requires banks to clear checks in a shorter period
of time and to notify depositors of the time it takes to clear checks.
Legislation was also passed requiring banks to disclose their interest
rates and other pertinent information in chart form, clearly marked
in bold face type, on all mail solicitations. These two state banking
laws became the model for federal legislation. He also strengthened
anti-redlining laws by requiring stricter enforcement of community reinvestment
provisions and was successful in passing legislation to monitor bank
branch closings.
Prior to Assemblyman Farrell's election to the Assembly, he was the
Assistant Director of the Mayor's office in Washington Heights, and
had been a Confidential Aide to a State Supreme Court Justice.
Assemblyman Farrell was elected County Leader of the New York County
Democratic Committee in April 1981, and is still serving in this position.
He was initially elected on a platform of issue discipline and since
the inception of his tenure, the New York County Democratic Committee
has taken positions on significant issues of our day, including reproductive
freedom, gay and lesbian civil rights, trade-in of Westway funds and
the restoration of federal monies for important social programs. In
1988, Assemblyman Farrell was elected to be a member of the Democratic
National Committee, a position he holds today. Three times he has been
an Elector in the Electoral College, most recently in 2000. Assemblyman
Farrell's first election was in 1970, when he was elected a Democratic
State Committeeman for two years. In 1983, Assemblyman Farrell was elected
Vice Chair of the Democratic State Party, a position he held for ten
years. And in 1973, he was elected Democratic District Leader, a position
he continues to hold.
Mr. Farrell is the father of two children, Monique Farrell-Guidry and
Herman Farrell, III, and the proud grandfather of two granddaughters,
Simone Adele Guidry and Madeleine Jones-Farrell.
Organizations that Farrell has been honored by include: New York State
Supreme Court Officers Association Man of the Year Award, Harlem Week
Committee, New York State Psychiatric Institute, State University of
New York Educational Opportunity Center, Harlem Commonwealth Council
Foundation, Frank Scanlon Tenants Association, Ralph J. Rangel Tenants
Association, Federation of Negro Civil Service Organizations, Chew Lun
Association, Child Memorial Church, Parole Officers, New York State
Affirmative Action Council, Boricua College, New York State Court Clerks
Association and the Muriel Silberberg Award.
Standing Committee Assignments 2001: Ways and Means (Chair); Rules.
Herman D. Farrell, Jr., Dem. 28,618
Charlette Jordan, Rep. 2,160; Ref. 323
Allen Cox, Ind. 407
|
