Flatbush Assemblymember to Focus on Criminal Justice Reforms, Workers’ Rights And Tax Cuts in 2025

Constituents of state Assembly District 42 on Thursday packed Brooklyn College's Don Buchwald Theater to hear the annual State of the District address by Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, who said she would focus on criminal justice reforms, workers’ rights protections and cutting taxes in 2025.

After several remarks from religious leaders, musical performances and praise from other Brooklyn politicos, Bichotte-Hermelyn shared her accomplishments and plans for the future of the district, which covers portions of Flatbush and Midwood. 

“We want to make sure people are off the streets and in homes,” said Bichotte-Hermelyn, adding that housing issues will continue to be a top priority for her. 

“We recently passed City of Yes and we had parts of my direct that were completely against it, and we had some residents who were completely for it," addressing constituent concerns over contextual zoning in the area.

The assemblywoman also noted the importance of improving Black maternal health in New York, advocating for two bills that would expand the definition of family leave and require annual state reviews of births focused on maternal mortality and morbidity. 

To that effort, Bichotte-Hermelyn said she will work with Saving Lives, Shaping Policy, an initiative from New York University that brings New York lawmakers together to discuss policy priorities related to maternal health.

“We can talk about the achievements but it's still the same old statistics– where the United States and New York has the highest maternal mortality rates, especially among women of color,” said Bichotte-Hermelyn. 

While discontent with the results of the November presidential election, she remains hopeful for a new legislative session in Albany. The assemblywoman said she will be laser focused on criminal justice reforms, workers’ rights protections and a new bill that will cut taxes for working class New Yorkers. 

“It will put $63 million back into the pockets of over 580,000 New Yorkers by slashing their tax,” said Bichotte-Hermelyn, referring to the “Axe the Tax” bill. 

The Flatbush representative closed her list of initiatives with the promise to reintroduce the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen voting rights by expanding and strengthening the government's ability to respond to voting discrimination. The bill passed in 2022, but was tossed by a state Supreme Court in Orange County. 

“We’re looking to come back, relegislate and put on some more good voting reform bills,” said Bichotte-Hermelyn. “We can’t take our freedom for granted and we’re keeping up with the good fight, as the late-Representative John Lewis said.”