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Brooklyn Native Walter T. Mosley Ascends to New York Secretary of State

Mosley, born and raised in Brooklyn, was an Assemblymember representing Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, from 2013 to 2020.
BK Reader Staff
walter-mosley
Walter T. Mosely, the 69th New York Secretary of State. Photo: Supplied/New York Department of State website

Walter T. Mosley, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, was confirmed as the 69th New York Secretary of State on June 5. 

"I firmly believe the government has the power to do good, but it must earn the public trust by operating in a transparent, fair and equitable way," Mosley said in a video celebrating the start of his term. 

The secretary of state serves as the head of the Department of State, which acts as the state's planning agency and keeper of records. The secretary is responsible for the regulation of certain businesses and professions, including cemeteries, private investigators and real estate brokers.

It registers corporations and business organizations, and maintains business and governmental records under the Uniform Commercial Code and other laws. It also regulates combat sports under the New York State Athletic Commission. 

In addition, the role supervises the consumer protection division and administers the confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual offence and stalking, among other things. 

Mosley served in the New York State Assembly from 2013 to 2020, representing communities in central Brooklyn including the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.

He was a member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus (BPHA), the Hispanic Task Force and the Jewish Caucus. He also served as co-chair of BPHA’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Task Force on Cannabis. In his capacity as a BPHA Caucus member, Mosley served as Second Vice-chair and as the Budget Chair.

Mosley also served as a Legislative Analyst and Oversight Investigator for the New York City Council, Senior Consultant to the New York State Assembly and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly prior to becoming a member of the New York Legislature in 2013.

He received a Bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and received a law degree from Howard University. Mosley currently lives in the Capital Region.