District Leader Ari Kagan Gets Sworn into City Council, Planning to Serve on Many Committees and to Join the Jewish Caucus

Long-time journalist and community leader Ari Kagan was sworn into City Council this week at New York City Hall by Michael McSweeney, NYC Clerk. He soundly defeated his opponent in the General Election for the 47th District (Sea Gate, Coney Island, Gravesend, Bensonhurst) and will begin his term as Councilman on January 1, 2022.

Kagan’s wife, Bela, and two children, Victoria, 17, and Yakov, 29, have always supported his career in public service and were actively involved in his campaign for Council. Kagan was accompanied to City Hall by his wife, Bela, and daughter, Victoria, and he carried The Chumash. With one hand on The Torah and the other raised, he pledged to work hard on behalf of all constituents of the 47th District and beyond.

Throughout the campaign, he discussed some of the issues that are a high priority in Southern Brooklyn: public safety, post-pandemic recovery, helping small businesses and homeowners, and quality of life issues. Ari Kagan plans to serve as a member on many important committees as well as to join the Jewish Caucus, “I am honored and humbled to receive the strong support from my Southern Brooklyn constituents who sent me to City Hall to advocate for their interests. I am living the American Dream!” said Councilman Kagan.

Ari emigrated to the United States from Belarus in 1993 with his family as a Jewish refugee. He is the son of Holocaust survivors. For many years, Ari was the Vice President of the Holocaust Memorial Committee, Executive Board Member of the Association of East-European Jewry, Member of Manhattan Beach Jewish Center and Beach Haven Jewish Center, and led rallies in Solidarity with Israel, against anti-Semitism and hate crimes. He’s worked for several Russian language Jewish publications, was the host of a morning news show at Davidzon Radio (620 AM) and weekly TV show at RTN of America.

Since 2012 Kagan has served as a Democratic District Leader in the 45th Assembly District and is proud to represent the Jewish communities in Southern Brooklyn.