Bob Zuckerman

Bob Zuckerman

Robert D. "Bob" Zuckerman[1] (born December 19, 1960) is an American politician, community activist, progressive reformer and a small business advocate and owner. From 2007 to 2009 he served as Executive Director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation and Gowanus Canal Conservancy.[2] From 2010 to 2013 he served as Executive Director of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District in New York City.[2] From 2013 to 2019 he served as Executive Director of the South Orange Village Center Alliance In South Orange, New Jersey.[2] From 2016 to 2019 he served as a member of the South Orange Performing Arts Center Board of Governors.[2] Since 2019 he has served as an elected member of the South Orange Board of Trustees, the town's governing body, where he was the top vote-getter in a field of nine candidates.[2] Since January 2020 he has also served as President of Downtown New Jersey, a non-profit organization and currently serves as Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation in Westfield, New Jersey.[2]

In September 2009, Zuckerman ran as a Democratic Party candidate for the 39th New York City Council District, covering Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, and Borough Park. He placed fourth out of a field of five and received 934 votes, or 7% of the vote total. He was vying to become the first openly gay legislator representing Brooklyn.[3][4] On September 8, Zuckerman's campaign released the first ever political animation used in a New York City Council race.[5]

Career

Zuckerman served as the executive director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation (GCCDC) and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and took leave to run full-time for City Council.[6] Prior to running the GCCDC and GCC, Bob served for two years as the Executive Director of the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.[7] Mr. Zuckerman has served as the Executive Director of the New York Nightlife Association, a trade association representing the hospitality industry.[8] In 1999, he founded eShow, the first public consumer exposition showcasing technology and the Internet, which attracted 7,000 attendees and dozens of sponsors and exhibitors.[9]

Advocacy

While at the GCCDC, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the Gowanus Canal area in Brooklyn,[10] Zuckerman encouraged smart development along the Gowanus Canal corridor and helped area residents to access affordable housing. The U.S. House of Representatives approved $300,000 in federal money for the development of a “Sponge Park” esplanade along the Gowanus Canal, a project Zuckerman spearheaded while at the Gowanus Canal Conservancy.[11] He has also been a critic of the proposed Atlantic Yards project.[12]

Zuckerman has been a strong proponent of LGBT issues. He is a former board member of Lambda Independent Democrats and a member of Stonewall Democrats. He led the organization of Brooklyn's marriage equality rally in 2013[13] and is a committee member of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center. As Director of the Greenvich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, he formed a committee that organized a job fair called “Out to Work: the LGBT Career Fair.” [14]

Civic engagement

Zuckerman served as chair of the Environmental Protection Committee of Brooklyn Community Board 6. He served as President of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND), a Democratic club based in Carroll Gardens. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the President of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York (SDCNY). He has co-chaired its board of governors since 2005 and served on the board of directors of the National Stonewall Democrats since 2007.

Education

He holds a Juris Doctor from American University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Emory University.

Family

He lives in South Orange, NJ with his husband Grant Neumann.

References

  1. ^ "Robert D Zuckerman Profile | Red Bank, NJ Lawyer | Martindale.com".
  2. ^ a b c d e f LinkedIn Profile
  3. ^ "From campaigning to candidacy". Brooklyn Downtown Star. 2009-08-04. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  4. ^ Paybarah, Azi. "Group Grope in Slope: Weiner Says He's Dizzy for Zuckerman". Observer. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  5. ^ [1] Archived December 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "The City's Latest Hirings and Retirings - City Limits Magazine - CityLimits.org". www.citylimits.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Chamber champs shine at dinner dance". Thevillager.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  8. ^ "Neighbors at a town hall take shots at bad bars". Thevillager.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-02. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  9. ^ "Company". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  10. ^ [2] Archived July 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Nydia: The Gowanus is 'Sponge' worthy! • the Brooklyn Paper". Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  12. ^ Schuerman, Matthew (2009-07-30). "Hearings on Atlantic Yards Development Continue". WNYC. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  13. ^ "Ted Levin's Photo Galleries at". Pbase.com. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  14. ^ "Out to Work: The Largest LGBT Career Fair in the Northeast | the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center". Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2009-08-22.