Sharon Lee (politician)

Sharon Lee
20th Borough President of Queens
In office
January 1, 2020 – December 2, 2020
Preceded byMelinda Katz
Succeeded byDonovan Richards
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison

Sharon Lee is an American Democratic politician from New York City. From January 2020 until December 2020, she served as the borough president of Queens through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] Lee is the first person of Asian descent to serve as a borough president in the City of New York.

As the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the borough, Lee managed[3] the distribution of tons of pounds of food and support for small businesses,[4] a dozen virtual job fairs[5] for out-of-work New Yorkers, 2020 presidential election amidst the pandemic, funding for hospital services including doubling the number of SANE nurses across Queens hospitals,[6] championed racial justice[7] in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, and helped boost Queens County's count in the 2020 United States Census.[8]

Some of her signature public investments included a $1 million allocation to fully fund the FDNY's Decontamination Specialization Unit[9] in Corona, Queens to purchase and install new equipment necessary for cleaning firefighters' equipment, and a $5.4 million allocation to fully fund cutting-edge cancer treatment technology at the oncology unit of Elmhurst Hospital, one of Queens' two public hospitals.[10] Lee also weighed in on key land use issues—including a recommendation opposing the 2020 Flushing Waterfront rezoning plan.[11]

Lee was an early outspoken leader amidst the scourge in anti-Asian hate,[12] especially in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings.[13][14]

Previously, she served as Deputy Queens Borough President from November 2018 through December 2019.[15]

  1. ^ "Acting Queens Borough President in an unexpected battle due to COVID-19 crisis". QNS.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  2. ^ "Sharon Lee's Unlikely Path to Interim Queens Borough President". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  3. ^ Brand, David. "Queens' acting borough president Lee concludes unlikely 11-month run".
  4. ^ Queens, News Team. "'Fuel the Frontlines' initiative will support Queens hospital workers".
  5. ^ Acevedo, Angelica. "Queens Virtual Recruitment Fair will connect job seekers with essential industries".
  6. ^ Vick, Rachel. "Queens hospitals will increase number of nurses specializing in sex assault care, with funding from Lee".
  7. ^ Vick, Rachel. "Queens leaders call on state to repeal 50-a at Borough Hall rally".
  8. ^ Parry, Bill. "The 2020 Census begins March 12, and every Queens resident needs to be counted".
  9. ^ Kaye, Jacob. "Acting borough president allocates $1 million towards FDNY decontamination unit".
  10. ^ Parry, Bill. "Elmhurst Hospital receives full funding for cutting-edge cancer treatment technology".
  11. ^ Brand, David. "Acting Queens BP rejects Flushing Creek rezoning in advisory role".
  12. ^ ABC. "New Yorkers rally to support Asian American community".
  13. ^ Kim, CeFaan. "Queens vigil mourns victims of Atlanta spa shootings, Asian hate crimes".
  14. ^ Yensi, Amy. "Growing Number of Violent Attacks Against Asian Americans Sparks Community Concern and Action from NYPD".
  15. ^ Brand, David. "Katz Names Spokesperson Lee New Deputy Borough President".