State Sen. Robert Jackson carefully chose In-Tech Academy middle and high school campus in The Bronx’s Marble Hill neighborhood as the site for his latest inauguration as a veteran senator on Feb. 4, following his November 2022 reelection in redrawn District 31.

 

In addition to a large swath of Manhattan, the district also includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Marble Hill, where the school is located at 2975 Tibbett Avenue, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, and parts of Fordham Manor, Jerome Park, University Heights, and Morris Heights.

 

Education has always been one of Jackson’s central policy issues. He is well known for having walked 150 miles from New York City to Albany (twice) all in efforts to highlight educational inequality. “There is no more fitting place to have a swearing-in for Robert Jackson than a public school,” said State Sen. Jamaal T. Bailey (S.D. 36), one of many elected officials in attendance on the day.

 

Jackson’s first elected position was as school board president before serving 12 years in the New York City Council. “Everyone knows that education is the key to uplift all families,” Jackson said. “We need to make it possible for every student in New York State to access affordable quality higher education and that’s why funding CUNY and SUNY schools is crucial to our economic progress.”

 

Other guest speakers at the event included U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. In addition, New York Working Families Party state director, Sochie Nnaemeka, and president of the Public Employees Federation, Wayne Spence, also gave speeches.

 

“I know, firsthand, where Robert Jackson’s heart is, who his heart is for, and it is for the people, and it’s the people with the most struggle and need the most help,” Williams said.

 

For his part, Schumer consistently referred to Jackson as “Action Jackson,” throughout his address. The majority leader said he gave the senator the nickname because “in all the time that I’ve known him, he’s been working hard for his community.”

 

Schumer went on to say the senator’s inauguration was a great day for the 31st district, adding, “When it comes to education, when it comes to climate, when it comes to keeping our streets safe, and building bridges between communities, there’s no one better.”

 

Jackson beat his nearest rival, Angel Vasquez, in his 2022 Democratic primary by more than 20 percent, and in the general election, beat Republican, Donald Skinner, by more than 70 percent. He is now serving his third term which will conclude on Jan. 1, 2025. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senate majority leader, administered the oath of office to Jackson, who, as reported, is the first Muslim to serve in the State Senate, while his great-nephew held the Quran.

 

Addressing the crowd, Jackson said, “I kept every single campaign promise I made. I have the track record to prove that.” One of the senator’s biggest wins during his previous term was a piece of legislation he sponsored that amended Article 1 of the State Constitution and is just 16 words long.

 

It reads, “Every person should have a right to clean air and water, and to a healthful environment.” New York voters approved the amendment on Nov. 2, 2021. Jackson was also co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership Protection Act, which, according to the bill, “adopted measures to put the State on a path to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050, and net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy.”

 

He was also a co-sponsor of the José Peralta New York State DREAM Act, which provided an avenue for undocumented, high-school students to avail of state college tuition assistance, and created a “DREAM Fund,” funded by private contributions, which gave scholarships to students of immigrants.

 

In addition, Jackson has co-sponsored other bills, including one requiring anyone applying for a handgun to disclose details of their social media accounts, one expanding legal protection for abortion providers, one authorizing the sealing of criminal records, and one requiring fossil fuel plants to submit renewable energy plans.

 

Of his plans for his next term, Jackson touched on several topics he said were at the root of constituents’ concerns. “We need to address the mental health crisis in our homes, schools, and streets and we need to address the rise of fentanyl and opioid crises in our community,” Jackson said.

 

The senator previously served as chair of the Contracts Committee and of the Education committee. He now serves as chair of the Civil Service and Pensions Committee.

 

Wrapping up his address at the inauguration, which included dance and musical performances by students from In-Tech Academy. Jackson said, “My highest priority is the safety and security of all of you that I represent.”

 

He continued, “There isn’t one simple answer. We need to invest in sustainable, culturally relevant services for families and individuals, such as our libraries, public parks, workforce and jobs centers, food pantries, community-based organizations, senior centers, free health clinics, and youth programming.”

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.