May 21, 2014
By NYC Council Member Jumaane D. Williams
Brooklyn, NY – "Foremost, I want to rise with the rest of the Flatbush, Midwood & East Flatbush communities to offer sincere thanks and gratitude to . As with any lengthy career, her announcement that she would be retiring from public service can be bittersweet.
When elected, Assemblymember Jacobs was a trailblazer and the community received a dedicated advocate who represented the community in Albany for over three decades. She leaves a body of work that she can be proud off. I am also mindful that as a fellow public servant, such work and dedication comes at a personal cost and that Rhoda has indeed earned a well-deserved retirement.
"Personally, I am grateful to the Assemblywoman whom I have known since I was a student at Brooklyn College (BC), which she also represents. As student leader I even gave her an award for her work and dedication. She continually showed her commitment to our alma mater. Rhoda also informed a relatively new executive director at the Flatbush Development Corporation (FDC) named John Broderick of a recent BC grad who was doing organizing and community work in a neighboring East Flatbush organization who may be interested in joing the team at FDC. That organizer was none other than yours truly. Being brought to FDC as their housing director and helping re-constitute a defunct housing program was critical moment and helped to launch my professional career.
"In closing, I am confident that she will continue to be a strong voice in our respective communities on issues dear to her. Most recently, our offices worked together to address transportation issues on Nostrand Avenue and it is in that spirit that I am confident that those of us who will take the baton from Assemblywoman Jacobs to continue representing and advocating for the Flatbush, Midwood and East Flatbush communities, will be inspired by her legacy. Enjoy your retirement, Rhoda- it is well-deserved."
*** Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), Deputy Leader, represents the 45th Council District, which covers Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, and parts of Midwood and Canarsie. He is the chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, and co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence. He is a co-founding member of the Progressive Caucus, and a member of the Black, Latino & Asian Caucus. He was first elected to office in 2009 and re-elected in 2013.
