AUDREY I. PHEFFER
23rd Assembly District (Part of Queens County)
E-mail: pheffea@assembly.state.ny.us
Albany office:
LOB 941, ALBANY 12248
518-455-4292
District Offices:
90-16 ROCKAWAY BEACH BLVD, ROCKAWAY BEACH 11693
718-945-9550
AND
108-14 CROSSBAY BLVD., OZONE PARK 11417
718-641-8755
Audrey Iris Pheffer was born August 13, 1941 and is a thirty-seven year
resident of Far Rockaway. She attended Far Rockaway High School and is a
Queens College graduate. Pheffer has two children, Mitchell and Stacey.
Her parents, Alex and Ruth Fagin are retired and live in Rockaway. Sister
Gail, and nephews Joshua and Daniel are all Rockaway residents.
Assemblywoman Pheffer's community involvement began in 1963 when she joined
the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (A.H.R.C.)--Rockaway Auxiliary.
Pheffer still remains active with this organization and through the years,
helped develop many useful programs including an after-school and recreation
program. From 1973 until 1977, Pheffer worked at the Occupational Training
Center where she continued as an advocate for special education for the
mentally disabled. She also assisted mentally disabled who were interested
in entering the job market.
With two children enrolled in public school, Pheffer took an active role
in numerous parents' associations. She successfully worked for additional
funding and an improved curriculum for the entire school district.
In 1977, Pheffer joined the New York City Commission on Human Rights-Neighborhood
Stabilization Program, rising to the position of Acting Director of the
Far Rockaway Office. In this capacity she helped organize the Rockaway Interracial
Council, which dealt with racial incidents along the Peninsula. As Acting
Director, Pheffer organized block associations, tenant associations, advocated
tenants' rights and was a technical advisor for tenants in housing court.
Since 1973 Pheffer has held numerous posts in the 101st Police Precinct's
Community and Youth Council. She developed many programs for the benefit
of youths and senior citizens and improved relations between the police
and the community.
In September 1980, Pheffer served as Executive Assistant to State Senator
Jeremy S. Weinstein. As the Senator's surrogate, Pheffer became involved
in a myriad of community issues.
In January of 1986 Pheffer joined the staff of New York City Council President
Andrew Stein as a Special Assistant. As his liaison to groups throughout
Queens County, Pheffer expanded her involvement with the issues facing New
York.
Though extremely busy, both personally and professionally, Pheffer returned
to school at night to complete her education and graduated cum laude in
1982 from Queens College of the City University of New York.
Through these years of community involvement, Pheffer became active in politics.
In 1982 she was elected without opposition to the position of Democratic
State Committeewoman. A year later Pheffer was elected District Leader,
succeeding her late mentor Helen Leonescu. Pheffer has subsequently been
re-elected District Leader biannually.
Audrey Pheffer was first elected to the New York State Assembly in a special
election on April 28, 1987. She has been overwhelmingly re-elected in every
subsequent election. Pheffer chairs the Consumer Affairs & Protection Committee
and serves on the following committees: Aging; Agriculture; Government Employees;
Higher Education; Tourism, Arts and Sports Development; and Veteran Affairs.
As a recognized advocate of senior citizens, Pheffer was appointed Chairperson
of the Subcommittee for Outreach and Oversight of Senior Citizen Programs.
This committee is reviewing senior citizen programs to ascertain needed
improvements thus enhancing services to seniors throughout the state. Assemblywoman
Pheffer has focused her legislative agenda in the areas of environment,
health, education and crime.