Longtime State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky Dies at 73

ALBANY—Richard Brodsky, one of the most powerful state legislators for nearly three decades, passed away on April 8 at the age of 73.

Initial published reports stated that Brodsky died from complications of the Coronavirus, but a family member told the New York Times that the longtime lawmaker passed away from a heart attack and had tested negative for the Coronavirus.

A Democrat, Brodsky was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 2010 and previously served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators for seven years. He was also an attorney with the Oxman Law Group, PLLC of White Plains, and was a frequent columnist with the Albany Times-Union until his passing.

During his time in the New York State Assembly, Brodsky chaired the Committee on Investigations, the Committee on Environmental Conservation and the Committee on Corporations and championed numerous environmental and public authority-related reform efforts.

Realtor John Kope conferred with State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky at the Lobby Day program in Albany in June 2010. In the background are current HGAR CEO Richard Haggerty and HGAR President Gail Fattizzi.

For many years, Brodsky chaired the Westchester-Putnam state delegation when the Westchester County Board of Realtors (WCBR) and later the Westchester-Putnam Association of Realtors (WPAR) traveled to Albany for the Annual Lobby Day program. Brodsky and then State Senator Nicholas Spano presided over the discussions with other state legislators and Association members and staff to discuss key real estate issues of the day.

He authored major legislation on reform of New York’s public authorities, labor relations, environmental protections, the arts and regulation of public utilities. His work has been widely recognized and he received the Nelson Rockefeller Distinguished Public Service Award, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, and the Westchester Distinguished Service Medal among others.

Brodsky also waged unsuccessful campaigns for New York State Attorney General in 2006 and 2010.

As an attorney, he litigated constitutional, administrative, civil rights, commercial and other cases before federal and state courts. He won an $18-million jury verdict in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and more than $200 million in state administrative proceedings. He has successfully argued appellate and trial level cases before all levels of state and federal courts, with an emphasis on environmental, commercial and administrative issues. Brodsky had served as counsel to labor organizations and business corporations and participated in the creation and operation of new business ventures in the United States and overseas.

Two of his colleagues in the State Legislature issued statements on Brodsky’s passing.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, said,. “He was strong, he was strong-willed. I’m so sad about it. I can’t even express myself.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) stated, “It was an honor to serve with him and watch as he fought, not just for his constituents, but for all New Yorkers,”.