Honor Kyle Bragg Achievement

Senate Resolution No. 2398 BY: Senator COMRIE HONORING Kyle Bragg upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Southern Queens Park Association on January 17, 2020 WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and WHEREAS, Kyle Bragg has given not only of his time and energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Kyle Bragg upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Southern Queens Park Association to be celebrated at its 44th Anniversary Gala on Friday, January 17, 2020, at Roy Wilkins Park Family Center, Jamaica, New York; and WHEREAS, Kyle Bragg has been called upon to contribute his time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly; and WHEREAS, On July 24, 2019, Kyle Bragg took over as President of 32BJ SEIU, one of New York City's largest and most influential unions; and WHEREAS, Kyle Bragg grew up in the labor movement with his father serving as an organizer and Vice President of 1199 SEIU from the 1960s through the early 1980s; and WHEREAS, Following in his father's footsteps, Kyle Bragg led his first strike at just 16-years old, and was both a member and shop steward of 1199 SEIU while studying at York College of the City University of New York (CUNY); and WHEREAS, A member of 32BJ for more than 35 years, Kyle Bragg led its merger with Local 32E in 2001, bringing 9,000 Bronx and Westchester members; furthermore, as Secretary Treasurer, he grew 32BJ's Residential Division to 35,000 members in New York City, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey; and WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Kyle Bragg, 32BJ scored a big victory with the 2014 residential contract where members won raises of more than 11 percent over four years, with increased pension contributions from employers and no givebacks; this victory set a strong foundation for the union's 2015 contract negotiations for commercial office cleaners; and WHEREAS, Kyle Bragg currently serves as trustee of several 32BJ funds and as chair of the union's social and economic justice committee; he is a member of the executive board of the National African-American Caucus of SEIU, and serves on the international union's first Racial Justice Task Force; and WHEREAS, A true asset to his community of Queens, New York, Kyle Bragg is a board member of Community Board 13; he is also a member of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Southern Queens Park Association; and WHEREAS, In addition, he serves as a board member and mentor at Our Brothers Guardian, a youth program in Queens, and was appointed to the New York Charter Revision Commission, which reviews New York City's constitution; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife and their three children, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Kyle Bragg has displayed throughout his life; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Kyle Bragg upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Southern Queens Park Association on January 17, 2020; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Kyle Bragg.