Harvey Epstein

Harvey Epstein is an American politician from the state of New York. He is the member of the New York State Assembly from the 74th district, which consists parts of the Lower East Side, East Village, and Midtown East neighborhoods of Manhattan.

Early life and career

Epstein earned a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in social studies. He ran a homeless shelter in Hempstead, New York, and worked in the South Bronx for a foster care agency. He earned a Juris Doctor from CUNY Law School and worked for Queens Legal Services and The Legal Aid Society. Epstein served as community development director for the Urban Justice Center.

Political career

Epstein won a special election to the New York Assembly to succeed Brian P. Kavanagh, who was elected to the New York State Senate, in 2018.

Epstein is a member of the Vote Blue Coalition, a progressive group and federal PAC created to support Democrats in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania through voter outreach and mobilization efforts.

Epstein sponsored legislation to reform the New York State Real Property Law and Tax Law in regards to mezzanine financing. The legislation calls for the recording of mezzanine debt and preferred equity investments and subject it to the mortgage recording tax. These amendments will force borrowers and lenders to reconsider the economic costs of mezzanine financing. It was introduced on January 22, 2021.

Epstein is running in New York City's 2nd City Council district in the 2025 municipal election.

In popular culture

During its November 2, 2024 episode, Saturday Night Live ran a spoof campaign advertisement in which Epstein (played by host John Mulaney) repeatedly affirms that he is not Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein or some amalgamation thereof.