Louis Cholden-Brown is an acclaimed political and legislative strategist working at the forefront of economic justice and a City and State 40 Under 40 honoree. Over the past decade, Louis served in senior roles at the Office of the New York City Comptroller, New York City Council, 2019 Charter Revision Commission, and with local and state advocacy organizations, shepherding legislation and campaigns around climate justice, health inequities, worker rights, and tenant protections. He has authored legislation expanding the Certificate of No Harassment (CONH) program citywide, regulating illegal hotels, protecting workers from unjust firings and requiring stable scheduling and severance pay, creating retirement savings accounts for private sector workers, establishing a citywide primary care navigation network, raising the wage for city-funded workers, protecting tenants and small businesses from COVID-related harassment, and developing a climate adaptation plan. He has fought against housing segregation, injustices of the carceral system, and street harassment, and for pedestrian improvements and reduced-fare public transit, climate justice, and paid sick leave. Currently, he is Special Counsel at the United Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2, AFL-CIO.
A city leader on healthcare accessibility and harm reduction, Louis previously served on the City Committee on Health Services and Municipal Drug Strategy Council, both of which he helped launch. In addition, he was a member of the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) Advisory Board, the 2021 Tax Lien Task Force, and Comptroller-elect Brad Lander's Transition Committee. In addition to his government service, Louis serves on the New York State Bar Association Committees on Legislative Policy and the New York State Constitution, the New York City Bar Association New York City Affairs Committee, and as Vice Chair of the American Constitution Society New York Lawyer Chapter. Louis is a former member of Manhattan Community Board 7, including serving as Executive CommitteeCo-Secretary, Housing Committee Co-Chair, and Strategy & Budget Chair, and is the incumbent Male Democratic State Committee Member for the 75th Assembly District.
Louis is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Environmental Law Review and was the recipient of both the Donald Magnetti Award and Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award summa cum laude in recognition of his contributions to New York City during his academic tenure. Louis’ scholarship, which has appeared in the Fordham Urban Law Journal, Chapman Law Review, Richmond Public Interest Law Review, University of Detroit-Mercy Law Review, Elon Law Review, and Charleston Law Review, has focused on the Constitution, state and local government, and worker justice.