Assemblymember Al Taylor has represented New York’s 71st Assembly District, covering Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood, since 2017. Before being elected to the Assembly in a special election in the fall of 2017, Al Taylor served as Chief of Staff to legendary former Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, Jr., and as District Leader. With over 20 years of advocacy experience, Al has worked tirelessly to address issues such as public safety, affordable housing, criminal justice reform, civil rights, and veteran services.
In 2008, Al founded the Man Up! in Harlem program, which was created to combat the rise in gun-related violence in his neighborhood. Through weekly prayer walks at the Polo Grounds’ Rucker Park, the program fostered dialogue between residents and leaders and is credited with significantly reducing violence in the area. The program has since been replicated in other Upper Manhattan housing projects.
As part of his commitment to addressing violence and fostering peace, Assemblyman Taylor walked 780 miles to Chicago in the “It’s A Love Thing Always” event to inspire communities to work toward peace. He also mobilized his community to act after the tragic murder of Islan Nettles, a transgender woman from Harlem, and has been a leader in the fight against bigotry and hatred.
In his legislative career, Assemblymember Taylor has introduced and supported several key pieces of legislation that have been signed into law. These include a law requiring childcare services to adopt anaphylaxis policies to protect children with severe allergies, as well as legislation creating the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office to ensure accountability in cases of police misconduct. He has also passed legislation to clarify emergency response protocols for incidents involving lithium-ion batteries, and the “Make Voting Easy Act”, which mandates that counties designate early voting polling places based on registered voter populations.
Assemblymember Taylor has focused on issues such as fighting for our children, with initiatives to improve access to education and mental health support in schools, particularly for children living in temporary housing. He has also worked on public safety, advocating for policies to improve law enforcement accountability and reduce violence.
As a passionate advocate for civil rights, Al Taylor has introduced and supported legislation aimed at addressing racial disparities and promoting equity in housing, education, and healthcare. He has also worked extensively on veteran services, ensuring that military families and veterans have access to the support they need.
Al is also the pastor of Infinity Mennonite Church in Harlem, where he combines his faith leadership with his work in the Assembly. He earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Northeastern Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Nyack College Alliance Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Public Communication from Lehman College.
Married for over 20 years to his wife, Gwendolyn, Al is the father of five children: Tiffany, Tameka, Ashley, Stefani, and Brandon. Al resides in Northern Manhattan, where he continues to dedicate himself to both his community and his faith.
