About Shaun

About Shaun Abreu

Born and raised in Northern Manhattan, Shaun Abreu grew up between Washington Heights and the Upper West Side, where his family still lives today.

Shaun’s childhood was shaped by challenges familiar to many New Yorkers. When he was young, his parents lost their jobs, and his family was evicted from their home. Shaun struggled in school, even repeating the 4th grade. But despite these hardships, he also saw the strength of his community.

Neighbors provided a place to live, teachers gave him time and attention, and his parents were fortunate enough to find good jobs—his mother as a bookkeeper at Zabar’s and his father as a janitor for the Port Authority, where they both still work today. With their support, he became the first in his family to graduate from college and established a career as a tenant rights attorney representing families like his own.

Now, Shaun is fighting to build a stronger community in the district that he has always called home. He is raising his own family in Washington Heights and sending his stepdaughter to a public elementary school on the Upper West Side. When he isn’t helping with homework or spending time with family, he is laser focused on the issues that matter most: affordable housing, worker rights, cleaner streets, public safety, and environmental sustainability. His record proves it.

As a council member, Shaun has delivered for his district and New York City. He cast the decisive vote on a plan to build 80,000 new housing units and allocate $5 billion for housing and infrastructure. He successfully restored and expanded funding for community composting, libraries, universal 3-K, and the Right to Counsel in housing court. He established and oversaw a pilot program to get trash bags off the streets in Upper Manhattan, resulting in a decrease in rat sightings of over 55%. And soon, his vision for garbage-free streets will be implemented citywide. He has brought in over $34 million for district parks, and he led the way on groundbreaking legislation to protect workers, tenants, and families.

His leadership reflects his steadfast belief that government should work for the people, making our lives better in ways we can see and feel. When it comes to protecting his neighbors, there’s no fight too big or small.

Prior to joining the City Council, Council Member Abreu worked for the New York Legal Assistance Group, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Natural Resource Defense Council. He holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from Tulane Law School.