Rhoda Jacobs is a longtime native and resident of Brooklyn. She attended local schools and graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor's degree. She was first elected to the Assembly in 1978 and represents the 42nd district of Kings County including parts of Flatbush and Midwood. Assemblywoman Jacobs has always been an outspoken advocate of the need for more and better day care facilities for children. She was co-founder and co-director of the Brooklyn College Day Care Center--the first of its kind in the CUNY system. In 1997, Assemblywoman Jacobs was appointed Chair of the Budget Conference Committee on Health and Human Services, one of the first committeees of its kind. As chair of this committee, Ms. Jacobs helps formulate policies aimed at directly helping communities in their efforts to fund and operate a variety of service programs. Ms. Jacobs has been at the forefront of significant issues in health care, Medicaid, job development, immigrant issues, consumer education and protection in banking, insurance, and public utiliites. Her legislation has served as a national model for preventive measure in women's and children's health care. Ms. Jacobs has promoted and secured funding for the development of many community programs including housing preservation, crime prevention and youth programs. She has served in an advisory capacity on the boards of several Brooklyn community development corporations and hospitals. A former officer of the National Association of State Legislators and elected delegate to national legislative bodies Ms. Jacobs served as the treasurer of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and is currently still a member. In recognition of her successful career as a champion of progressive causes and her lifelong commitment to our quality of life, Brooklyn College honored Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs with the Presidential Medal in 1989. Recently, Ms. Jacobs outfitted a computer room for Brooklyn College's STAR program. She currently serves as the Assistant Speaker of the New York Assembly.
From the description of The Papers of Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs; 196?-2007. (Brooklyn College). WorldCat record id: 424502231
