Ari Kagan is the New York City council member representing Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate. Ari’s roots in the district run deep. He helped secure relief payments for Coney Island residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis, he helped constituents across zip codes in the 47th District obtain unemployment benefits, hosted food drives, coordinated private donations for Coney Island Hospital essential workers, delivered meals to those in need, and distributed masks and PPE to local businesses.

Ari continues to use his journalism and radio background to reach constituents to highlight community events and important local news. For 21 years, he hosted a radio and TV show, reporting on tenants' and immigrants' rights, as well as civic awareness. His reporting on important local matters transformed into a platform to advocate and lead on local issues that mattered most to his community. As a reporter, he wanted to do more for constituents than highlight their stories. In 2012, he was elected district leader of the 45th Assembly District and founded the Bay Democrats Club, the influential voice for diverse communities in Southern Brooklyn. He served on multiple boards for charitable organizations and then worked with Congressman Michael McMahon, Comptrollers John Liu and Scott Stringer, and Council Member Mark Treyger.

Ari is a son of Holocaust survivors and he always fights against hate, bigotry, racism and anti-Semitism. A Gravesend resident, he is a husband and father who is committed to improving public safety, securing a just and equitable pandemic recovery, preserving and expanding gifted and talented programs, advocating for seniors and people with disabilities, and repairing the historic Coney Island Boardwalk.