VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 89
Baruch College—Bachelor's in Accounting
Data last updated 10/21/2026
J. Gary Pretlow was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992 and currently represents Assembly District 89, which includes Mount Vernon and part of Yonkers. His professional background includes serving as Manager of Accounting at Bloomingdale’s, Assistant Controller at The Limited, and co-founding Moncur-Pretlow & Company, a financial planning and management consulting firm. Before joining the Assembly, he served on the Mount Vernon City Council, including as Chairman of the Finance and Planning Committee and Chairman of the Capital Projects Board.
Committee Assignments: Chair, Committee on Ways and Means · Member, Committee on Rules · Member, Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus · Member, Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force
J. Gary Pretlow supports maintaining access to affordable health care and has framed health care safety-net funding, prescription-cost transparency, emergency medical reimbursement, and provider/patient protections as priorities. As the Democratic Assemblymember for New York Assembly District 89, he has repeatedly introduced health-related bills in the 2025–2026 session.
J. Gary Pretlow is the Democratic Assemblymember for New York Assembly District 89 and chairs the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. On Economy & Jobs, the clearest documented actions are sponsorship of bills regulating business activity and occupational pathways, including creating a natural hair care and braiding apprenticeship and business rules for pawnbrokers, oil companies, and restricted product advertising.
J. Gary Pretlow, Democratic Assemblymember for New York Assembly District 89, has co-sponsored state legislation restricting immigration detention contracts and limiting government collection/disclosure of immigration status. His record indicates support for immigrant-protective policies that reduce state and local participation in immigration enforcement.
J. Gary Pretlow, Democratic Assemblymember for New York Assembly District 89, has backed environmental justice and pollution-control measures, including sponsoring legislation to account for cumulative pollution impacts in disadvantaged communities. His record also includes sponsoring environmental enforcement, contractor accountability, and recycling bills under New York environmental conservation law.
J. Gary Pretlow emphasizes increasing and protecting education funding for Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Westchester schools, and higher education affordability. His education record includes sponsoring or co-sponsoring school construction, literacy, school-aid, and education-budget measures while serving New York State Assembly District 89.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Pretlow joined other Westchester Assembly members in recommendations to the Rockefeller Institute opposing a no-growth or marginal-growth school-aid budget and calling for increased state education aid and funding formula improvements.
SourceJ. Gary Pretlow's public-safety record for New York Assembly District 89 emphasizes traffic and impaired-driving enforcement, local law-enforcement authority, safe-streets funding, and victim services after firearm violence. His 2025-2026 prime-sponsored bills include tougher consequences for repeat DWI offenses, a Yonkers safe streets/schools fund, peace-officer status for Mount Vernon ordinance officers, and psychiatric-care referrals for firearm-violence victims.
BallotReady
https://www.ballotready.org/people/j-gary-pretlow-5a491413-4cc9-4cfa-afd8-6fc2b904207cFetched: education, professional background, office verification
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/james-gary-pretlowFetched: campaignFinance
New York State Assembly
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NYSUT
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New York League of Conservation Voters 2018 Scorecard
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New York League of Conservation Voters 2017 Scorecard
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New York State Assembly member page
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New York State Assembly sponsored legislation page
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New York State Senate Open Legislation - A5634
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New York State Senate Open Legislation - A6712
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New York State Senate Open Legislation - A6713
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New York State Senate Open Legislation - A6830
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New York State Assembly member profile
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New York State Assembly biography
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LegiScan Gary Pretlow bills
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New York State Assembly member page
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New York State Assembly Member Directory
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New York State Senate Legislation
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice
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New York State Assembly Legislation
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New York State Assembly Legislation
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New York State Assembly member page
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New York State Assembly legislation page for A06897
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New York State Assembly legislation page for A07480
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New York State Assembly legislation page for A09932
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New York State Assembly press release on Foundation Aid recommendations
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New York State Assembly legislation page for A11479
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New York State Assembly Member Directory
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New York State Assembly Sponsored Legislation
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LegiScan
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New York State Assembly Bill Search
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New York State Assembly Bill Search
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