JAKE KUHL
For New York State 82nd Assembly District
RAISED IN THE DISTRICT
SCHOOLED IN THE DISTRICT
WORKS IN THE DISTRICT
A real candidate that is here for you!
Hi, I’m Jake Kuhl
I was born and raised in the 82nd Assembly District and continue to call it home, living in the Edgewater Park/Throggs Neck community of the Bronx. I grew up in a hardworking middle-class family—the son of a Teamsters truck driver and a New York City school aide—who taught me the value of service, commitment, and community.
I attended our local public schools, P.S. 72 and I.S. 192, before graduating from Cardinal Spellman High School. I later earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from Baruch College, right here in New York City.
For the past fifteen years, I have been proud to work at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where I currently serve as the Assistant Director of the Falk Recreation Center. In this role, I’ve had the opportunity to support countless individuals, strengthen health and wellness outcomes, and create meaningful, engaging programs for medical students.
My lifelong connection to this community—and my commitment to improving the lives of those who call it home—has inspired me to run for the New York State Assembly. I’m ready to bring my experience, passion, and dedication to the service of our district.
POLICIES
A strong middle class is the foundation of any thriving society. Unfortunately, in New York City, that foundation is being eroded by an ever-rising cost of living.
I’ve watched friends and family leave the city because they simply can’t afford to stay. Housing costs are out of control, rents are skyrocketing, and essential utilities keep getting more expensive—driven in part by companies like Con Edison and major insurance providers.
Our district faces some of the highest Con Edison delivery rates in the entire city, even as the company’s CEO earned more than $14 million in 2024. That is unacceptable.
As your Assembly member, I will fight for fair, uniform utility delivery rates and push for long-overdue reforms to the New York State Public Service Commission—the agency responsible for overseeing Con Edison.
New York State also has the highest auto insurance rates in the country, and they continue to rise. A major driver of these increases is the prevalence of excessive lawsuit payouts. Other states, such as Florida, have successfully lowered premiums by placing reasonable caps on certain payouts. I will advocate for similar, responsible legislation that protects consumers without compromising justice.
In addition, I will push for stronger oversight of insurance companies—whether auto, home, or healthcare—that continue to raise prices on hardworking New Yorkers while reporting record profits. Our families deserve fair rates, transparency, and accountability.
We live in an extremely polarized political climate, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that our health should come first — and right after that, our financial stability. Yet our school system does very little to teach students how to stay healthy, build wealth, or even manage a basic budget.
To make matters worse, many school lunches still lack real nutritional value, relying heavily on frozen and processed foods. Physical education is often treated as an afterthought, even as childhood obesity continues to rise.
I propose that we require comprehensive health and nutrition courses, along with a mandatory financial literacy course and a graduation exam to ensure these skills are understood. Today’s young people are entering a world of high student loan debt, rising mortgage rates, and uncertain retirement systems.
We must teach them the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, and investing. Right now, we are failing to prepare our children for real-world challenges, and in doing so, setting them up for unnecessary hardship. Together, we can change that — and put the next generation on a path toward healthier lives and stronger financial futures.
Home ownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream. It remains one of the most effective ways for families to build and pass down generational wealth, and it strengthens neighborhoods by creating stability, safety, and long-term community ties. Yet in New York City, new development projects often treat home ownership as an afterthought. Too many developments focus solely on rental units — and many of those units are priced far beyond what local residents can afford.
In our district, any new development should prioritize opportunities for home ownership. One of the most practical ways to achieve this is through cooperative housing. As someone who lives in a co-op community myself, I know firsthand that this model is often the only realistic path to owning a home in our area.
I will also advocate for the creation of a New York State Bank dedicated to supporting middle-income New Yorkers who are purchasing their first home. This bank would offer reduced interest rates — around 3% for qualified buyers — helping hardworking families save thousands of dollars and making home ownership more attainable.
Additionally, I will push for legislation that prevents large investment firms from buying up single-family homes. These homes form the foundation of our communities. They are meant for families, not for multibillion-dollar corporations like BlackRock to use as investment vehicles at the expense of everyday New Yorkers.
A safe, clean community is essential for a thriving neighborhood. I have personally lost friends to the fentanyl crisis, and I am committed to ensuring that the NYPD has the resources it needs to focus specifically on disrupting the distribution of opioid-class drugs.
Many of you have also noticed that everyday items at stores like CVS are now locked behind plastic cases because of rising theft. This is unacceptable — no one should have to ring a bell just to buy deodorant.
New York State’s cash bail reform has helped reduce unnecessary jail time for non-violent offenders, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the system also allows repeat offenders of theft and property crimes to cycle in and out without consequence, contributing to the environment that has forced “locked-up” convenience stores to become the norm.
That’s why I propose a “Fool Me Once, Shame on You; Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me” law. Under this policy, first-time property offenders would not face jail time, but a second offense would carry real consequences. This approach preserves the equitable goals of bail reform while addressing repeat offenses that hurt our communities. It strikes the balance we need — improving public safety and supporting local businesses without returning to the discriminatory bail practices of the past.
WHY VOTE FOR ME?
Our district deserves new leadership and fresh ideas. We have been represented by the same assemblyman for more than twenty years, and as he approaches 80 years old, it’s clear that our community is ready for a new direction.
Despite chairing the Education Committee, he has not delivered the improvements our schools urgently need. Most importantly, our students still lack essential health and financial education — skills they must have to succeed in today’s world. My policies will finally address this gap.
Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise, and our district faces some of the highest Con Edison service charges in the entire city. That is unacceptable, and it must change.
As your assemblyman, I will put the people of this district first — in every decision I make and in every piece of legislation I introduce. Our community deserves nothing less.
VOTE
JUNE 23, 2026
Co-Op City, City Island, Pelham Bay, Country Club, Throggs Neck, Westchester Square, Edgewater Park, Silver Beach and Locust Point
82ND DISTRICT
Neighborhoods Include:
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If you have questions, ideas, or concerns about the future of the 82nd District, Jake wants to hear from you.
Our campaign is committed to staying connected with the community and ensuring every voice is acknowledged.
Whether you’re looking to volunteer, share feedback, or learn more about Jake’s vision for New York, please don’t hesitate to reach out.