Daneek Miller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daneek Miller
Member of the New York City Council from the 27th district
In office January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021
Preceded by	Leroy Comrie
Succeeded by	Nantasha Williams
Personal details
Born	(1960-11-06) November 6, 1960 (age 64) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	certificate from New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University
Website	Official website: http://council.nyc.gov/d27/html/members/home.shtml

Ira Daneek Miller, born on November 6, 1960, is an American politician. He served as a Council Member for the 27th district of the New York City Council in Queens. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a politician, Miller worked as a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for 19 years. He was also a leader in a workers' union.

Early Life and Education

Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Muslim. He earned a certificate from the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.

Career Before Politics

Daneek Miller was an MTA bus driver for 19 years. He also played an important role as a union leader. He was a co-chair of the MTA Labor Coalition. This group represents 54,000 workers from 29 different unions. Miller was also the President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local No. 1056. This union represents 2,000 drivers and mechanics. They work for the MTA Queens Bus Division.

Serving on the New York City Council

Becoming a Council Member

In 2013, Daneek Miller was elected to the New York City Council. He won the election for the 27th district. This district includes neighborhoods like Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, Jamaica Estates, Laurelton, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens, and St. Albans in Queens. He won the Democratic nomination and then the general election. At that time, Miller was the only Muslim member on the City Council.

Key Roles and Actions (2014-2017)

Miller became the chair of the City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor. He also joined the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. He was also part of the Progressive Caucus. In 2014, he was named to the council's new Policy Working Group.

In 2015, Miller suggested a bill about traffic safety. It aimed to change a law for MTA bus drivers. This law was part of New York City's Vision Zero program. Some people who had lost family members in traffic accidents shared their concerns about his proposal.

In March 2016, Miller participated in a protest. He and others formed a human chain to block pedestrian traffic. They were protesting in front of Governor Cuomo's office. They wanted more funding for CUNY and fair contracts for staff. This protest led to him and others being temporarily detained. In September 2016, he voted against a resolution. This resolution condemned boycotts of Israel.

In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed two of Miller's proposals into law. These laws aimed to control unlicensed "dollar vans." These vans sometimes break city rules. Miller also helped bring $426 million for sewer system improvements. This was done with Council Member Donovan Richards. After Hurricane Maria in September 2017, Miller visited Puerto Rico. He went with other council members to see the damage.

Second Term and Initiatives (2017-2019)

Miller was re-elected to the New York City Council in September 2017. He continued to lead the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. He also became co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. Miller did not support the Governor's idea of congestion pricing in New York City. He wrote an article explaining why he was against it.

In September 2018, Miller and Corey Johnson announced a "Muslim Empowerment Initiative." They said it showed their support for Muslim communities. They planned to give $250,000 to 14 organizations. These groups serve the city’s Muslim population. One of the organizations was the Islamic Circle of North America mosque.

Final Term and Achievements (2020-2021)

In July 2020, Miller supported reducing the police budget by a billion dollars.

In 2021, Miller highlighted some of his achievements. These included funding to prevent home foreclosures. He also worked on building new affordable housing in Jamaica, Queens. He helped create the Atlantic Ticket. This ticket offers discounted Long Island Railroad fares. He also secured public funding for Roy Wilkins Park.

Miller could not run for re-election in 2021. This was because of term limits.

Election Results