Catalina Cruz was elected in 2018 to represent New York’s 39th Assembly District (Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and soon it will also include Rego Park and Maspeth). In her time in office, I have passed almost 20 new laws and co-sponsored more than 400 bills to combat food insecurity, protect seniors and workers, and support small businesses. She has led the charge on many historic pieces of legislation, now codified into law, including Nourish NY, the Child Victims Act, the Jose Peralta Dream Act, rent law reforms, and the Green Light Bill, which provides Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented New Yorkers.
During the toughest health crisis in recent history, Catalina prioritized the survival of our neighbors by ensuring their access to life saving testing sites, vaccinations, and food. She additionally supported small businesses by partnering with the Queens Chamber of Commerce to provide them with PPE and assistance applying for federal, state, and city grants to help keep their doors open.
Catalina was born in Colombia and came to Queens at the age of 9. She grew up as a DREAMer, living in the United States for more than 10 years as an undocumented American. She was raised by a single mother, who like many immigrants had to work multiple and menial jobs to provide for her family. As a single mother of four children, her mother worked long hours during the week as a nanny, cleaned offices at night, and sold tamales and empanadas at the soccer fields on the weekends. Inspired by her mother’s perseverance, Catalina has committed her career to fighting for our community to ensure our families and small businesses not only survive, but thrive.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a JD from the City University of New York School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and has worked as an attorney and a leader for tenant protections, immigration reform and workers’ rights with experience working both in nonprofits and government.
