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Inna Vernikov
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Inna Vernikov
Inna Vernikov (born August 30, 1984) is an American attorney and politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 48th District. The Minority Whip of the City Council, her district includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, West Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend, and parts of Midwood and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. Formerly a Democrat, Vernikov is a member of the Republican Party.
Vernikov was born in Chernivtsi in Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now southwestern Ukraine), to Jewish parents. She attended ORT Specialized School #41, a Ukrainian Jewish day school. At age 12, she immigrated with her family to the United States. She received a BA from Baruch College and a JD from Florida Coastal School of Law.
Prior to running for City Council, Vernikov was an immigration and divorce lawyer.
Vernikov was an aide to New York State Assemblymember Dov Hikind.
Previously a registered Democrat, Vernikov switched parties and became a Republican to run for office after claiming to see a rise in antisemitism and what she sees as socialism in New York City. She is a supporter of Donald Trump. While campaigning, she said “Jews coming from the former Soviet Union are very familiar with communism and socialism, and many of us feel strongly that what today’s Democratic Party is promoting is exactly what we ran from—a place where speech was censored, where we were not allowed to practice religion, where we didn’t have freedom or economic opportunity.”
Vernikov received the support of the district's former councilman Democrat Chaim Deutsch (who had been expelled from the council after pleading guilty to tax fraud), and was endorsed by Donald Trump Jr. (who made a robocall on her behalf). She was elected to the City Council after defeating the Democratic nominee, Steve Saperstein. Upon taking office in December 2021, she became one of five Republicans in the 51-member council, and the first Republican to represent a portion of Brooklyn in the New York City Council since Marty Golden in 2002.
As a councilwoman, Vernikov organized a rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan. She had also organized a march against antisemitism after two Jewish teenagers were allegedly assaulted for wearing a hoodie with the logo of the Israel Defense Forces. After the faculty at City University of New York Law School passed a resolution supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, Vernikov announced she would pull $50,000 in funding for the law school and redirect it towards Legal Services NYC.
She voted against expanding the New York City speed camera program, which issues speeding tickets when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by 11 or more miles per hour in a school zone. In September 2022, it was reported that Vernikov had been caught on camera for repeatedly and recklessly speeding through school zones. She had received 23 camera-issued tickets since mid-2020. She had also received 31 other non-moving violations.
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Inna Vernikov
Inna Vernikov (born August 30, 1984) is an American attorney and politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 48th District. The Minority Whip of the City Council, her district includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, West Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend, and parts of Midwood and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. Formerly a Democrat, Vernikov is a member of the Republican Party.
Vernikov was born in Chernivtsi in Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now southwestern Ukraine), to Jewish parents. She attended ORT Specialized School #41, a Ukrainian Jewish day school. At age 12, she immigrated with her family to the United States. She received a BA from Baruch College and a JD from Florida Coastal School of Law.
Prior to running for City Council, Vernikov was an immigration and divorce lawyer.
Vernikov was an aide to New York State Assemblymember Dov Hikind.
Previously a registered Democrat, Vernikov switched parties and became a Republican to run for office after claiming to see a rise in antisemitism and what she sees as socialism in New York City. She is a supporter of Donald Trump. While campaigning, she said “Jews coming from the former Soviet Union are very familiar with communism and socialism, and many of us feel strongly that what today’s Democratic Party is promoting is exactly what we ran from—a place where speech was censored, where we were not allowed to practice religion, where we didn’t have freedom or economic opportunity.”
Vernikov received the support of the district's former councilman Democrat Chaim Deutsch (who had been expelled from the council after pleading guilty to tax fraud), and was endorsed by Donald Trump Jr. (who made a robocall on her behalf). She was elected to the City Council after defeating the Democratic nominee, Steve Saperstein. Upon taking office in December 2021, she became one of five Republicans in the 51-member council, and the first Republican to represent a portion of Brooklyn in the New York City Council since Marty Golden in 2002.
As a councilwoman, Vernikov organized a rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan. She had also organized a march against antisemitism after two Jewish teenagers were allegedly assaulted for wearing a hoodie with the logo of the Israel Defense Forces. After the faculty at City University of New York Law School passed a resolution supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, Vernikov announced she would pull $50,000 in funding for the law school and redirect it towards Legal Services NYC.
She voted against expanding the New York City speed camera program, which issues speeding tickets when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by 11 or more miles per hour in a school zone. In September 2022, it was reported that Vernikov had been caught on camera for repeatedly and recklessly speeding through school zones. She had received 23 camera-issued tickets since mid-2020. She had also received 31 other non-moving violations.
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