Biography

Legislator Ellen Jaffee has a distinguished record of public service and political leadership. She has served as Legislator since 1998 and Suffern Village Trustee, from 1995 – 1997.

Ellen Jaffee’s commitment to public service and community activism, is evidenced by her tireless approach to helping people and making government work for the betterment of our lives.

Legislator Jaffee has provided energetic and innovative leadership, and has proven to be an independent and effective voice in county government. She has compiled an impressive record that arises from her strong convictions. During her legislative career, Ellen Jaffee has emerged as a leading advocate for children, families, and seniors, passionate about the importance of addressing issues such as education, healthcare, child-care, youth programs, social justice, housing, transportation for seniors, and preserving and protecting our natural resources and environment.

In 2005, Legislator Jaffee was appointed to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Management Council, by Congressman Eliot Engel.

2005 Legislative Committees

Chair,  Environment Committee
Vice Chair,  Multi- Services Committee
Member,  Budget & Finance Committee
Chair,  Special Committee on Transportation
Co-Chair,  Rockland County Legislature's Committee on Women's Issues
Co-Chair, Subcommittee,   Arts, Culture and Tourism

Legislative Liaison:  RCC, Youth Bureau, Cooperative Extension, Advisory Council, to the Office of the Aging, Environmental Management Council

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ONGOING EFFORTS

As Chair of the Environmental Committee Legislator Jaffee has held informational hearings to assess the critical water situation in Rockland County and sponsored legislation to implement a comprehensive assessment of Rockland County’s water supply to be conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In addition, she authored a local law requiring Well Water Testing in residential housing, which will protect the health of children and families in our county. This year Legislator Jaffee will continue to focus on our water supply and air quality. In May, 2005, Ellen Jaffee announced the establishment of the Rockland County Citizens’ Advisory Board for Air Quality. The Advisory Board will be responsible for making recommendations to the Environmental Committee on issues of air quality, including potential legislation and policy improvements. Legislator Jaffee will persist in calling for closure of Indian Point.

As Co-Chairs of the Committee on Women’s Issues, Ellen Jaffee and Harriet Cornell established the Breast Cancer Task Force to raise awareness about breast cancer and promote early detection. In May 2003, Legislators Jaffee and Cornell co- chaired a successful Women’s Cardiac Symposium at Rockland Community College, The Heart of the Matter, Women and Heart Disease, with the goal of educating women about heart disease, give a sense of hope that women can reduce their risk, and empower them to do so.

As Vice-Chair and Member of the Budget and Finance Committee, Legislator Jaffee has worked to control spending, keeping Rockland’s taxes low and stable, while balancing the needs of the community. Ellen Jaffee led the fight to assure that tobacco settlement funds were used for health programs, such as tobacco cessation and prevention programs, and BEAT ( Breast Education and Treatment). She has lobbied to ensure that all women, regardless of socio- economic status, have access to comprehensive health care and assisted the Cancer Society in bringing free or low cost mammograms to women.

As Vice chair of the Multi Services Committee, Legislator Jaffee and Harriet Cornell collaborated in developing a 20-point action plan to fill the gaps in services to children, youth, and families at risk, which was based on testimony from over 50 agencies and individuals. One such initiative was the Quality Child Care Campaign, with the goal of enhancing child care programs in the county.

In addition, Legislator Jaffee has:

• Secured Shuttle bus for residents of Pondview, Bon Aire, & senior residences.
• Created Pride of Rockland Award, honoring volunteers serving our community.
• Held hearings and developed initiatives to improve child support enforcement.
• Sponsored legislation which provides Domestic Partner health benefits for County government employees.
• Sponsored local law to ban sale of mercury fever thermometers, etc., in Rockland County. Encouraged the Solid Waste Authority to establish a program, which provides free digital thermometers in exchange for mercury thermometers, assuring safe disposal of mercury.
• Coordinating the effort to complete the Mahwah-Ramapo River Flood Remediation project, to relieve flooding conditions in area.
• Secured county funding to initiate construction of walkway to library for Gitlow residents.
• Joined community in vocal opposition to Airmont Stop ‘n Shop development.
• Co-Sponsored legislation opposing Tappan Zee Bridge and Thruway corridor widening and expansion.
• Sponsored legislation to provide funding for the Challenger Center, a valuable learning tool for students, and an asset to Rockland.
• Sponsored legislation which encouraged more volunteers to participate in the Adopt- a-Road program to help clean-up litter on county roads.
• Improved delivery and accessibility of county services to people who are deaf or hearing impaired, at county facilities.
• Sponsored legislation that enabled RCC to expand cooperative education internship program with local business.
• Held hearings and authored legislation opposing power plants or a quarry in Torne Valley.
• Called on County to hire environmental consultant to participate in siting process in opposition of power plants.

Family/ Education/Profession

Ellen and her husband Steve are parents of Marc, and his wife Julia, and Allison, and her husband Steven, and proud grandparents of Daniel and Miles. Legislator Jaffee received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Brooklyn College, and Master of Science degree in Special Education from Fordham University. Ellen Jaffee has recently retired as Educational Consultant and Resource Room teacher at Pomona Middle School. She was a strong and outspoken advocate for her students, dedicated to inspiring their educational curiosity, academic success and self- confidence.

Award and Honors

Legislator Jaffee is an active member of numerous Rockland Community service organizations:

Community Activities:
Vice President, Public Affairs, National Council of Jewish Women
Advisory Board Member: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Ex-officio Board Member: Reach Foundation
Honorary Board Member: The Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center
Advisory Board Member: American Heart Association/Rockland Division

Member of:
Suffern Junior Woman's Club
Suffern Civic Association
NAACP
Rockland County Chapter of Hadassah
National Organization of Women
Rockland Business Women's Network
Planned Parenthood
Historical Society of Rockland
Rockland County Conservation Association
Rockland Center for Holocaust Studies
Rockland Family Shelter
Rockland Coalition for Democracy & Freedom
Stonewall Democratic Club of Rockland County

Political:

• Co-Chair, 2004 John Kerry Presidential Campaign, Rockland County.
• Delegate, 2004 Democratic National Convention, Boston.
• Co-chair, Hillary Clinton, 2000 Senate Campaign, Rockland County.
• New York State Democratic Executive Committee.
• Delegate, 1996 Democratic National Convention, Chicago.
• Coordinator, 1996 Clinton/Gore Campaign, 9th Judicial District.
• Co-coordinator of the 1992 Rockland County Clinton/Gore Presidential Campaign, which marked the first time in 29 years that a Democratic Presidential candidate carried Rockland County.
• Founder, The Clinton Advocates For Change; grassroots lobbying organization: To lobby, provide a forum for fair debate and educate the public in Rockland about national issues, such as Health Care Reform.

Accomplishments as Suffern Trustee

As Trustee, Ellen Jaffee facilitated an intergenerational program with seniors and local elementary students, sponsored the creation of LEAD, a program empowering high school students to develop their own alcohol/drug free events at the Suffern Community Center, and led the effort to obtain a Cops Grant for Suffern, which has enhanced community policing and safety in the village. Jaffee initiated the Executive Task Force of the Suffern Community Center, which created a Community Foundation, with the goal of enabling the village to enhance programs for youth, families and seniors. Ellen spearheaded an effort to persuade a local Pet Food Company to improve its environmental system so as to eliminate foul odors from permeating Suffern, introduced a law to control arbitrary tree cutting and led the effort to protect several unique natural resources and parks in the village.