Blog: Matthew Silverstein

Matthew Silverstein

On primary day 2010, Matthew Silverstein became the  Democratic State Committeeman for the 26th Assembly District.

Matt began a career in public service as an Inspector for the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. As an Inspector, Matthew worked to uphold the landmark New York City Consumer Protection Law. He then became the Executive Assistant to DCA Commissioner Jonathan Mintz.

In 2007, Matthew became the Project Analyst for America Works of New York – an exciting private/public partnership that has been at the front of social policy issues for nearly 25 years. America Works was the pioneering company whose work led to the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, moving national welfare programs from subsistence to back-to-work programs. America Works has community offices in New York City, Albany, Baltimore, Chicago, Newark, Oakland and Washington D.C.

At America Works, Matt finds employment for Veterans, Welfare Recipients, Food Stamp Recipients, and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, people receiving SSI /SSDI Benefits, youth aging out of foster care, homeless/sheltered individuals and people living in NYCHA Housing. Matthew is also responsible for all political outreach for America Works network of companies. He has also worked inside New York State Prisons – helping formerly incarcerated individuals remain out of prison by keeping full time jobs – and works with our nation’s veterans.

Matthew has worked to protect the quality of life for residents of North East Queens for many years. Matthew is currently the 2nd Vice President for the Bay Terrace Community Alliance, and a member and former officer of the Friends of Fort Totten Parks.

From 2008 – 2010, Matthew served as President of the New York State Young Democrats and is a proud part of community activities of both the F.D.R. & Jefferson Democratic Clubs, serving on the Board of Directors of both organizations.

A true product of New York’s public school system, Matt is a graduate of CUNY Baruch College, where he studied Political Science. He earned a Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs from CUNY Hunter College. Matthew is a charter member of the Bayside – Whitestone Lions Club.  Matthew currently lives in Bay Terrace. In January of 2012, Matthew was named as one of the Queens Courier’s rising stars.

Some thoughts on Memorial Day
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 5/25/2012 at 11:30AM

I would like to start off by wishing everyone a very Happy Memorial Day! This weekend when you are enjoying your family gatherings, BBQ’s and road trips please stop for a second and remember all the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom. On this Memorial Day I ask [...]

Bringing Alzheimer’s disease Out Of The Shadows
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 4/30/2012 at 10:29AM

For a long time Alzheimer’s disease was in the Shadows. Alzheimer’s disease was often overlooked, ignored and not talked about. All of that recently changed with the Obama administrations new plan to move Alzheimer’s disease out of the shadows and making it a national priority. The first thing the Obama administration did was enact the [...]

MTA; Create A NE Queens To Lower Manhattan Express Bus Route
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 4/10/2012 at 10:09AM

A few weeks ago I wrote about the mystery of the weekly unlimited express bus MetroCard. As a follow up to that post, I wanted to make everyone aware that I did send MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota a letter asking him to address the problem. I am still waiting for a response. As soon as [...]

What is a Democratic State Committee Member?
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 3/23/2012 at 11:50AM

For the past month I have been writing blog posts here on the Queens Courier website. All of these blog postings have been about issues that I believe affect the quality of life for all Queens’s residents. Today however, I am going to divert to a political issue. Many people have been asking me what [...]

Keep The Restaurant Grading System
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 3/12/2012 at 10:23AM

By now I’m sure that you have seen those NYC Health Department letter grades in the windows of your neighborhood eating establishments. This past Wednesday, the New York City Council held a hearing on the grading system and a debate has ensued about whether the City should continue the grading system or make changes to [...]

The Mystery Of The Weekly Unlimited Express Bus MetroCard
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 3/02/2012 at 10:49AM

For the past year, I have been taking the QM2 express bus from Bay Terrace into Manhattan every morning. I have been very pleased with the QM2 as my means of transportation to and from work every day. My only problem has been why is it so difficult to purchase a weekly unlimited express bus [...]

Is the economy getting better?
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 2/23/2012 at 2:16PM

One of the most important questions on most American’s minds is in regards to the economy. Is the economy getting better? A new report by the United States Department of Labor sheds some light onto this question.   This morning I read an article on msnbc.com showing that new claims for unemployment benefits stayed the same from [...]

$507,000.00 to construct a new Bocce Court?
Matthew Silverstein Matthew Silverstein 2/15/2012 at 11:20AM

Did you know that it costs the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation $507,000.00 to construct a new Bocce Court? Doesn’t this seem to be a tad bit too expensive?   Last week I attended a meeting of Queens Community Board 7’s Parks Committee. The Parks Department came before the committee to get [...]