Charles Fall
Charles Fall is the incumbent Democratic Assembly Member for District 61 and the Assembly's Deputy Majority Leader. He is the first Muslim and first African American Assembly Member elected from Staten Island, the son of immigrants from Guinea, West Africa.[1][2]
Floor votes in Albany
- YesProvides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits · S10113 · Passed Assembly 88–53 · 2026-06-05 official record ↗Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.
- YesRelates to granting employees access to personnel records · S3460 · Passed Assembly 92–49 · 2026-05-19 official record ↗Grants employees access to personnel records; requires notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review; permits employee to include certain information in personnel records.
- YesConcealed Carry Improvement Act · S51001 · Passed 90–52 · 2022-07-01 official record ↗Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.
- Yes2021–22 budget revenue bill · S2509 · Passed 88–61 · 2021-04-07 official record ↗Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.
- YesProtect Our Courts Act · A2176 · Passed 97–44 · 2020-07-20 official record ↗Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.
- YesClimate Leadership and Community Protection Act · S6599 · Passed 111–35 · 2019-06-20 official record ↗Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
- YesHousing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · S6458 · Passed 95–46 · 2019-06-14 official record ↗Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.
- YesExtreme risk protection orders (red-flag law) · S2451 · Passed 100–37 · 2019-01-29 official record ↗Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
- YesReproductive Health Act · S240 · Passed 95–49 · 2019-01-22 official record ↗Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.
Votes on landmark laws since 2019, plus 2026 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side — read from the legislature’s official records.
On the record — official actions
- actionServes as Assembly Deputy Majority Leader; assigned to the Aging, Cities, Consumer Affairs and Protection, Corporations/Authorities and Commissions, Governmental Employees, and Tourism/Parks/Arts and Sports Development committees.[2]
- bill2026-05-04 · Prime sponsor of A09590-A, authorizing the state Dormitory Authority to finance construction of New York Climate Exchange facilities on Governors Island; passed the Assembly and Senate and was delivered to the Governor on September 22, 2026.[4]
- bill2025-01-15 · Prime sponsor of A02144, which would exempt residents of lower Manhattan and Staten Island from the Manhattan congestion-pricing surcharge; referred to committee, no floor vote as of September 2026.[5]
- bill2025-01-15 · Prime sponsor of A02099, which would exempt Staten Island residents from Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge tolls; referred to committee, no floor vote as of September 2026.[6]
- bill2026-02-24 · Prime sponsor of A10136, extending through December 2027 the authorization for Staten Island residents in high-risk brush-fire areas to cut and remove reeds from their property; passed the Assembly and was delivered to the Senate.[7]
- action2025-07-28 · Issued a statement on the crisis in Gaza saying he 'unequivocally condemned the violence that claimed innocent lives on October 7' while calling the destruction in Gaza 'devastating and unjustifiable' and urging immediate, unrestricted humanitarian aid.[8]
Positions on the issues
- OpposesKeep congestion pricing in Manhattan
Sponsors legislation to exempt Staten Island and lower Manhattan residents from the Manhattan congestion-pricing surcharge, and said he welcomed Governor Hochul's 2024 pause of congestion pricing implementation, citing the financial burden on constituents.[5][10]
“I have had concerns about the rollout of the MTA's congestion pricing plan, as it clearly imposed an additional financial burden on our residents... Governor Hochul's decision to pause this plan is a positive step.”
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S6458 (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, 2019-06-14): Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.[11]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-20): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.[12]
- SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S2451 (Extreme risk protection orders (red-flag law), 2019-01-29): Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. Voted yes on S51001 (Concealed Carry Improvement Act, 2022-07-01): Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.[13][14]
- SupportsProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S240 (Reproductive Health Act, 2019-01-22): Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.[15]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on A2176 (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-20): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.[16]
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on S2509 (2021–22 budget revenue bill, 2021-04-07): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.[17]
In their words — priorities
- 1. Transportation; 2. Education & Youth Programming; 3. Health Care & the Opioid Epidemic.[3]
- "Unreliable public transportation, being priced out of a home, and deciding between quality health care and paying rent... We need leaders in Albany who will fight for our community and for our future."[3]
- "For far to long, the politics of Albany have failed the voters... As a Member of the Assembly, I will hold my self, and my staff, to the highest ethical standard."[3]
Background
- Fall earned a BA from Southwestern College in Kansas and a Master of Public Administration with honors from Pace University.[2]
- In 2014 he served as Staten Island Borough Director and Citywide Islamic Liaison for the Mayor of New York City, working on Universal Pre-K and paid sick leave, then became Chief of Staff to the Staten Island Parks and Recreation Commissioner.[2]
- He comes from a working-class family of six; his parents immigrated to Staten Island from Guinea, West Africa.[2]
- He resides in his childhood neighborhood of Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, with his two daughters.[2]