+ − Contact Information
Email Address: SepulvedaL@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-5102
Office Address:
LOB 432
Albany, NY 12248
+ − Biography
On February 11, 1964, Luis R. Sepúlveda was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the time, his parents lived in the Morgan/Meeker Avenue projects. In 1982, Luis graduated from Garden School in Jackson Heights, New York. He was ranked near the top of his class.
In 1988, Luis graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Natural Sciences. While at Hofstra, Luis was invited to join the New College Honor’s program. He also founded the New College Review Journal and was elected president of the New College Student Government Association and a Senator to the Hofstra University Student Government Association.
After graduating from Hofstra University, Luis was accepted as a fellow to the Council on Legal Educational Opportunities (CLEO). After successfully completing the CLEO program, he was awarded a three year scholarship to Hofstra University Law School. In 1991, Luis graduated from Hofstra Law School. After graduation, Luis worked with a midsize law firm in Long Island, New York.
Luis quickly realized that he wanted to establish a community based law practice in an underserved community. Thus, he left the comfort and security of his job at the law firm and moved to the Bronx. He set up his community law practice in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. He has been there for nearly 20 years.
Due to Luis’ efforts and his community first outlook, he has been appointed counsel to several New York State Senators and to the New York State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office. For years, he ran a pro bono project that provided free legal assistance and information to Bronx residents. He has defended seniors and poor tenants in New York City Housing Court, litigated Article 78 proceedings, and represented parents in Family Court and the Bronx Supreme Court. For his work, in 1996, he was awarded the Louis Nine Award of the Black/Latino Legislative Caucus. This award is given to persons who provide outstanding service to the constituents of the 32nd Senate District in the Bronx, New York. The areas included are: Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms and Van Nest. And for his dedication to the young members, in 2011, The NAACP Youth Coucil awarded Luis the Community Service Award.
Luis has also helped draft legislation that would improve the quality of life for local residents. In 2011, he assisted State Senator Ruben Diaz with his “Anti-Prostitution” bill that was eventually drafted into law. The catalyst behind this bill was to increase the penalties for prostituting near school zones. He has also assisted with legislation that would clean up some of the questionable practices in the mortgage foreclosure industry. He has also worked on a bill that would decrease the cost of prescription medicine for senior citizens.
During the last two years, Luis has developed several initiatives designed to improve the lives of his constituents. He is a co-founder, along with State Senator Ruben Diaz, of the Parkchester Public Initiative, and the Castle Hill Community Public Safety project and the West Farms/Lambert Houses Public Safety project. Both are designed to open up the lines of communication between local law enforcement and area residents, as well as to help solidify these relationships in order to engender safer environments for all. He is also the co-founder of the Cross Bronx Initiative, an organization formed to combat the pernicious effects that traffic congestion on that expressway has on the health and commerce of the Bronx.
Luis has also organized several community-based workshops that have provided much needed counsel for the communities that he serves; for example: the Free Tax Preparation Workshop which assisted many who could not afford to have their tax returns prepared by professionals. With the NAACP, Luis also held a free Wills, Trust and Estates forum in Parkchester.
In 2006, Luis was hired as an adjunct professor at Mercy College. Teaching has become a passion of his. At Mercy, Luis teaches Constitutional Law, Business Law, Evidence Law, Introduction to Legal Studies and the Art of Legal Reasoning. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Mercy College Paralegal Studies program. Luis is constantly encouraging his students to become professionals so that they may ultimately position themselves, like him, to give back to their communities.
Luis has long demonstrated his concern for the community, and an unwavering enthusiasm to improve the lives of the residents of the 87th Assembly district that he represents, which includes the neighborhoods of: Castle Hill, Van Nest, West Farms, and Parkchester. And despite Luis’ active schedule, he still manages to be a doting father to his two sons, and a loving husband to his wife.
