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DAVID ROZEN ASSISTANT COUNSEL, STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S RECORDS ACCESS OFFICE
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hen New York City saw its first case of Ebola last year, David Rozen and his colleagues at the state Department of Health had to go through about 20,000 emails. While Rozen’s job as assistant counsel at the department’s Records Access Office is always fast-paced, he said dealing with the Ebola situation was particularly challenging. “We wanted to get the information to the public as quickly as possible … while not creating public panic and also within the limit of the law,” he said. For Rozen, a routine day at work involves dealing with Freedom of Information Law requests for documents on hydrofracking to immunization records, but he says his commitment to civic engagement extends beyond work. In his free time, he volunteers with youth organizations such as the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, New Leaders Council and Pride Center of the Capital Region. He says he wants to empower young people and make sure they know their voices matter. “Instead of saying you don’t like how things are, change them,” Rozen said. “Everyone thinks to create change at the federal level, but really, everything happens at the state and local level.”
foundation of a healthy democratic political system: honesty, fairness, transparency, accountability, competition and informed citizen participation. It should be possible for every citizen, not just those who are wealthy and well-connected, to run for public office and have their voices heard.” —AP
If you could have any hero superpower, what would it be? “The Zack Morris (“Saved by the Bell”) ‘time out’ superpower that allows me to pause any moment and alter the situation and future.” If you could change one thing about state government, what would it be? “Campaign finance reform. We must preserve and strengthen those values and qualities that are the cityandstateny.com
Age: 28