Sandra Ung is a lawyer and public servant dedicated to the Queens community. Since taking office as a New York City Council member in January 2022, she has introduced many significant legislative proposals, most of which focus on improving the lives of New York immigrants. Read more at queensyes.com.
Childhood and Education
Sandra Ung was born on September 9, 1974, in Cambodia to a Chinese family. Fleeing genocide, her family moved to Taiwan shortly after her birth. Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime (a guerrilla communist movement) ruthlessly exterminated Cambodians, with estimated death tolls ranging from 1.5 to 3 million. The Khmer Rouge sought to transform Cambodia (then called Democratic Kampuchea) into an agrarian society, forcibly relocating urban residents to rural areas, where they were subjected to forced labor in inhumane conditions, leading to malnutrition and disease. The regime also executed political opponents, ethnic minorities, and religious followers in what became known as the “killing fields.” The elderly, the sick, and sometimes even children were murdered if they were unable to perform hard labor.
At the age of seven, Ung emigrated to the United States with her family. She spent her childhood in Flushing, Queens, a hub for Asian immigrants. The Chinatown in this neighborhood is one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside of Asia. Ung first attended Hunter College in New York City before enrolling in Columbia Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree.
Political Career
Before holding an elected position, Ung was actively involved in New York politics. She served as chief of staff to New York State Assembly member Jimmy Meng, worked in the Office of the New York City Comptroller for Bill Thompson and John Liu, and was an aide to U.S. Representative Grace Meng. Ung assisted constituents with immigration issues, advocated for veterans, and worked on social welfare matters. Additionally, she worked for a nonprofit organization, defending the rights of domestic violence victims.
In July 2020, Sandra Ung announced her candidacy for the New York City Council, representing the 20th District (Flushing). Her candidacy was endorsed by the Queens Democratic Party and Grace Meng. Ung’s lead in the race prompted seven of her opponents to form a coalition in May 2021, urging their supporters to vote for anyone but Ung. Despite this opposition, she won the election.
On January 1, 2022, Sandra Ung assumed office as a New York City Council member. During her first term, she chaired the Committee on Governmental Operations. She led several oversight hearings on public campaign financing in the city, as well as hearings on the New York City Civic Engagement Commission and community boards.
In 2024, Ung was appointed Chair of the Committee on Standards and Ethics. However, in December of that year, she faced criticism for voting against the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity bill, which was ultimately passed by the New York City Council. This legislation aimed to create 80,000 new legal housing units across all boroughs to support middle- and low-income families. For decades, restrictive zoning laws had hindered sufficient housing construction in New York City, leading to severe housing shortages.
Key Achievements
In 2022, home healthcare workers who provide in-home care for patients staged a protest outside Sandra Ung’s office. The protesters demanded that she support the No More 24 Act, which sought to limit working hours. Many caregivers were forced to work 24-hour shifts, and they called for their schedules to be reduced to 12-hour shifts per day and 50 hours per week. Ung proposed that nonprofit employers hire more healthcare workers to distribute the workload. She described the system as unjust and held a rally with SEIU 1199 home healthcare workers, union representatives, and disability rights activists. She urged the state government to eliminate 24-hour shifts and provide necessary funding to hire more medical staff.
Throughout her career, Sandra Ung has fought for women’s rights, particularly for victims of violence, and has made significant contributions to New York City’s youth and environmental policies. As an immigrant herself, she understands the challenges that families face when moving to the United States. During her first term, Ung introduced 29 bills and resolutions, 12 of which were passed between 2022 and 2023. Her initiatives included:
- Redesigning ballots to make them more user-friendly for non-English speakers;
- Improving access to the 311 municipal services hotline for New Yorkers with limited English proficiency;
- Recognizing the Lunar New Year as a federal holiday;
- Expanding financial assistance programs to help residents struggling with utility bills.
Her efforts continue to shape policies that benefit New Yorkers, particularly immigrant communities.