Born and raised in Brooklyn, Rafael Espinal became New York’s youngest elected official at age 26 when he joined the State Assembly. The son of Dominican immigrant union members and freelancers, Rafael has dedicated his career to advocating for workers, small businesses, artists, low-income communities, and the environment. In 2013, he was elected to the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s diverse and vibrant 37th District.
As a council member, Rafael championed transformative initiatives to uplift underserved communities. He secured historic funding for affordable housing development in East New York and Bushwick and led efforts to advance environmental policy and infrastructure investments to combat climate injustice. Among his accomplishments was negotiating a $250 million comprehensive investment plan for his district, one of New York City’s most underserved areas.
Rafael also spearheaded critical worker protections. He co-sponsored the landmark Freelance Isn’t Free legislation in 2016, giving freelancers groundbreaking protections from nonpayment and late payment. As Chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing, he supported the Paid Sick Leave Law and introduced the nation’s first “Right to Disconnect” bill in 2019, ensuring employees’ rights to disconnect from work communications outside business hours.
Since becoming Executive Director of the Freelancers Union in March 2020, Rafael has expanded his advocacy for independent workers nationwide. He has successfully extended the Freelance Isn’t Free legislation to New York, Illinois, and California, established a free legal clinic for freelancers, and created the Freelance Relief Fund to support workers during crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he fought tirelessly for unemployment assistance for independent workers.
Recognized for his visionary leadership, Time Out magazine named Rafael a New Yorker of the Year in 2017 for his role in repealing the discriminatory “no dancing” Cabaret Law and establishing New York City’s Office of Nightlife.
As the third leader of Freelancers Union since its founding in 1995, Rafael is dedicated to amplifying the voices of freelancers, strengthening the movement, and empowering independent workers to thrive in an ever-changing economy.
