Peter Koo
Peter Ah-Ming Koo is a Chinese American politician who represented the 20th district of the New York City Council from 2010 to 2021. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Bayside, College Point, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows and Whitestone in Queens.
Koo and Manhattan Council member Margaret Chin comprise the Asian-American delegation of the council.
Life and career
Koo is a Chinese American born in Shanghai in 1952. Prior to immigrating to the United States in 1971, he lived in the former British Hong Kong. Graduating from the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy in 1975 where he paid his way through by working minimum wage jobs at Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin' Donuts, Koo is a pharmacist who developed a five-store chain of pharmacies called Starside Drugs Pharmacy.He has been a member of Queens Community Board 7. Previously, he unsuccessfully challenged local state senator Toby Ann Stavisky in 2008. He has been called the "Mayor" of Flushing.
In January 2012, Koo changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.
In 2018, Koo proposed legislation before being term limited out of The New York City Council to ban smoking cigarettes while walking.
New York City Council
Koo was elected to the city council seat on November 3, 2009, defeating Democratic Party nominee Yen Chou, Working Families Party nominee S.J. Jung, and Green Party nominee Evergreen Chou. He assumed the position that was held by John Liu, the New York City Comptroller. He was term limited out of office at the end of 2021.Koo serves on the following New York City Council committees:
- Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing
- Economic Development
- Land Use
- * Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses
- Parks and Recreation
- Technology
- Transportation
- Black, Latino/a, and Asian Caucus
Personal life