Episode 161 with Tommy John Schiavoni, Assemblyman for the 1st District of the New York State Assembly

Today we sit down Tommy John Schiavoni, Assemblyman for the 1st District of the New York State Assembly.Tommy John’s family has called the East End home for generations, and his own journey began in Sag Harbor, where his upbringing and his family’s plumbing and heating business shaped his early perspective. He went on to spend more than 30 years teaching social studies, helping young people understand history, government, and civic responsibility, before moving into public service at the local level on zoning boards, the school board, and the Southampton Town Council.In 2024, he was elected to the State Assembly, succeeding longtime Assemblyman Fred Thiele. Now representing the East End in Albany, he’s working on issues ranging from environmental protection and affordable housing to public transit and recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation.In our conversation, we’ll talk about his family roots, his career in education, the path that brought him into government, and what he sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our community today.