Steven David Masters is an experienced attorney with over 30 years working in public policy research, legislative drafting, lobbying, and community organizing. He has held several positions advocating for progressive causes, including senior staff attorney for Philadelphia City Council where he drafted important gun violence prevention and predatory lending legislation. He is licensed to practice law and remains actively involved in his community.

1. STEVEN DAVID MASTERS
621 West Mount Airy Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Email: ishshalom@aya.yale.edu
Cell: 215.284.1622
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Licensed attorney with over three decades of experience in public policy research and
analysis, legislative drafting, lobbying and grassroots advocacy, labor and disability law and
community organizing.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Senior Staff Attorney, PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Philadelphia, PA 2000 to 2012
• Twelve years experience analyzing and researching public policy issues and drafting
legislation for members of Philadelphia City Council including drafting the nation’s strictest
anti-predatory lending law, all recent gun violence prevention bills, including Philadelphia’s
referendum on reducing gun violence which passed by a 4-1 margin, protection of
displaced contract workers, and anti-Wal-Mart zoning legislation. Also lead staff person
for the City Council Nuisance Bars and Stop-N-Gos Task Force.
• Successfully forced the removal of an illegal cell tower erected on a residential lot by
winning appeals against the Zoning Board of Adjustment in Common Pleas,
Commonwealth and Supreme Courts and successfully litigated against the grant of
zoning variance which would have doubled the size of the City’s last XXX adult cinema
through filing an amicus brief and participating in oral argument on behalf of nine
members of City Council, a state representative and the Logan Square Neighborhood
Association.
Associate, MERANZE AND KATZ, Philadelphia, PA 1994 to 1999
• Represented labor unions in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and
arbitrations, individual employees seeking damages for wrongful discharge or
employment discrimination, consumers harmed by unscrupulous businesses and
disabled claimants wrongfully denied social security disability benefits.
Asst. Director & General Counsel, JEWISH PEACE LOBBY, Silver Spring, MD 1991 – 1993
• Established successful in-house telemarketing operation, raised operating budget,
dramatically increased membership, designed and produced all publications,
coordinated grassroots lobbying, and managed daily operations.
Staff Attorney, COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES, Philadelphia, PA 1988 – 1991
• Represented indigent Philadelphians seeking unemployment and social security
disability benefits and protection from abuse orders.
Consul. on Foreign Law, ASSOC. FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN ISRAEL, Jer. Israel 1986 – 1987

2. Executive Director, CITIZENS FOR HANDGUN CONTROL, Boston, MA 1983
• Organized grassroots advocacy campaigns throughout Massachusetts and engaged in
direct lobbying of Massachusetts State Legislature.
Field Director, SAM GEJDENSON FOR CONGRESS, Norwich, CT 1982
National Field Organizer, NAT. COALITION TO BAN HANDGUNS, Wash., DC 1981 - 1982
National Student Field Director, BOB WEINBERGER FOR CONGRESS, Skokie, IL 1980
Founder and President, CT COMM. FOR HANDGUN CONTROL, New Haven, CT 1977-1981
• While a college student, organized a state-wide handgun control group which
successfully won passage of a municipal handgun sales ordinance in New Haven and
a strong handgun carrying law in Connecticut.
EDUCATION
MIDWEST ACADEMY 5 DAY ORGANIZER TRAINING
INDUSTRIAL AREAS FOUNDATION 10 DAY ORGANIZER TRAINING
Juris Doctor, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Boston, MA
Honors: National Lawyers Guild Summer Internship with Klanwatch Project.
Public Interest Project Summer Fellowship with Center for Law and Education.
B.A. in Political Science, YALE COLLEGE, New Haven, CT
Senior Essay: Who Can Be Opposed to Giving Equal Rights to Women? An Examination of
the Group Dynamics of the Opposition Movement to the Equal Rights Amendment.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• Elected Democratic Committeeperson, 9th Ward, 15th Division (2004-current)
• Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia Board (1995–current)
• Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee Board (1995–current)
• J Street Education Fund National Board (2010)
• Inaugural Fellow, Center for Progressive Leadership (2005-2006)
• Vice President for Quality of Life, West Mount Airy Neighbors (2005-2006)
• Founding board member, National Chair for Advocacy and Public Policy, National
Spokesperson and National President, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, Jewish Alliance for Justice and
Peace (2002 to 2010)
• Alternate Delegate at the 1984 Democratic Party National Convention in San Francisco
committee to George McGovern
INTERESTS
Enjoy long distance bicycling, ashtanga yoga, music and progressive politics.
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