Toby Ann Stavisky

Toby Ann Stavisky (née Goldhaar, born June 26, 1939) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate, having held a seat since 1999. She represents the 11th district, which comprises parts of Queens.

Life and career Stavisky was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She attended New York City public schools before graduating from Bronx High School of Science. She attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University on an academic scholarship, graduating in 1960. Stavisky completed graduate courses at Hunter College and Queens College.

After working in the actuarial department of a major insurance company, Stavisky taught Social Studies in the New York City high schools. She served as District Manager in Northeast Queens for the Census, where she directed more than 1,000 field and office staff.

Stavisky was married to Dr. Leonard P. Stavisky, a member of the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1983, and of the New York State Senate from 1983 until his death in 1999. Her son, Evan M. Stavisky, is a political consultant as well as a local district leader.

New York Senate Upon the death of her husband in 1999, Stavisky ran and easily won the special election to succeed him. She is the first woman from Queens County elected to the State Senate. When she first won election, the district was predominantly Jewish, but has shifted drastically over the past two decades to become majority Asian American. Stavisky faced primary challenges from Asian-American candidates.

From 2003 to 2008, Stavisky served as Assistant Minority Whip and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Higher Education. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Higher Education. In 2013, Stavisky was appointed to the subcommittee on New York City Education.

In July 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation sponsored by Stavisky and Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal requiring New York colleges to post campus crime statistics on their websites, implement plans for investigating hate crimes on campus, and inform new students about prevention measures.

In December 2024, Hochul signed a bill sponsored by Stavisky and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal requiring large-group private health insurance plans in New York to cover scalp cooling systems, which reduce hair loss during chemotherapy, making New York the first state to mandate such coverage.

In August 2025, Hochul signed a bill sponsored by Stavisky and Assemblymember Nily Rozic requiring every New York college and university to designate a Title VI coordinator to receive and investigate discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Stavisky has claimed that New York's bail reform laws have had no clear impact on the increase in crime.

In 2023, Stavisky's Senate district changed from the 16th to the 11th.