Rob Byrnes is the president of the
East Midtown Partnership, which
is a business improvement district
encompassing all or parts of 47 blocks of
Midtown Manhattan.
Since 2002, Rob has led the
organization’s efforts to improve the
quality of life in the district and promote
commercial activity. Over the years, he
has brought inclusionary programming
to East Midtown, including a Lunar New
Year event highlighting Asian culture and,
more recently, a month-long celebration
of WorldPride/Stonewall 50 in 2019.
Rob
Byrnes
East Midtown Partnership
That event included a block party with
SUNY Pride, displays of panels from the
AIDS Memorial Quilt at sites throughout
the district, and fundraising activities
with The Trevor Project, among other
components.
Rob is a former co-chair and longtime
member of the board of directors of the
NYC BID Association. He is also the author
of six novels, including “When the Stars
Come Out,” which won a 2006 Lambda
Literary Award, and “Straight Lies,” a 2009
Lambda Literary Award finalist.
In 2016, Rob was inducted into the Hall
of Fame of the Saints & Sinners Literary
Festival, for which he funds an annual
Emerging Writer Award, and he serves on
the steering committee for The Publishing
Triangle, an association of LGBTQ people
in publishing.
A native of Rochester and graduate
of Union College in Schenectady, Rob
previously served as chief of staff to
two New York State assemblymembers
and director of business Services at the
Madison Avenue BID. He currently lives in
Jersey City with Brady Allen, his partner
of 18 years.
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