Meet Speaker Menin

Julie Menin was unanimously elected Speaker of the New York City Council on January 7, 2026. She has led the Council’s efforts to advance economic and housing growth while launching the nation’s largest municipal college savings program, expanding half-price transit discounts, and creating an office to lower healthcare costs.

After her small business was decimated on September 11th, Julie helped guide Lower Manhattan’s recovery as a non-profit founder and Chair of Manhattan Community Board 1. Julie then led the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs and the Office of Media and Entertainment. In 2020, she served as Census Director, when New York finished first among all major cities. Julie is also an attorney and a former adjunct professor at Columbia University, from which she graduated magna cum laude.