City Hall, NY – Speaker Adrienne Adams today announced the New York City Council committee chairs and leadership.
“I am proud to announce our City Council’s Leadership, as well as committee chairs and assignments. This is the most diverse City Council in history, and each member’s experiences and expertise will shape the important work of our legislative body,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I am confident that this City Council will work together to achieve our shared goal of providing strong oversight as a co-equal branch of city government and improving the lives of every New Yorker. We are unified and ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
LEADERSHIP
Adams (Speaker)
Ayala (Deputy Speaker)
Powers (Majority Leader)
Borelli (Minority Leader)
Brooks-Powers (Majority Whip)
Vernikov (Minority Whip)
Brewer
Brannan
Hudson
Salamanca
AGING
Hudson, Chair
Dinowitz
Lee
Marte
Mealy
Richardson Jordan
Schulman
“It was my experience as a caregiver for my mother that propelled me into public service. After she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I learned how hard it was to navigate the complex, bureaucratic systems established to gatekeeper the resources and services were needed,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “I’m honored to chair the Aging Committee and work to ensure all older adults can age safely with dignity at home in the city they’ve made and call home. As caregivers like myself know all too well, older adults are at the mercy of deeply deficient systems – from housing to long term care to food insecurity to nursing home care. My goal as Chair is to focus not only on issues directly impacting older adults but also on the realities facing the ever-growing care economy that is in deep need of transformation. All of us who are lucky enough will age – it’s my hope as Chair that we do so with dignity and self-determination. In my late mother’s honor, I will fight to ensure older adults are finally prioritized at all levels of city government.”
CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Williams, Chair
Joseph
Marte
Richardson Jordan
Salamanca
Vernikov
CIVIL SERVICE AND LABOR
De La Rosa, Chair
Bottcher
Cabán
Dinowitz
Feliz
Hanks
Joseph
Menin
Moya
Nurse
“I thank Speaker Adams for giving me the honor of chairing the committee on Civil Service and Labor. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment when our city is still recovering from a global health pandemic that has left workers in need of adequate protections and dignified wages. I look forward to building coalitions with our partners in organized labor to ensure that the collective bargaining powers of our city’s workers are strengthened and upheld as we prepare our workforce for the challenges ahead,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.
CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS LICENSING
Velázquez, Chair
Abreu
Bottcher
Brewer
Farías
Krishnan
Menin
Ossé
Won
“It’s an honor to be appointed as the Chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. Before entering the City Council, I advocated on behalf of workers, unions, and consumers to make sure they were safeguarded at home and in the workplace. I look forward to continuing that work to make sure all New Yorkers feel protected. I am also delighted to be appointed to the Finance, Health, Parks, Sanitation, Small Business, and Oversight Committees. These issues touch the lives of all New Yorkers and there is so much good work to be done. I want to thank Speaker Adams for placing this trust in me and I look forward to having a fruitful partnership working on these issues.”
CONTRACTS
Won, Chair
Ariola
Gennaro
Holden
Lee
Nurse
Restler
“With a decade of experience spanning from technology, integrated supply chain, government contracts, procurement oversight, finance, and digital strategy– I am thrilled to announce I will be chairing the Contracts Committee.As chair, I will bring comprehensive oversight to ensure our government operates effectively and efficiently with the application of our city resources. I will be unrelenting in rooting out waste and unethical spending to bring accountability to our procurement policies and procedures,” said Council Member Julie Won. “I’m grateful to Speaker Adams for entrusting me with the responsibility of modernizing and reforming our city’s contracting and procurement process.”
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Rivera, Chair
Abreu
Carr
Hanif
Narcisse
Restler
Schulman
Stevens
“I am thankful to serve New York City as Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice—an opportunity I do not take lightly. I am humbled by this responsibility to New Yorkers and am prepared to do everything in my capacity as Chair to shed light on the systemic inequities rampant in these spaces. We must center humanity for all involved in the criminal legal system, starting with addressing the massive public health crisis within our jails,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “These challenges are something both inherited and familiar with my tenure in the Council, and addressing the inhumane circumstances that exist around many of these issues, especially health care, is urgent. I look forward to working with Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, advocates, and the members of the committee to make it happen for New York City.”
CULTURAL AFFAIRS, LIBRARIES AND INTERNATIONAL INTERGROUP RELATIONS
Ossé, Chair
Dinowitz
Farías
Hanif
Hudson
Louis
Joseph
Ung
“New York City is the undisputed cultural capital of the world. I have been deeply privileged to experience and contribute to it in my life,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “I proudly recognize the obligation and ability of good government to protect and foster our arts and culture; I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve Unique New York.”
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Farías, Chair
Avilés
Gutiérrez
Kagan
Riley
Salamanca
Williams
“I am thrilled to announce that I will be serving as the Chair of the Committee in Economic Development. This position will give me the opportunity to oversee legislation that affects our small businesses and hard-working families the most. Moving forward, I’m interested in ensuring that all businesses have access to the resources that will help them succeed — from long time, family owned businesses, to new sectors looking to invest in our communities across the city. The top priority for me as Chair is supporting our small businesses while we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. I have spent years advocating for workers rights and for the longevity and success of our city’s businesses and this year will be no different. As Chair, I look forward to increasing our oversight on our City’s spending and budgeting, and want to allocate the dollars we need to keep our city moving forward – such as properly funding our Ferry System to expand service. I am excited by the prospects of many emerging industries and am ready to work to bolster New York’s economic development. Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams for the trust and appointment, and I look forward to working with her, my colleagues, and Mayor Eric Adams and his administration to make our city’s economy more inclusive for all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.
EDUCATION
Joseph, Chair
Abreu
Avilés
De La Rosa
Dinowitz
Feliz
Gennaro
Gutiérrez
Hanif
Hanks
Krishnan
Lee
Louis
Marte
Menin
Narcisse
Restler
Sanchez
Schulman
Stevens
Ung
“It is an honor of a lifetime to have been selected the Education Chairwoman of the New York City Council,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “I thank Speaker Adams for trusting me with this responsibility, especially as the first Black woman to chair the committee in over 20 years. For the last 22 years, I have diligently served as a public school teacher at PS6. Working on behalf of my students and their families was one of the great joys in my life. Now, as Chairwoman of the Education Committee, I will be afforded the opportunity to advocate on behalf of students not just at PS6, but all over New York City. My students may not be able to vote, but now, they have a voice. I look forward to the work to come.”
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Gennaro, Chair
Gutiérrez
Hanks
Kagan
Menin
Moya
Nurse
Restler
FINANCE
Brannan, Chair
Ayala
Barron
Brewer
Brooks-Powers
Carr
Farías
Hanks
Hudson
Kagan
Louis
Ossé
Powers
Sanchez
Velázquez
Won
“I thank Speaker Adams for giving me this enormous responsibility and opportunity to serve,” said Council Member Justin Brannan. “I intend to use this position to ensure our city delivers for all the hardworking New Yorkers who have felt overlooked, ignored, and shut out of their government. New Yorkers pay a tremendous amount of taxes and rightfully expect to see a tangible return on their investment. My charge is to make sure we are spending wisely, safeguarding our city’s financial future, and fortifying the city’s social safety net for New Yorkers who need it most. Our recovery will not be exclusive to the privileged or the powerful. Our recovery will be for everyone. No matter if you’ve been a New Yorker since birth or since breakfast, we all deserve to live in a safe, clean, fair, and thriving city where nobody slips through the cracks. Let’s get to work!”
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Ariola, Chair
Carr
De La Rosa
Feliz
Gennaro
Holden
Louis
Riley
Schulman
Yeger
“I am honored to have been appointed Chair of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management,” said Council Member Joann Ariola. “In light of what has happened in our city over the past few weeks where lives were lost, but more lives were saved due to the outstanding efforts of the Fire Department, NYC’s Department of Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Department, my committee and I will work tirelessly to make sure they have the necessary resources needed to continue saving lives. Chairing this important committee will also help me better serve my own district, which consists of historical districts and communities where many of the homes are wood framed and can easily catch fire.”
GENERAL WELFARE
Ayala, Chair
Cabán
Hudson
Lee
Ossé
Restler
Riley
Stevens
Ung
Williams
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
Ung, Chair
Brewer
Dinowitz
Hanif
Restler
Schulman
“As chair of the Committee on Government Operations, I look forward to working with Speaker Adams and my colleagues as we enter the new year,” said Council Member Sandra Ung, who represents District 20. “As chair, I am committed to ensuring that the agencies that New Yorkers deal with every day operate in a fair and just way. With a historically diverse City Council, one of my priorities will be increasing the accessibility of government for immigrant and underserved New Yorkers from across the five boroughs.”
HEALTH
Schulman, Chair
Ariola
Barron
Feliz
Hudson
Narcisse
Velázquez
Yeger
“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected by my colleagues to serve as the Chair of the Health Committee,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “I have dedicated my personal and professional life to health care advocacy and look forward to helping my constituents and all New Yorkers accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare.”
HIGHER EDUCATION
Dinowitz, Chair
Barron
Brewer
Feliz
Vernikov
HOSPITALS
Narcisse, Chair
Barron
Brooks-Powers
Gutiérrez
Joseph
Moya
Rivera
“I am honored to be chosen by Speaker Adams, and I am fully ready to take my first-hand experience and do all I can to insure that doctors, nurses and all hospital staff have the resources available to them to provide the best healthcare to all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. “This is a pivotal time for our city as we continue to battle the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has decimated our hospitals. In particular, NYC Health and Hospitals facilities and safety net hospitals in traditionally undeserved communities need a lifeline and our immediate attention so they can flourish, and not merely survive. Further, community health centers in high-risk neighborhoods continue to be limited and under resourced. We must provide greater access to these vital segments of our healthcare system. It is deplorable that in 2022 the color of one’s skin, and economic status correlates to the quality of healthcare one receives. I’m ready to get to work.”
HOUSING AND BUILDINGS
Sanchez, Chair
Avilés
Barron
Cabán
Dinowitz
Feliz
Hudson
Kagan
Rivera
“At a time when our City faces an ongoing housing crisis, I cannot be more proud to be appointed to chair the City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings,” said Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez. “In the last two weeks, we have witnessed the devastating impact of the Twin Parks 5 Alarm Fire and South Bronx fire due to neglected buildings and gas leaks, claiming the lives of 18 New Yorkers, our neighbors. The City’s affordable housing crisis, disproportionately impacting low- to moderate-income communities and communities of color for years, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding health and economic fallout. Only 18% of renter-occupied homes are well maintained by landlords, up to 70% of the lowest-income households live in homes they cannot afford, nearly 300,000 evictions have been filed in the state with a lifted eviction moratorium, and our buildings still emit unsustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions and pollutions. In this dire context, the work of this committee and of housing advocates and of leaders in the City of New York could not be more important. I am energized to serve alongside a Speaker, City Council and Mayor who are committed to working hard to protect tenants demanding safe, healthy, quality and affordable housing, and fighting against harassment, neglect, and speculative landlords.”
IMMIGRATION
Hanif, Chair
De La Rosa
Joseph
Krishnan
Moya
Sanchez
Ung
Won
“As the daughter of two working-class Bangladeshi immigrants, I am deeply honored to be selected as the next chair of our City Council’s Immigration Committee,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Millions of immigrants call our city home, and as the new chair of this committee, it is my duty to ensure their voices are heard, and their rights are respected. There is so much work to be done to ensure we keep ICE, and organizations that contract with the rogue federal agency, out of our city. We will also make certain the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs fulfills its obligations to the millions of immigrants that call this city their home. I look forward to working with my council colleagues to see a smooth implementation of the Our City, Our Vote legislation and transform language access in New York City.”
LAND USE
Salamanca, Chair
Borelli
Bottcher
Brooks-Powers
Hanks
Kagan
Krishnan
Louis
Mealy
Moya
Riley
Rivera
Sanchez
“As the city navigates its future in the COVID-19 landscape, the New York City Council will continue to play a pivotal role in providing and obtaining essential resources on behalf of all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca. “Working with Speaker Adams, the Council’s Leadership Team, and my colleagues, I will passionately advocate for those historically underserved communities. I thank Speaker Adams for selecting me to be a part of the Council’s Leadership Team, as well as placing her faith in me to continue as the Chair of the Committee on Land Use. The critical need for quality, truly affordable housing has only intensified by the global pandemic. I look forward to working with my colleagues to shape and create appropriate, pro-community development within their districts.”
MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITIES, AND ADDICTIONS
Lee, Chair
Abreu
Ayala
Bottcher
Cabán
Hanif
Mealy
Paladino
Williams
“I’m honored to serve as Chair of the Mental Health Committee,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “The mental health, disability, and addiction problems plaguing our City are more dire than they’ve been in decades. Pandemic-driven stress, housing insecurity, unemployment, and other issues have exacerbated deep-rooted issues in our city, and if we want to bring NYC back following the pandemic, we must acknowledge that these problems are complex, interrelated, and require multi-faceted solutions. We must also address the fact that our neighbors with disabilities are often an afterthought in a city whose infrastructure wasn’t designed for their needs. I’m committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to, and feel comfortable seeking out mental health, support, and diversion programs while also standing up for New York City taxpayers’ right to see our dollars being spent in ways that tangibly approve the quality of life in our city.”
OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
Brewer, Chair
Ayala
Joseph
Krishnan
Salamanca
Williams
Won
Velázquez
Yeger
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that the concerns of New Yorkers are addressed in a thoughtful and effective manner,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “I’m grateful to have been entrusted by Speaker Adrienne Adams and fellow council members with the responsibility that comes with leading the Oversight and Investigations Committee. This committee has a crucial role in ensuring that laws are implemented effectively, that agencies are managed well and with integrity, and that government truly works for all.”
PARKS AND RECREATION
Krishnan, Chair
Carr
Dinowitz
Holden
Lee
Marte
Menin
Narcisse
Restler
Ung
Velázquez
“I’m honored to be Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation and grateful to Speaker Adams for this appointment,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. I am looking forward to working with Speaker Adams and our colleagues. In this city, where we live affects everything around us, including our access to green space and all the benefits that come with it. As the pandemic has shown us, we must invest in our parks with the same urgency as our subways, our hospitals, and our schools. This is especially true for our most vulnerable communities. Our parks are a matter of social justice.”
PUBLIC HOUSING
Avilés, Chair
Ayala
Barron
De La Rosa
Mealy
Ossé
Restler
Salamanca
Sanchez
Won
“I am honored to serve as Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Public Housing,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “NYCHA was one of the first public housing authorities to ever break ground and is the largest in North America. With capital needs alone of $40 billion and growing, we will have our work cut out for us. I commit to protect, preserve, and invest in NYCHA, to hold contractors, elected officials, and the agency accountable, and to serve the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who call NYCHA home. I will fight to keep public housing as a public good and to advance a vision for public housing that is resident-led and centered.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
Hanks, Chair
Ariola
Bottcher
Brannan
Cabán
De La Rosa
Holden
Joseph
Mealy
Moya
Stevens
“I am honored to have been appointed Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Public Safety,” said Council Member Kamillah Hanks. “I thank Speaker Adams for placing her trust in me to lead this vital committee. The people of the City of New York need to feel safe in their homes and communities, and public safety is of the utmost importance to the success of our City.
“I look forward to working with Speaker Adams, my fellow committee members, Mayor Adams, NYPD Commissioner Sewell and the department, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, our District Attorneys, and communities across New York to ensure safety is advanced in our City.”
RESILIENCY AND WATERFRONTS
Kagan, Chair
Ariola
Gennaro
Marte
Nurse
Paladino
“As the Council Member representing Southern Brooklyn communities, I am excited to work in my new capacity as Chair of Resiliency and Waterfront Committee,” said Council Member Ari Kagan. “Our area suffered tremendously from Superstorm Sandy and recently from Ida Storm. We need substantial city, state and federal resources and careful long-term planning to prepare the entire New York City for future storms, flooding and other natural disasters. I am grateful to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for giving me this opportunity to Chair this important Committee and to make a difference for all New Yorkers, especially in waterfront areas like Southern Brooklyn.”
RULES, PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS
Powers, Chair
Adams
Brannan
Brewer
Brooks-Powers
Hudson
Salamanca
Sanchez
“I’m honored to serve as Majority Leader and Chair of the Rules, Privileges, & Elections Committee, and thank Speaker Adams for selecting me for these roles,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “From economic recovery to climate change, I look forward to working together to make New York stronger, better, and more just than ever before.”
SANITATION AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Nurse, Chair
Bottcher
Farías
Gennaro
Menin
Ossé
Richardson Jordan
Salamanca
Velázquez
Williams
“I am thrilled to be appointed Chair of the Sanitation Committee today,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “A fully functioning Department of Sanitation and private waste sector are essential to the health, security, and future of our city. I am honored by the opportunity to help lead on an issue that impacts every single New Yorker.”
SMALL BUSINESS
Menin, Chair
Brooks-Powers
Cabán
Krishnan
Mealy
Ung
Velázquez
“As a former small business owner and Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs where I lowered fines on small businesses, I ran for City Council on a platform to help support our struggling small businesses with a detailed plan of action focused on reducing onerous fines, implementing legacy small business legislation, reducing the commercial rent tax and creating a one stop portal for licenses and permits. I thank Speaker Adams for entrusting me to protect the over 200,000 small businesses within our city and the hundreds of thousands of workers who depend on them for their livelihood as well as the millions of New Yorkers who use our small businesses every day. Small businesses are literally the backbone of our city and critical to bringing New York City back.” said Council Member Julie Menin.
STANDARDS AND ETHICS
Yeger, Chair
Dinowitz
Hudson
Rivera
Vernikov
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Abreu, Chair
De La Rosa
Gennaro
Gutiérrez
Moya
“I’m grateful to Speaker Adams for trusting me to lead the Committee on State and Federal Legislation, and I look forward to partnering with her on this body of work. Many of the challenges facing our city are exacerbated or relieved as a result of state and federal action or inaction, including gun violence, tenant rights, mental health, fire safety, and educational programming. Coordination at every level is crucial for making New York a better place to live, work, and learn,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu.
TECHNOLOGY
Gutiérrez, Chair
Abreu
Holden
Paladino
Won
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Brooks-Powers, Chair
Ariola
Carr
Farías
Kagan
Lee
Louis
Narcisse
Restler
Stevens
Velázquez
Williams
Won
Yeger
“I am honored to have been appointed by Speaker Adams and serve my fellow New Yorkers as Chair of the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” said Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “Our city deserves a transportation system that is reliable, accessible, affordable, and safe. We will work to improve the service of our public transportation network, shrink transit deserts across the five boroughs, and connect all New Yorkers to economic opportunities. Together we will address our city’s most pressing transportation needs, eradicate systemic barriers, and build a more equitable system for all New Yorkers.”
VETERANS
Holden, Chair
Ariola
Dinowitz
Nurse
Paladino
Richardson Jordan
“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Committee on Veterans because we can never do enough for our veterans after the service they have performed for us all,” said Council Member Robert Holden. “I look forward to conducting hearings and listening to veterans and advocates to make sure their needs are being met. I will work every day to take care of our city’s veterans and make them a priority, coordinating closely with the Department of Veterans’ Services. No one who has served our country in the armed forces should be left behind.”
WOMEN AND GENDER EQUITY
Cabán, Chair
Gennaro
Gutiérrez
Richardson Jordan
Riley
Stevens
“I am grateful to the Speaker for the exciting opportunity to chair the Women and Gender Equity committee. Especially as the first ever majority-woman Council gets underway, I look forward to working with my colleagues to use this position to provide supports to survivors of gender-based violence, guarantee dignified conditions for workers in traditionally-gendered professions, and shift resources and power away from patriarchal systems of violence and punishment,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.
YOUTH SERVICES
Stevens, Chair
Avilés
Ossé
Richardson Jordan
Riley
Williams
“There are not enough words that can explain how ecstatic I am to be appointed to the Youth Services chair,” said Council Member Althea Stevens. “I’m dedicated to implementing beneficial changes as our youth deserves our support at full capacity. Soon our youth will be in our seats and it’s our job to provide a platform for their success.”
AGING SUBCOMMITTEE
SENIOR CENTERS AND FOOD INSECURITY
Mealy, Chair
Brannan
Dinowitz
Lee
Marte
HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE
COVID-19 RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY
Moya, Chair
Ayala
Brannan
Brewer
Brooks-Powers
Narcisse
Rivera
“We’ve seen the toll of COVID-19 over the past two years across New York City––and my district was the epicenter. As we continue to be challenged by an ever-evolving pandemic, we need to ensure that federal and state funding are being appropriately directed to protect and provide relief to our most vulnerable communities and neighborhoods. I am grateful to the Speaker for this opportunity as we work to build a more resilient and equitable city,” said Council Member Francisco Moya.
LAND USE SUBCOMMITTEES
LANDMARKS, PUBLIC SITING AND MARITIME USES
Louis, Chair
De La Rosa
Feliz
Holden
Marte
Nurse
Ung
Vernikov
“New York City is renowned for its rich architecture and beautiful neighborhoods that are emblematic of our cultural diversity and historic moments that have been pivotal to our advancements in equity, justice, and representation. It is important that we preserve these spaces for future generations to explore and cherish their significance in who we are as New Yorkers. I look forward to chairing the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, and Dispositions and working with my colleagues in the New York City Council to ensure that we exercise due diligence in protecting our past as we build towards our future,” said Council Member Farah Louis.
ZONING AND FRANCHISES
Riley, Chair
Abreu
Bottcher
Carr
Hanks
Louis
Moya
Schulman
TASK FORCES
TWIN PARKS CITYWIDE TASK FORCE ON FIRE PREVENTION
Feliz, Chair
Ariola
Avilés
Farías
Sanchez
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