Councilmembers Chi Osse of Brooklyn and Justin Sanchez of the Bronx have been elected co-chairs of the City Council's LGBTQIA+ Caucus, the City Council announced on Feb. 6. The leadership change in the LGBTQIA+ Caucus comes just days after co-chair Erik Bottcher of Manhattan left the City Council to join the New York State Senate. The rest of the caucus includes former co-chairs Crystal Hudson of Brooklyn and Tiffany Caban of Queens, along with Lynn Schulman of Queens and David Carr of Staten Island.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin is making good on her pledge to reinvigorate outdoor dining in the Big Apple. On Wednesday, she announced plans advance legislation to allow restaurants and bars to set up curbside year-round - reversing the winter ban enacted under her car-first predecessor Adrienne Adams. Adams, meanwhile, is Gov. Hochul's new pick to be the state's lieutenant governor, a position currently held by Antonio Delgado, who's gone rogue and is running against Hochul in June's Democratic primary.
The Council had passed on Dec. 18, 2025, a measure Intro. 0276, which would protect high-volume for-hire vehicle drivers, like Uber and Lyft drivers, against unfair deactivations by a 40-7 vote with one abstention, and at the same time approved legislation that would safeguard food delivery workers, Intro. 1332, by 40 to 8 votes. Adams struck down Intro. 0276, but not Intro. 1332, on his last day in office. By law, the Council had to reintroduce Intro. 0276 when the new session convened in January.
The New York City Council on Wednesday unanimously elected Manhattan Council Member Julie Menin as speaker the first Jewish person to hold the post, a role in which she pledged to be a speaker for every single member of this council. Menin was elected during the Council's 2026 Charter Meeting on Jan. 7, opening a new legislative session and continuing a women-majority Council.
Under the proposal, city council members, the mayor, the public advocate, borough presidents and comptroller would get 16% raises, and district attorneys would see a 6% salary increase. Introduction 1493 would have council members give themselves their first raise since 2016, from $148,500 to $172,500. The council based that figure on cost of living, increased job expectations and increases to private, nonprofit and other electeds' salaries in comparable cities, like Chicago.
In response to the horrific antisemitic terror attack in Sydney, Australia, Paladino wrote on Sunday that the world is experiencing a global jihad and argued that governments should begin expelling Muslims or imposing severe sanctions on them within Western countries. She also called for the development of a legal framework for denaturalization, warning of another Sept. 11-style attack.
Outgoing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams will not bring a measure to implement universal daylighting, which would eliminate parking near intersections to make them safer, to a vote before the end of the body's current session. Her decision drew a sharp rebuke from safe streets advocates on Thursday who say the bill's passage is essential toward increasing street safety for pedestrians and drivers alike.
The City Council as a body plays a crucial role in shaping policies for all New York City residents with the speaker standing at the helm. They're responsible for guiding the council's agenda, managing legislative proceedings and appointing committee chairs. The speaker controls the legislative calendar and has a significant influence over which bills advance to vote. Most notably, the speaker serves as a key liaison between the council, the mayor and other city agencies.
Brooks-Powers made history as the first-ever Black woman to serve as Majority Whip of the New York City Council, a leadership position who helps maintain unity amongst the party, and currently chairs the Council's Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Throughout her tenure, Brooks-Powers has dedicated herself to ensuring that southeast Queens and the eastern Rockaway Peninsula receive equitable access to city resources and services.
When I was a child, I was sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein. I could not come forward before. I wasn't ready. Awareness and courage take time. Now I am.
"This information is essential to identify gaps, make smart investments, and create policies that help people build stable, secure lives," said Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, the sponsor of both survey bills.
Chi Ossé explained the generational divide in the Democratic Party, emphasizing a shift in priorities where younger Americans are increasingly frustrated with economic issues, government complacency, and lack of representation.
Affordable housing is the biggest issue facing Lower Manhattan, but instead of giving in to luxury developers and rampant displacement, we've stood up to billionaire real estate tycoons from Tribeca to the Seaport to Two Bridges.
