Adrienne Adams becomes New York City Council’s first Black Speaker

Photo credit: Dave Sanders

NYC Council overwhelmingly elected on January 5, 2022, by a vote of 49 in the affirmative and two in the negative, its first Black Speaker, Adrienne Adams, for a term ending December 31, 2023.

Council Members Charles Barron and Kristin Richardson Jordan, representing New York City’s 42nd and 9th City Council districts, voted no.

“Support the people over your personal ambitions,” said Council Members Charles Barron while Richardson Jordan stated: “We need more than symbolic representation.”

“We are excited to begin anew with Speaker Adams the work of lifting up our city’s more than five million New Yorkers of color, who face the steepest climb in its fledgling recovery, and work to promote equity, opportunity, and safety with dignity for our entire city,” said the New York City Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus in a statement. “Congratulations, Madame Speaker!”

NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams will lead the historic Council’s first women majority.

Speaker Adams represents Council District 28 in Queens, which covers the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park. During the last legislative session, Speaker Adams served as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, which has oversight over the New York Police Department. Before being appointed to chair the Committee on Public Safety, Speaker Adams was Chair of the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings and Dispositions. She also served as Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus (BLAC).

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