The council (which also goes by other names, like the city board, city aldermen, and city selectmen) is the legislative branch of your local government, passing laws and setting budgets. It can make your life a lot easier or a lot more frustrating, depending on what’s being decided. The structure of a council can vary widely, but most include elected representatives who represent specific districts or wards, and they often serve staggered terms so that new ideas can come in periodically.
A council’s structure can have a big impact on its decisions. Some cities have at-large elections, meaning that every resident votes for the entire council; other places have a district or ward system in which each member is accountable to residents in their own area. The number of members can also be important, because it determines how much representation each person has, and how many voices are being heard.
Advocates have praised this council for its work on homelessness issues, including expanding housing voucher eligibility and approving a 99-year sublease of the Jacobi Hospital campus to the Fortune Society for supportive housing for people exiting Rikers and other prisons. They’ve also been pleased by the council’s willingness to conduct public oversight of the mayor’s administration, with hearings on everything from the municipal workforce shortage to the city jail system. They’ve also lauded efforts to tackle long-term goals, such as requiring zero-emissions vehicles and permanent residential curbside composting, while trying to address immediate concerns, like a ban on unsafe e-bikes and e-scooters.
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