The New York City Council is a unicameral body consisting of 51 members, each elected from a geographic district, normally for four-year terms. Out of the 51 council districts in New York City, 10 districts are located in the borough of Manhattan (1 through 10).
Similar to Congress at the federal level, the Council are New York City’s legislative body. The Council is separate from the Mayor’s administration but an equal partner in how our City is run.
Primarily, the council serves as a check against the mayor in so called the mayor-council government model. The council monitors the performance of city agencies and makes land use decisions as well as introducing and voting on legislation having to do with all aspects of City life. The city council also has sole responsibility for approving the city budget (similar to how congress approves budget at the federal level).
Current Leadership
The Speaker
The Speaker is elected by Council Members and leads the City Council in setting priorities, passing laws, and directing public money for the benefit of New Yorkers. Proposed legislation is submitted through the Speaker’s Office. Currently, Speaker Corey Johnson heads the Council.
The Majority Leader
The Majority Leader of the Council comes from the political party with the most representation. Currently, the Majority Leader is Democrat Laurie Cumbo of District 35 in Brooklyn, leading 48 democrat council members throughout the city.
The Minority Leader
The Minority Leader of the Council comes from the political party with the second most representation. Currently, the Minority Leader is Republican Steven Matteo of District 50 on Staten Island, leading 3 republican council members.
Current Council Members in Manhattan
District #1 – Battery Park City, Civic Center, Chinatown, Financial District, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, NoHo, SoHo, South Street Seaport, South Village, TriBeCa & Washington Square. Council Member: Margaret S. Chin
District #2 – East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, Lower East Side, Murray Hill, Rose Hill. Council Member: Carlina Rivera
District #3 -Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Greenwich Village, West SoHo, Hudson Square, Times Square, Garment District, Flatiron, Upper West Side. Council Member: Corey Johnson
District #4 – Upper East Side, Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, Central Park South, Midtown East, Times Square, Koreatown, Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, Waterside Plaza, Tudor City, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, Sutton Place. Council Member: Keith Powers
District #5 – Upper East Side’s Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, Roosevelt Island, Midtown East, Sutton Place, El Barrio in East Harlem. Council Member: Ben Kallos
District #6 – Central Park, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Clinton. Council Member: Helen Rosenthal
District #7 – Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights. Council Member: Mark Levine
District #8 – El Barrio/East Harlem, Mott Haven, Highbridge, Concourse, Longwood, Port Morris. Council Member: Diana Ayala
District #9 – Central Harlem, Morningside Heights, Upper West Side, East Harlem. Council Member: Bill Perkins
District #10 – Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill. Council Member: Ydanis Rodriguez
