News from Council Member Jumaane Williams

Brooklyn, NY-City— Council Member Jumaane D. Williams and 12 other members of the New York City Council announced the formation of the Progressive Caucus of the New York City Council, which Councilman Brad Lander will co-chair. The Progressive Caucus will push for a more just, more equal city that offers genuine opportunity to all New Yorkers. 

 

"We believe that most New Yorkers want a more just, more equal city," said Councilman Williams. "As we work to pull out of an economic crisis that has left so many of our neighbors without jobs or homes, we must plan a recovery that diversifies our economy and looks to narrow the growing economic divide."

 

The other members who announced the Caucus's formation today were: Margaret Chin (Manhattan), Daniel Dromm (Queens) Julissa Ferreras (Queens), Melissa Mark-Viverito (Manhattan-Bronx), Rosie Mendez (Manhattan), Annabel Palma (Bronx), Ydanis Rodriguez (Manhattan), Debi Rose (Staten Island) and Jimmy Van Bramer (Queens). Councilmember Mark-Viverito will join Councilmember Lander as the Caucus Co-Chairs. Other Council Members who share the goals of the Caucus will be invited to join.

 

Like Council Members Lander and Williams, many of these Council Members were part of a sweep of progressive Democrats into the City Council and citywide offices last year.

 

Building upon the passage of historic health care legislation in Congress, many Council Members see a need to tackle similar progressive issues at the local level. The Caucus plans to begin its work by focusing on several key issues facing the City Council:

 

    * pushing for passage of the Paid Sick Days bill, which would cover the more than 1 million working New Yorkers who don't currently receive a single paid sick day from their employers;

    * addressing the Section 8 voucher crisis created by Bloomberg Administration mismanagement, which is putting thousands of families at risk of homelessness;

    * and shifting to an economic development policy focused on creating quality jobs, in diverse economic sectors, and strengthening neighborhoods from the inside.