The Bronx coalition of Business Improvement Districts have issued a joint statement on the selection of top New York City Council leadership posts strengthening our borough and placing Bronx council members at the head of some of the most powerful committees in the city.
The statement issued by the Bronx BIDs is as follows:
New York City Council Leadership Posts Announced
Bronx Business Improvement Districts Support Committee Leadership Appointments
Salamanca, Gjonaj, Torres, Gibson, Cohen, Ayala, and Cabrera build the Bronx’s power-base
The Bronx, New York – The Bronx Business Improvement Districts, a coalition of nine (9) business improvement districts representing over one thousand five hundred (1,500) small businesses in the borough, strongly support the New York City Council Committee Leadership appointments announced today by Speaker Corey Johnson. Speaker Johnson, a Manhattan Democrat, outlined his leadership team and Council committee chair and membership assignments during this afternoon’s Stated Meeting. The Bronx Business Improvement Districts noted that the shift in the number of Bronx-led committee leadership positions strengthens the borough and places Councilmembers with significant experience in their respective industries as leaders of some of the Council’s most powerful committees. Similarly, the committee leadership announcements create a more equitable voice for outer borough stakeholders.
Council Member Mark Gjonaj’s selection as Chair of the Council Committee on Small Business was unanimously supported by the Bronx Business Improvement Districts as Gjonaj brings on the ground small business experience to the position and has worked tirelessly to improve his district’s economic development capacity, first as Assembly Member and now as Council Member. Likewise, the selection of Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. as the Council’s Chair of the Land Use Committee highlights Councilmember Salamanca’s experience in working with all stakeholders on land use matters first as District Manager and later as Councilmember with district boundaries including a diverse array of uses; including two (2) business improvement districts, large industrial properties, and rapidly emerging housing developments.
Council Member Vanessa Gibson brings a tremendous amount of experience and intellect as she becomes Chair of the Subcommittee on Budget. This is especially significant as the Bronx has a pipeline of large scale capital projects scheduled for the next five (5) years.
The creation of new leadership positions and committees continues the New York City Council’s plan to modernize and more robustly engage with community stakeholders. In addition to key Council Committee positions, Speaker Johnson named Council Member Laurie Cumbo as Majority Leader. Council Member Fernando Cabrera as Majority Whip, Council Member Robert Cornegy, Jr. as Chair of the Democratic Conference, Council Member Rafael Espinal, Jr. as Deputy Leader for Digital Communication, and Council Member Brad Lander as Deputy Leader for Policy. Councilmember Ritchie Torres has been named as Chair of the Council Committee on Oversight and Investigation, a newly created committee.
“Speaker Johnson’s Council committee and leadership announcements provide insight into his leadership style and future of the New York City Council,” noted the Bronx Business Improvement Districts in a statement. “By selecting committee chairs and leadership with on the ground experience with real world challenges, Speaker Johnson has positioned the Council to bring the conversation of equity to a new level. The Bronx Business Improvement Districts are heartened by the announcement and look forward to working with the Council’s leadership team.”
