City government completed its dramatic shift to the left Wednesday when City Council members loyal to the progressive agenda were awarded with key committee chairmanships.
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito named liberal allies as leaders of the pivotal Finance and Education committees, as well as Health and Environmental Protection.
The appointments “are a reflection of our city’s diversity and values,” said Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx).
The speaker also appointed former labor leader I. Daneek Miller to head the Civil Service and Labor Committee, and her appointee to lead the Transportation Committee put out a statement fully embracing the council’s turn to the far left.
“Now we will begin to steer this body in a progressive direction, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who voted decisively for a break from the past,” said new Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan).
One colleague noted that Rodriguez had drafted several pieces of legislation on transportation during his prior council term.
Freshman Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn) said he would introduce legislation for municipal IDs “regardless of immigration status” when he takes over the Immigration Committee.
While Mark-Viverito took good care of those who supported her in the race for speaker — and left four of her staunchest opponents without leadership roles — she also made some overtures toward unity.
Her chief rival in the speaker’s race, Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan), will helm the Economic Development Committee, while another speaker candidate and non-backer — James Vacca (D-Bronx) — got Technology.
Committee chairs receive up to $25,000 a year above a council member’s salary of $112,500.
Overall, the appointments are expected to mean smooth sailing for much of Mayor de Blasio’s agenda — including the recently announced expansion of paid sick leave.
After weighing in privately during the speaker’s race in support of Mark-Viverito, de Blasio and his team continued to play a role in the assignment of committee chairs, according to sources.
“Lupo was a key guy that people met with to talk about the the committee assignments,” said one Council member.
Newly-appointed Council deputy leader for policy Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) also acknowledged that the mayor’s folks played a role, though he characterized it as a consultative one.
When Mark-Viverito was asked about the level of the mayor’s influence or input in the appointments, she insisted it was “none at all.”
“It’s my decision ultimately,” she said. “The buck stops with me.”
Other appointments included James Van Bramer (D-Queens) as majority leader and chair of Cultural Affairs, David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) as chair of Land Use, and Vanessa Gibbons (D-Bronx) to helm Public Safety.
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the council created a new committee — Recovery and Resiliency — to replace a temporary one on Lower Manhattan. It will be headed by new Brooklyn Council member Mark Treyger.