Most of the readers of our weekly Pol Position are fairly aware of the significance of the speaker of the city council. Manhattan’s Julie Menin now has the support of the majority of the city council to be the speaker, replacing Adrienne Adams. Considered the second most powerful person in the city, in past decades city council speakers have tied, in vein, to subsequently run for mayor. We call it the 11% candidate, because most who have tried in recent history are touted as the frontrunner at the tip-off, and at the end of the game wind up with 11% of the vote. Many have run and failed miserably. They try because people around them convince them that name recognition alone can propel them to victory. You see …. the press in NYC make the speaker a big star, and people around the speaker get ‘member head.’
Menin was the centrist in the race, which included Crystal Hudson, Selvena Brooks-Powers and Amanda Farias. But it seems the more conservative members like Gennaro and Paladino, as well as progressives like Shaker Krishnan supported Menin. Of note, to us, is that while mayor Adams and DeBlasio got involved in the politics of the speaker selection, by all accounts, Mamdani left it alone, and let the legislature play politics with the speaker election.
Menin has the role checking on mayoral power, appointing committee chairs, controlling the legislative agenda and does most of the budget negotiations … and really decides who receives funding.
Looks like the Car goes to Carr
Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola enjoyed a city car and a larger office as the minority leader of the council. Sources say that her narrow support for that spot is gone and Staten Island pol David Carr will get the car. According to those close to the Howard Beach pol, it’s not that big a deal, with only a handful of republicans in the council let’s not fight…
Rockaway Assembly Rumble
Since our sister newspaper in Rockaway, The Wave, broke a story last week, about Pheffer-Amato announcing her retirement from the Assembly, the candidates have come out flying to replace her. Just hours after the story hit, candidates called the office to put a stake in the ground. We’re not convinced it was such a big deal that The Wave had the story first, but apparently someone close to her told the editor before Stacey had a chance to tell the rest of her staff. Pesach Osina and Mike Scala, both democrats, are looking to run and Tom Sullivan, who was narrowly defeated in the lat two races by Pheffer-Amato is expected to run on the republican line. Pheffer-Amato is credited for getting rid of the Cross Bay Bridge toll for Queens Residents.
