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Julie Menin Elected as First Jewish Speaker of City Council, Hires Miguelina Camilo as Chief of Staff

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Council voted Jan. 7 during its 2026 charter meeting to elect Manhattan City Councilwoman Julie Menin (C.D. 5) as speaker for the next four years. She is the first Jewish speaker to lead the City’s legislative body, according to City Council officials. Menin represents Manhattan’s Upper East Side, including Lenox Hill, Yorkville, and Carnegie Hill, along with Roosevelt Island, and she will lead the city council during what city officials said is a pivotal moment, when the council will address the affordability crisis, an affordable housing shortage, and other key issues.

Obituary: Joseph Anthony Castro

By JAMIE CASTRO
Mr. Joseph Anthony Castro, a resident of New York since 1947, died Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025, at his home in The Bronx. He was born Oct 18, 1947, in New York, NY to Octavio and Julia (Torres) Castro. He is survived by a niece, Jamie Castro, living in Battle Creek, Michigan. Joseph will be laid to rest in Michigan, beside his brother, Fillip O. Castro, and other family at Battle Creek Memorial Park.