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 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 council during what city officials said is a pivotal moment, when it will address the affordability crisis, an affordable housing shortage, and other key issues.

 

They said Menin has laid out “a bolder, more proactive vision for the council to confront New York’s challenges, including building more affordable housing; lowering skyrocketing health care costs; slashing fines and bureaucratic red tape for small businesses; and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from city government.”

 

They went on to say that Menin is a three-time city commissioner and a former regulatory attorney. They said she is the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and will preside over a continuing women-majority city council. Prior to becoming a council member, Menin headed up the City’s census bureau in 2020. The completion of the census was ultimately delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“I am deeply honored and humbled that my city council colleagues have elected me as speaker,” said Menin. “New York has a long history of turning moments of challenge into moments of opportunity. Together, we will forge a new city council that takes a more forceful and proactive approach to New York’s shared goals. That includes enacting universal child care, lowering skyrocketing health care costs, building more affordable housing, and slashing fines and bureaucratic red tape for small businesses.”

Prior to the vote to elect her, Menin was nominated by seven council members: Kevin C. Riley (C.D. 12) The Bronx, Shaun Abreu (C.D. 7) Manhattan, Farah N. Louis (C.D. 45), Brooklyn, Linda Lee (C.D. 23), Queens, Kamillah Hanks (C.D. 49), Staten Island, Shekar Krishnan (C.D. 25) Queens, and Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), The Bronx.

 

Riley said Menin brought deep experience, steady leadership, and a strong understanding of how the city works and how council decisions impact New Yorkers’ daily lives. “She is a proven bridge builder who leads with fairness, transparency, and equity, and understands the responsibility this council has to step up during moments of uncertainty,” he said. “I’m confident she will lead this body with integrity, collaboration, and a clear sense of purpose, and I’m proud to support her nomination as speaker of the New York City Council.”

 

Meanwhile, Dinowitz described Menin as a thoughtful and principled leader with a proven ability to move complex policy forward while centering the needs of New Yorkers. “Having worked alongside her in the city council for the past four years, I know she is uniquely prepared to lead a collaborative and effective council that delivers real results for our city,” he said.

 

The councilman added, “I look forward to partnering with Speaker Menin to advance meaningful progress in every neighborhood, strengthen support for our city’s students, confront the affordability crisis, and ensure the council remains a strong champion for working families, older adults, and people with disabilities.”

Council officials said during her first two terms, Menin passed legislation to advance universal child care, create an office of healthcare accountability to rein in excessive prices, ease burdens on small businesses by creating a one-shop-stop web portal for city licenses, codify the right to reproductive health care services, and more. They said she most recently served as chair of the council’s consumer and worker protection committee and as co-chair of the women’s caucus.

 

In addition to her census role, they said Menin previously served as commissioner of NYC Department of Consumer Affairs and as commissioner of NYC Department of Media and Entertainment. They said she is also a former small business owner and a former adjunct professor at Columbia University, having taught city government.

 

During her first prepared remarks as speaker, among other topics, Menin spoke of the importance of affordability, healthcare, and of immigrants to New York City, referencing her own family’s history. She thanked her colleagues in government and those who ran against her as speaker, celebrated the fact that she was serving as the first Jewish speaker of the council at the same time as the first Muslim was serving as mayor, and highlighted the importance of kindness, tolerance, and of interfaith peace and understanding among New Yorkers.

 

Republican Council Member David Carr (C.D. 50), who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, was elected minority speaker. He committed to working to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. He is a member of the Italian caucus, the common sense caucus, and the LGBTQIA+ caucus.

 

Also on Jan. 7, Menin, who recently attended the inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Jan. 1, along with some of her council colleagues, announced a slate of senior leadership appointments, comprising what was described as a diverse and experienced team who will play a central role in advancing the council’s priorities and the speaker’s vision for a more affordable and safer city.

 

Council officials said two of the appointments represent historic firsts for New York City. They said Miguelina Camilo is the first woman to serve as chief of staff in the speaker’s office. Additionally, they said the council’s deputy chief of staff, Simone A. Jones, will serve as the council’s first-ever chief equity officer.

As reported, Camilo ran unsuccessfully against incumbent State Sen. Gustavo Rivera in redrawn Senate District 33 in a contentious primary in 2022, following redistricting. The senator, as reported, was an early backer of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Both are progressive legislators. In 2022, Camilo had been backed by a more centrist Bronx Democratic Party, a party which, as reported, three years later endorsed Mamdani for mayor.

 

Indeed, it would appear, ostensibly at least and based on remarks made by Bronx Democratic Party Chair Jamaal Bailey during a Dec. 22nd party meeting, that it is moving in a more progressive direction at least when it comes to affordability. More to follow.

 

Meanwhile, Menin described her appointees as exceptional and diverse senior leaders who she said bring deep experience in government and a shared commitment to serving New Yorkers. “Together, we will work to build a city that’s more affordable, with a stronger, more equitable economy, more affordable housing, and greater investments in our communities,” she said. “This team reflects the values of New York City and the future we are building together.”

 

City officials said Camilo is also the first Latina to serve as the council speaker’s chief of staff. They said she has dedicated her legal career to public service for the City of New York, The Bronx, and the Dominican communities from which she comes. They said most recently Camilo served as counsel to State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, where they said she played a senior advisory role overseeing legislative initiatives, including reforms of discovery laws and also helped manage budget negotiations. In this capacity, they said she coordinated across government agencies, legal teams, and external stakeholders.

 

They said Camlio’s leadership and management experience also extend to the nonprofit sector. They said she served as president of the Dominican Bar Association, president of the Bronx chapter of 100 Hispanic Women, and president of the Bronx Women’s Bar Association. In addition, they said she previously served as commissioner of the New York City Board of Elections.

Bailey also shared his reaction to the new city council appointments, saying, “Leadership isn’t merely a word. It’s an action word. And these herstoric ladies make things happen! Thank you to speaker @julmenin for appointing the first woman and the first Latina to ever be chief of staff in @migs_camilo and @strategicallysimone to be he first chief diversity officer and deputy chief of staff.”

 

He added, “Migs and I share a birthday and SJ has the same birthday as my son so you know they’re special just because of that – but what makes them truly special is their dedication to community and people. NYC is better because of these appointments – and don’t forget – we are all leaves of the @cheastie tree!”

 

For his part, Heastie said in part of Camilo and Jones, “Their strength, work ethic, and unwavering dedication are truly commendable. In their respective positions as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, I am confident that they will bring their extensive experience and expertise to the forefront. Thank you both for all the work you have done and all the great things you will continue to do.”

 

Meanwhile, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) also weighed in on the appointments, saying, “Congratulations to Miguelina Camilo and Simone Jones on their appointments as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff of the NYC council. Miguelina and Simone are both constituents of NY15, and I am fortunate to call them both friends and partners in public service. When it comes to the New York City Council, the Bronx is in the house!”

 

As reported, Bronx Councilwoman Amanda Farías (C.D. 18) already serves as the council’s majority leader since January 2024.