New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, suggested on Thursday (November 27) that Julie Menin, a Jewish city council member representing Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is likely to become the next speaker of the city council. He expressed his plans to work closely with her to address affordable housing issues.
After participating in a Thanksgiving free food distribution event with the National Action Network in Harlem, Mamdani told the media that Menin, like himself, is “passionate about achieving the common goal of affordable housing.”
The previous day, the 58-year-old Menin announced that she had secured enough support from 36 city council members to become the next city council speaker. Some political analysts believe that Menin, considered a moderate Democrat who did not support Mamdani in the mayoral election, may serve as a counterbalance to Mamdani’s socialist goals.
Some left-wing New Yorkers have already warned online that Menin could “sabotage” Mamdani’s election; meanwhile, progressive legislators are avoiding congratulating Menin.
However, Mamdani stated on Thursday, “I look forward to working with Council Member Menin and all council members to realize the urgent plans needed by New Yorkers: achieving affordable housing in the nation’s most expensive city.”
The city council speaker wields broad influence in New York City’s budget negotiations and controls the advancement of legislation in the council. For example, current speaker Adrienne Adams has clashed with Mayor Adams multiple times over the past four years and has overturned the mayor’s vetoes using a majority vote.
Mamdani and Menin both confirmed that they spoke on the phone on Wednesday.
“I am very grateful for the call from the mayor-elect yesterday,” Menin said on Thanksgiving, “and look forward to working with him in the future to promote universal childcare, build more affordable housing, and lower the cost of living for New Yorkers.”
The New York Post reported Menin’s skepticism towards Mamdani’s proposed “Community Safety Corps.” In 2023, controversy erupted as several city council members left the Progressive Caucus due to their support for cutting police funding, with Menin also among them.