In the race to replace Eric Adams as Brooklyn borough president, Antonio Reynoso leads Robert Cornegy . No disrespect to Brian because he is a rising star within the party, but Coreys experience, having led the City Council and having worked with us, changed the dynamics of this race, said Henry Garrido, the executive director of D.C. 37. In 1898 Greater New York was formed when Manhattan was joined with the newly created boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Richmond, and the Bronx. And as the pandemic wanes in New York, right now there are few guarantees that the rhythms of normal life will return in a manner that ensures all its residents feel protected and served by the criminal justice system. Several third-party candidates also ran for mayor. Endorsed by: The New York Posts editorial board and a major service workers union. A comprehensive new government study concludes that the illness probably wasnt caused by foreign adversaries. New York Post. He's also landed endorsements from Rep. Grace Meng; state Senators John Liu and Jeremy. The president surprised and angered some Democrats by declining to veto a GOP effort to block a D.C. bill. He served as first chief deputy at the state attorney generals office, where he oversaw some 1,200 people and successfully sued the Trump Foundation for illegally using campaign funds experience that could be invaluable because the next Manhattan district attorney will be left with finishing Mr. Vances investigation into the former presidents business dealings. As with all BP posts across the city, the powers of the borough presidency are limited. Mr. Johnson is openly gay. Have a story idea? The Tokyo Olympics will allow spectators (if they live in Japan, and with restrictions). The nation badly needs new faces, new energy, new talent and new ideas. Were on the edge.. Gale Brewer, the Manhattan borough president prevented by term limits from running again, is seeking to return to the Upper West Side seat that she left in 2013. Ms. Buckner, who is leading an initiative to bolster female candidates, said that there were at least six districts that had never been represented by a woman. The city threw out a Democratic mayor for the first time in decades. With an economic development background, Boylan has honed in on using the BP pulpit to bolster Manhattan's economy post-pandemic, and be an ever-present pol who "in this moment in time [will] push, advocate," according to an interview with New York County Politics. Its not a second job because he dropped out of anything.. In Central Brooklyn, Crystal Hudson, a first-time candidate who has worked for the citys public advocate and the Councils Democratic majority leader, is running a tight race against Michael Hollingsworth, an organizer and first-time candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists. Watkins, president of Community Education Council 3, has framed herself as the "anti-establishment" pick for borough president. Even so, the makeup of the City Council has not often reflected those demographics, something that many of the candidates are hoping to change. In early March, Mr. Lander unveiled a list of endorsements from leaders in the L.G.B.T.Q. Nowhere is the lab-leak debate more personal than among the experts investigating the origins of COVID. He grew up on the Upper East Side with his mother, who still lives in the neighborhood, and his grandparents, who fled anti . They are making the argument that to get anything done, you need to know how to navigate a sprawling bureaucracy with complications at every turn, Katie said. Will others follow? The Key Moments From Alex Murdaughs Testimony and Murder Trial. New York Voters Can Send Some Promising New Faces to Congress, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/opinion/new-york-congress-endorsements.html. First elected in 2012, Hoylman represents the 47th District in the New York State Senate, covering much of Lower and Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. Take a trip to the Italian coast in Pixars Luca, a charming sea-monster story. The Bronx: Three candidates are fighting to replace the outgoing president, Fernando Ferrer. As borough president, Hoylman is pushing for a people-centric management of the office, telling prospective voters that his goal of creating a 197-a masterplan, which provides a vision for a community from a transportation, education, and public safety perspective. Adem Bunkeddeko greeted residents as he canvassed around the Albany Houses project in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2018. Under her tenure as chair, Caputo pushed for the installation of a bike lane along Amsterdam Avenue, advocated for bringing Citi Bike to Manhattan, and held hearings in 2015 to examine the de Blasio administration's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, which mandate developers create 20% of affordable housing units for any new residence in exchange for tax breaks. Here are some of the prominent endorsements that have been made (and rescinded) in the race so far. When he did return for this race, he was caught on a hot mic pushing for a chance to speak during a protest rally, saying, If I didnt have a primary, I wouldnt care.. The Council votes on the city budget after negotiation with the mayor and plays a key role in the citys land-use process, which affects development projects. The state has a near-total abortion ban, and now activists and GOP officials are fighting an exemption for physician-defined medical emergencies. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google On major audio streaming platforms, that payout might take five million to 10 million streams. It Sure Doesnt Seem Like Havana Syndrome Is Russias Fault. Endorsed by: the citys largest teachers union. Finding common ground among prosecutors, police leadership and the public will be crucial. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Over the years, the Council has shifted to the left, he said, in part driven by the citys changing demographics. Walgreens Wont Sell Abortion Pills in Red States Even Where Its Legal. Mr. Bragg grew up in Harlem and came of age during the crack cocaine epidemic. The next comptroller will be the eyes and ears of how the mayor brings back the economy, said Scott M. Stringer, the current comptroller, who is running for mayor. DISTRICT 17 (Rockland and northwestern Westchester Counties): The retirement of Nita Lowey after 31 years in office has made for quite a race, with seven contenders fighting it out. Mr. Bragg brings the experience, the nimbleness and the moral compass Manhattan needs. I know the citys finances better than anyone after negotiating multiple budgets and serving as speaker, Mr. Johnson said. David Leonhardt is off this week. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Biden Chooses Crime Messaging Over D.C. Home Rule. Her masterly questioning of the former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen before the House Oversight and Reform Committee last year helped reveal the extent of Mr. Trumps misconduct. He was recently endorsed by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and he might be the only person in New York City who speaks gleefully of having met recently with every living former city comptroller. In several districts, newcomers are squaring off against candidates with political ties. Seven candidates are vying to replace outgoing Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. Singapore is allowing the Chinese-made Sinovac shot at private clinics, while casting doubt on its effectiveness. He wants to dissolve the current sex-crimes unit and build a modern unit that centers the experience of survivors. In the Bronx, Rubn Daz Sr., a Pentecostal minister who created a furor in the Council in 2019 when he said it was controlled by the homosexual community, is stepping away from politics after nearly 20 years in public office. Ms. Nnaemeka said she believed that the pandemic had voters clamoring for change. 2024 Polls Show DeSantis Cant Easily Knock Out Trump. The stakes of the Democratic primaries are especially high in New York, where the winners in nearly every district will be heavily favored to win the general election in November. His candidacy was endorsed by The New York Times. For much of last year, Mr. Johnson was considered a leading candidate in the 2021 mayors race. There are few bigger jobs on the New York ballot this year than that of Manhattan district attorney. Here's who will be on the primary ballots for the r anked-choice vote . In NY-12, combining Manhattan's Upper East and West sides, Rep. Jerry Nadler exposed himself as this close to senile in that epic NY1 debate. Donate today, Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations, UPDATE, OCTOBER 2021: Here is who will be on your general election ballot for Manhattan Borough President:Democratic Mark D. LevineRepublican - Louis PuliafitoLibertarian - Michael Lewyn. This time, Isiah James, a promising young Army combat veteran and democratic socialist who has also promised to focus on housing, is in the race, too, though he has struggled with fund-raising. The Times endorsement, along with that of the New York Daily News (which signaled in its extended editorial toward a top three: Garcia, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653. City Councilman Mark Levine is powering his campaign for Manhattan borough president with an army students and recent grads doing the yeoman's work for free. Musicians must maintain engagement with their audiences by making content regularly, going online several times a week for hourslong stretches. But the campaign argues that Mr. Gibbs, who earned $3.2 million in 2020, and Mr. Keilin . By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Boylan's urban planning background might also influence the direction of rezonings, which she has found to have disproportionately impacted Manhattan communities of color. Stein defeated Dinkins again in the 1981 Democratic primary for the borough presidency. Here's where they stand. Matthew K. Heafy of the metal band Trivium has about 220,000 followers on Twitch. A state senator, urban planner, education advocate, former community board chair, and two Council Members are all running for the seat of Manhattan Borough President, looking to leverage the position to steer residents toward a more prosperous future. And then they have to start campaigning again, right after their first year., Why New York Progressives Are Pinning Their Hopes on the City Council, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/nyregion/City-council-races.html. Yang launched his campaign with the help of newly minted U.S. Rep. Richie Torres. Eric Adams and Corey Johnson picked up new union endorsements this week in their respective races for mayor and comptroller. Mr. Bragg also served as a federal prosecutor under Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, prosecuting public corruption, wage theft and, at one point, a violent money-laundering scheme linked to the Sinaloa cartel of Mexico. [34] Levine was endorsed by Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velzquez, among other elected officials, labor unions, and advocacy groups. Dianne Morales, a former nonprofit executive. But the election this year carries more weight: Its one of the first major contests to be held as the pandemic recedes, and it could be a bellwether for Democratic sentiment on issues like police reform, housing and education. Four of the five, save Kallos, are based on the west side of the borough. New Yorkers overall are probably going to want a more centrist or moderate voice for mayor, and theyre probably going to go with a more progressive City Council, she said, because the issues that are translating on the ground are very different in a smaller community.. District Council 37, New York Citys largest public sector union, recently gave Mr. Johnson its endorsement, which would otherwise have gone to Mr. Benjamin, according to multiple sources. Either way, Manhattan needs a leader dedicated to keeping the public safe without returning to the overly punitive practices deployed for so many years. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653. Michelle. The former president endorsed roughly 300 candidates in the midterm elections. He came to WNYC and Gothamist in March 2020 after working at News 12 The Bronx, WCBS-AM, The Bronx Times Reporter, and Norwood News, where he served as editor-in-chief. Whoever wins the job will face a rise in shootings, homicides and other violent crimes to thwart. Levine announced his candidacy for Manhattan borough president in January 2020. For example, the prominent health care workers union 1199 SEIU backed . The race to represent New York's new 10th Congressional District, comprising lower Manhattan, brownstone Brooklyn, Sunset Park and parts of Borough Park, is wide, wide open with 13 candidates on the ballot. The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. On Twitch, musicians who average a few hundred viewers at any given time can earn about $50,000 a year. v. t. e. The 2021 New York City borough president elections were held on November 2, 2021. On her website, Watkins supports abolishing mayoral control, including the heads of Community Education Council's onto the Borough Board, and reducing a school nurse shortfall. With Boylan participating in the city Campaign Finance Board, it translates to more than $440,000, according to Boylan's estimates (the CFB has yet to tabulate that number). But at least two endorsements that Mr. Lander was expecting were withheld after Mr. Johnsons announcement. Margaret Taylor Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. His campaign is focusing on communities of color and the thousands of pension-fund retirees who still live in the city. Brazils official Covid death toll, one of the highest in the world, has surpassed 500,000. Fast Fact: Earlier this year, Boylan accused her former boss, Governor Andrew Cuomo, of harassment. Bowman will bring it. Gale Brewer, the outgoing Manhattan borough president, is running to reclaim her former City Council seat. Bloomberg won four of the five boroughs, the exception being the Bronx. t. e. The 2005 New York City mayoral election occurred on Tuesday, November 8, 2005, with incumbent Republican mayor Michael Bloomberg soundly defeating former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, the Democratic nominee. [9] Brewer won the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, [10] and assumed office in January 2014. Bowman says he wants to see the United States adopt a kind of Marshall Plan for climate change, jobs, housing and education. New York City Council Member Ben Kallos was praised by the New York Times for his "fresh ideas" and elected in 2013 to represent the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Roosevelt Island and East Harlem along with all 8.4 million New Yorkers in the New York City Council. Mr. Bragg is a talented prosecutor with the endorsement of former colleagues across a wide swath of the legal system. February 18 . The first Ferris wheel, created by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. for the Chicago Worlds Fair, opened 128 years ago today. Releasing Office: In many races, candidates are hoping the electorate sees the possibility of major change as a boon and are seizing the moment. Rubn Daz Sr., a candidate opposed to equal rights for women and gay people, who doesnt belong in todays Democratic Party. Charles Barron, a state assemblyman, is running for his old seat in Brooklyn. On Jan. 14, the East River Democratic Club endorsed Dan Quart for Manhattan District Attorney. And heres how the leading candidates spent the campaigns last weekend. While warmer days are bringing back block parties and crowded parks in other boroughs, much of Midtown is still eerily empty and dotted with vacant storefronts. He has also supported a public option for Medicare as a way to move toward Medicare for all. Kallos has also positioned himself as a thorn on the side of developers, opposing "supertall' structures that have popped up across the city. Democrats have targeted his seat, hoping to win the last Republican office in the borough. For Americas wage laborers, a 32-hour workweek is less of a beautiful dream than an oppressive reality. This tool from The City, a nonprofit news organization, matches voters with candidates. Asha Castleberry-Hernandez is a major in the Army Reserves, a former State Department adviser and a lecturer in foreign policy and global security. Dec 2020 - Feb 2021. Mr. Bragg has worked closely with the police to prosecute complex gun cases and also sued officers over excessive force. Save Maimonides actually says it wants the same thing as hospital management: for Northwell to take over. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, state assemblymember, Charles Fall, state assemblymember (co-endorsement), Donovan Richards, Queens borough president, Diane Savino, State Senator (first choice), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1056, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1181, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1179, Service Employees International Union 32BJ (SEIU), New York State Public Employees Federation, Anthony Foxx, former U.S. Transportation secretary, John Hickenlooper, U.S. senator and former Colorado governor, Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans, Michael Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, Ashley Swearengin, former mayor of Fresno, Costa Constantinides, former NYC council member (second choice), Diane Savino, State Senator (second choice), Loree K. Sutton, Commissioner of New York City Department of Veterans Services, Service Employees International Union Local 444 (SEIU) Sanitation Officers Association, Service Employees International Union Local 246 (SEIU), Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Obama, Jabari Brisport, state senator (first choice), Jessica Gonzlez-Rojas, state assemblymember, Gustavo Rivera, state senator (second choice), Zephyr Teachout, law professor and political candidate, New York Progressive Action Network (co-endorsement), Professional Staff Congress, CUNY faculty and staff union (second choice), Progressive Women of New York (first choice), Costa Constantinides, former NYC council member (first choice), Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL), Communications Workers of America, (CWA) District 1, Professional Staff Congress, CUNY faculty and staff union (first choice), Progressive Women of New York (third choice), Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. congresswoman, Julian Castro, former Democratic presidential candidate, Progressive Women of New York (second choice), 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Stephen Levin, NYC councilmember (second choice), Carlos Menchaca, NYC council member and former mayoral candidate, Borough Park United, coalition of Orthodox congregations in Borough Park, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It killed at least 12 people in Alabama over the weekend. During the same meeting, they also endorsed Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President, David Weprin for City Comptroller, and Tricia Shimamura and Keith Powers for City Council. The Media Equation: Tucker Carlson calls journalists animals. Hes also a valuable source. There are also a number of former City Council members looking to return to seats they had vacated and squaring off against newcomers. Plays Incompetent Willy Wonka at CPAC. A former bi-lingual math and science teacher and the founder of Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union, Mark was first elected to represent the 7th Council district-one of the most diverse in New York City-covering West Harlem/Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, and parts of . [2] He is chairman of the state senate Judiciary Committee. More people-powered approaches to Holyman's governing style include the creation of a Public School Parent Advocacy and Resource Center at the BP's office, and giving community boards greater power in deciding where the BP's budget should be allocated. In a. The pool of Democratic candidates reflects the changing population: Most of the candidates are nonwhite. Regardless of the outcome of the primaries, any referendum on the citys electoral future that comes out of this years Council races could also prove short lived. Here are the Democratic candidates for Manhattan Borough President: Lindsey Boylan Lindsey Boylan 's unsuccessful run to replace Manhattan Representative Jerry Nadler appeared to be a kind of. Vito Fossella is the political comeback kid, easily winning the race for Staten Island borough president --more than a decade after scandal derailed his career. Manhattan Borough President Please join us on Zoom Thursday, March 9 Club business 7:30pm Forum 8:00pm Register: bit.ly/2023marchforum for more information: DistrictLeaders@BroadwayDemocrats.org. NYC tax credit program set to give extra cash to over 800,000 New Yorkers, Judge: Adams and NYPD press conference used sealed criminal records and was illegal. Which candidate do the billionaires want? Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine released a report this week outlining 171 locations in the borough he believes can be turned into more than 73,000 new homes. King Charles Evicts Harry and Meghan From House They Dont Live In. Allow the New York City Civil Court to hear and decide claims for up to $50,000 instead of the current limit of $25,000. I feel ready to be the citys chief financial officer.. Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, who lost her primary to a Trump-backed challenger, has been focused on trying to keep election deniers out of office. Manhattan will need a distinctive kind of district attorney: one who knows how to use the levers of the office to drive down the current spike in violence while moving forward with the hard and overdue work of criminal justice reform. Though he's raised $450,761, Levine has produced the most donors with 2,083 people contributing to his campaign. Evelyn Farkas, another candidate in the race, has significant support from the Democratic establishment, including former Secretary of State John Kerry, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Representative Tom Malinowski and Emilys List. His plans to use the office to address climate change and ensure an equitable recovery from the pandemic earned him early endorsements from unions, progressive groups and politicians such as Representative Jamaal Bowman and Tiffany Cabn, a candidate for the City Council who nearly pulled off a long-shot campaign for Queens district attorney. A Times classic: The 20 best TV dramas since The Sopranos.. Tropical Storm Claudette is battering parts of North Carolina. Mike Pences 2024 Strategy Totally Depends on Iowa Evangelicals. It runs through Iowa following the course set by Huckabee, Santorum, and Cruz. Another candidate, New York City Council member Chaim Deutsch, hasnt shown up for the debates and is instead vying for votes with a campaign of fearmongering. Phoenixs housing crunch keeps crews working in 115-degree heat. . Kathryn Wylde, CEO of the big business group the Partnership for New York City, asked Wednesday night in a post-debate assessment for The New York Times. Congressman Jerry Nadler (District 10, parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (District 12, the East Side of Manhattan, parts of Queens and northern Brooklyn) have shown their commitment to their districts time and again and should be returned to Congress. Endorsed by: the city's largest teachers' union. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The former president endorsed roughly 300 candidates in the midterm elections. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The task involves nearly every part of government, from education to evictions to economic revival. If youre in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Fast Fact: Before winning the 7th Council District in the northwest side of Manhattan, Levine was a bilingual math and science teacher at Junior High School 149 in Brooklyn. The Californians have been booted from Frogmore Cottage because the king (or the character invented by the U.K. press) has had enough of their abuse. It is held by his wife, Inez, who took it from him but faces term limits this year. On his website, Kallos has ideas that appear to be more fleshed out than his rivals. I understand the urgency of this moment.. DISTRICT 9 (Park Slope, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay and more): For nearly 14 years, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke has represented this large, vibrant area of Brooklyn. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Despite having limited powers over the following proposals, Caputo has also championed a loan forgiveness program for laid off Broadway actors and temporarily hiring them at New York City public schools. Ms. Menin has been a strong force in downtown Manhattan, fighting for more funds for a culture center at the former. That criticism has been tied to ideas that will likely carry over should he become the next borough president. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams now holds a significant lead in the New York City mayoral race -- jumping six points ahead of rival Andrew Yang, according to a new poll. Like the race for mayor, the contest for comptroller may be the citys most consequential in decades, and the June 22 Democratic primary will most likely decide its winner. The U.S. withdrawal will leave Afghan troops without support to stop such offensives. Biden Dares Republicans to Go After Obamacare and Medicaid. People were throwing paint at his boyfriends door. He didnt make it either., How a Surprise Candidate Has Shaken Up a Key New York City Election, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/nyregion/nyc-comptroller-corey-johnson-brad-lander.html. Ms. Ocasio Cortezs shortcomings as a community representative, which can be remedied if she puts her mind to it, are not reason enough to deny re-election to someone who has been such a determined champion of vulnerable people everywhere. T . Ray McGuire, a former Citigroup executive. Polling has been scant, and the introduction of ranked-choice voting (which David Leonhardt wrote about last week) has made the outcome difficult to predict. Releasing Office: With help from Katie Glueck, who covers New York politics for The Times, weve put together a primer. They include improving transportation infrastructure, retrofitting the island's waterfronts to manage climate change, and curtailing overdevelopment. The late entry of a well-known Democratic contender into the comptrollers race bears similarities to the 2013 contest. NY Times Announces Endorsements for Mayoral Primaries | Barrett Media The elections are June 22 The elections are June 22 Home About 8@8 Advertise Agents Alumni Brandon Contes Brandon Kravitz Danny O'Neil Dave Greene Jay Mariotti Matt Fishman Rob Guerrera Ryan Glasspiegel Ryan Maguire Seth Everett Stan Norfleet Bio Consulting Contact Privacy Policy Right-wing board to clamp down on woke ideology in cartoons. The former VP has an extremely narrow path to viability in 2024. In a district that needs new energy, Mr. Mr. Jackson has been an important voice for education reform over the years. City & State NY the 92nd Street Y present a virtual forum for candidates running in the 2021 Manhattan Borough President race. Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Such pushes were often felt more closely in. Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Congressman Jerry Nadler (District 10, parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (District 12, the East Side of Manhattan, parts of Queens and northern Brooklyn) have. In Defense of the Talkative Trump Grand Juror. We have a tremendous opportunity that came out of crisis to rebuild and reimagine our city, she said. For Mr. Jones, policy is personal. DISTRICT 15 (South Bronx): In a competitive race to replace the departing Congressman Jose Serrano, voters have a choice between Ritchie Torres, an unusually effective member of the New York City Council, and the Rev. In the Manhattan borough president's race, Mark Levine leads Brad Hoylman by about 3 points. [35] In accordance with our Constitution, a candidate or ballot proposal must receive a majority vote in order to receive a VID endorsement. Privacy Policy and We need leaders who will hit the ground running and who have a track record of prioritizing those with the greatest needs, Ms. Hudson said. The Democratic contest is, essentially, the mayoral election in a deep blue city like New York, the Democrat will probably win in November. P.S. President and CEO of Mastercard Ajay Banga leaves after meeting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a breakfast in the Manhattan borough of New York September 29, 2014. Nadler said Hoylman, a progressive from. Mr. Bharara has endorsed him. This is not to say that every incumbent needs to be retired. Sochie Nnaemeka, the New York State director of the Working Families Party, said that the City Council can serve a critical role in either supporting a progressive agenda that the mayor sets out, or blocking and pushing against a restrictive or limited agenda..