New York City Council Members Share Unvarnished Advice to Fresh Faced Politicians
As the newly elected council members of New York City prepare to take office in January, veteran lawmakers are offering no-nonsense guidance on how to navigate the cutthroat world of city politics. In an effort to help incoming newbies avoid some of the pitfalls that have plagued the Council in the past, elder members shared their own experiences and advice.
One key takeaway is the importance of staying connected with constituents. Gale Brewer, a veteran council member from Manhattan, advises new lawmakers to "do constituent work" by actively listening to and addressing the concerns of those they represent. She also recommends becoming an expert in a particular area, using humor when speaking in public, and taking public transportation to show that politicians are accessible to everyday people.
In contrast, Staten Island's Frank Morano cautions against the pitfalls of punctuality. He notes that meetings often run late due to council members' tardiness, and advises new lawmakers not to stress too much about showing up on time. "Nothing runs on time around here," he jokes.
Julie Menin, a council member from Manhattan, offers a more nuanced view on the importance of being consistent in policy decisions. She cautions against trying to appease every constituency or "block the noise" by ignoring negative feedback. Instead, she advises new lawmakers to stay true to their convictions and be willing to make tough choices.
Lincoln Restler, a Brooklyn council member, echoes Menin's sentiments on consistency, warning that mixed messages can lead to accusations of hypocrisy. Meanwhile, Althea Stevens, a South Bronx council member, credits her own experience with "impostor syndrome" - feeling like an outsider in the Council - for pushing her to be more authentic and true to herself.
Finally, Jennifer Gutiérrez, a council member from Brooklyn, advises new lawmakers to stay humble and treat their staff well. She recommends sharing information freely and building strong relationships with community leaders to build trust and credibility.
As these seasoned politicians offer their hard-won advice to the incoming class, one thing is clear: navigating the complexities of city politics requires a unique blend of humility, conviction, and people skills.
As the newly elected council members of New York City prepare to take office in January, veteran lawmakers are offering no-nonsense guidance on how to navigate the cutthroat world of city politics. In an effort to help incoming newbies avoid some of the pitfalls that have plagued the Council in the past, elder members shared their own experiences and advice.
One key takeaway is the importance of staying connected with constituents. Gale Brewer, a veteran council member from Manhattan, advises new lawmakers to "do constituent work" by actively listening to and addressing the concerns of those they represent. She also recommends becoming an expert in a particular area, using humor when speaking in public, and taking public transportation to show that politicians are accessible to everyday people.
In contrast, Staten Island's Frank Morano cautions against the pitfalls of punctuality. He notes that meetings often run late due to council members' tardiness, and advises new lawmakers not to stress too much about showing up on time. "Nothing runs on time around here," he jokes.
Julie Menin, a council member from Manhattan, offers a more nuanced view on the importance of being consistent in policy decisions. She cautions against trying to appease every constituency or "block the noise" by ignoring negative feedback. Instead, she advises new lawmakers to stay true to their convictions and be willing to make tough choices.
Lincoln Restler, a Brooklyn council member, echoes Menin's sentiments on consistency, warning that mixed messages can lead to accusations of hypocrisy. Meanwhile, Althea Stevens, a South Bronx council member, credits her own experience with "impostor syndrome" - feeling like an outsider in the Council - for pushing her to be more authentic and true to herself.
Finally, Jennifer Gutiérrez, a council member from Brooklyn, advises new lawmakers to stay humble and treat their staff well. She recommends sharing information freely and building strong relationships with community leaders to build trust and credibility.
As these seasoned politicians offer their hard-won advice to the incoming class, one thing is clear: navigating the complexities of city politics requires a unique blend of humility, conviction, and people skills.
I gotta say, it's crazy how much experience these old-timers have in the Council. Like, they're not just sharing their own stories, but also trying to warn the newbies about all the stuff that can go wrong if you don't stay on top of your game. Staying connected with constituents is huge, and it's awesome that Gale Brewer is pushing for people to be out there listening to what folks need. 
I mean, Frank Morano has a point - meetings are always running late because of who-knows-what reasons. So yeah, don't stress too much about showing up on time. But at the same time, you gotta be responsible and follow through on your commitments.
like, have you seen those old TV shows where council members would literally get into fistfights over budget allocations? 
And Julie Menin's advice about staying true to your convictions is spot on - it's easy to get swayed by pressure or trying to appease everyone, but at the end of the day, you gotta do what you believe in.
And Jennifer Gutiérrez's advice about staying humble and treating your staff well? Absolutely necessary. It's not just about making tough decisions, but also being a team player and showing respect to everyone around you.
Gale Brewer's about doing constituent work? That's like, soooo important 
Like, politicians should be listening to their ppl not just talking at them 
Lincoln Restler's right too 
And Jennifer Gutiérrez is like the ultimate people person 
I'm low-key hoping these newbies take all this advice to heart and slay the NYC Council game 
gotta have good relationships with constituents 
, be authentic 
, not trying to please everyone 
. also, don't forget to take public transportation 
to show you're approachable 
. can't stress enough how important it is to stay humble 
and build strong relationships with your team 
. oh and btw, humor in public 
is a must 
!
. it's easy to get caught up in trying to impress ppl or appease every single group, but at the end of the day, u gotta stand by what u believe in 
. Can't they just chill for once? Gale Brewer's "do constituent work" advice sounds like a total snooze-fest 
. I mean, who wants to spend their days listening to people complain? Give me a break! On the other hand, I can totally get on board with Frank Morano's laid-back attitude towards punctuality 
. And don't even get me started on Lincoln Restler's warnings about mixed messages... like, come on, dude! Can't we just have a little fun around here? 
, trying to figure things out as we go 
! they're sharing their own struggles & tips for success, which is pretty cool 
️...anyway, consistency & being true to yourself are key 
And Jen's advice to stay humble and treat staff well? Absolutely essential for building trust and credibility. These old-timers are sharing their wisdom so we can all learn from them! 
? Like Gale Brewer showing up on time? Lol nope, that's gonna be a tough one for me 
. Staying connected with constituents is key, no doubt about that 
! I mean, where else can you deal with gridlock traffic, crazy tourists, and demanding constituents all in one day? And don't even get me started on the meetings – "nothing runs on time around here" indeed 
! But seriously, these veteran lawmakers are like the OGs of NYC politics, sharing their wisdom like it's a hot new meme 
.
And I'm loving Frank Morano's joke about punctuality being a myth... it's so relatable! 
on the other hand Julie Menin's take on consistency makes total sense - if u don't stand by ur convictions u'll lose credibility fast. altho Lincoln Restler's warning about mixed messages is also super true tbh, ppl can spot a hypocrite from a mile away