Mamdani Nods to Menin as Next City Council Speaker, Pledges Cooperation
In a move that has sent a clear message about his intentions for the upcoming legislative session, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani acknowledged moderate Councilmember Julie Menin as the next speaker of the City Council. This comes a day after Menin announced she had secured enough support among her colleagues to take on the role.
Mamdani's comments, made while volunteering at a Thanksgiving meal giveaway in Harlem with Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, suggested that he views Menin as a key partner in fulfilling his agenda of affordability. The Upper East Side lawmaker, who did not endorse Mamdani in the general election, has been touted by some as a potential check on the mayor-elect's democratic socialist goals.
The relationship between Mamdani and Menin appears to be one of cooperation, with both parties expressing excitement about working together to address issues like affordable housing, childcare, and cost-cutting measures. However, Mamdani sidestepped questions about his stance on other speaker candidates who supported his campaign, such as Brooklyn Councilmember Crystal Hudson.
As speaker, Menin will wield significant influence over the city's budget and legislative process, potentially offering a counterbalance to the mayoral office. This dynamic is reminiscent of the current Speaker Adrienne Adams' contentious relationship with Mayor Eric Adams, which has led to repeated use of supermajorities to override vetoes.
Both Mamdani and Menin have spoken highly of their phone conversations on Wednesday, with Menin expressing enthusiasm for a future partnership on key issues like universal childcare and affordable housing. However, there is no indication that Menin will support Mamdani's proposal to create a new Department of Community Safety, which would deploy social workers over police officers in mental health calls.
In a move that has sent a clear message about his intentions for the upcoming legislative session, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani acknowledged moderate Councilmember Julie Menin as the next speaker of the City Council. This comes a day after Menin announced she had secured enough support among her colleagues to take on the role.
Mamdani's comments, made while volunteering at a Thanksgiving meal giveaway in Harlem with Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, suggested that he views Menin as a key partner in fulfilling his agenda of affordability. The Upper East Side lawmaker, who did not endorse Mamdani in the general election, has been touted by some as a potential check on the mayor-elect's democratic socialist goals.
The relationship between Mamdani and Menin appears to be one of cooperation, with both parties expressing excitement about working together to address issues like affordable housing, childcare, and cost-cutting measures. However, Mamdani sidestepped questions about his stance on other speaker candidates who supported his campaign, such as Brooklyn Councilmember Crystal Hudson.
As speaker, Menin will wield significant influence over the city's budget and legislative process, potentially offering a counterbalance to the mayoral office. This dynamic is reminiscent of the current Speaker Adrienne Adams' contentious relationship with Mayor Eric Adams, which has led to repeated use of supermajorities to override vetoes.
Both Mamdani and Menin have spoken highly of their phone conversations on Wednesday, with Menin expressing enthusiasm for a future partnership on key issues like universal childcare and affordable housing. However, there is no indication that Menin will support Mamdani's proposal to create a new Department of Community Safety, which would deploy social workers over police officers in mental health calls.
I'm low-key relieved that Julie Menin is taking on the speaker role lol. She seems like she's not going to let Zohran Mamdani do whatever he wants on affordable housing and childcare 
Like, for real, we need someone who's gonna hold him accountable! And yeah, it's interesting that Mamdani said she was a key partner in his agenda... like, I'm not buying it 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out in the next legislative session 
and now they're promising to work together on affordability issues like affordable housing and childcare 
. I think this is a good sign for the upcoming legislative session, but at the same time, I'm curious to see how this dynamic plays out between Mamdani's democratic socialist goals and Menin's more moderate approach 
. I mean, we all know how contentious those police vs social workers debates have gotten in the past 
. But hey, maybe this is an opportunity for them to find common ground and make some real progress on issues that matter most to New Yorkers 
.
. And who knows? Maybe Mamdani will finally get his affordable housing plan off the ground 
! Fingers crossed for all the good people in this city 
It seems like Zohran Mamdani and Julie Menin are gonna work together on some major issues like affordability and affordable housing. I mean, it's not every day you see two people from different parties getting along so well. And let's be real, a speaker who can check the mayor's power isn't always a bad thing 
. It's like having another voice at the table to make sure things get done for the city. Menin seems like she's gonna bring some balance to Mamdani's agenda, and that's what I'm here for – more efficiency and less drama 
just saw this news and gotta say, I'm loving the vibe between Zohran Mamdani & Julie Menin 
! It's about time we see some bipartisan action going down in NYC 
. Menin's got a rep for being all about making sure everyone's voice is heard, and I think that'll really help bring affordability to the table 
. Plus, she's not afraid to take on tough issues like universal childcare & affordable housing 
. And let's be real, having someone at the helm who can check in with Mamdani without being too aggressive will be a breath of fresh air 
Mamdani nodding to her as his partner for affordability goals makes sense, since they both want to make NYC more affordable. 
Also, I'm curious to see how Menin will balance her influence with the mayor's office - it could get pretty juicy! 
thinkinbout this, it's kinda interesting how politics can bring people together, right? Mamdani and Menin seem like they're on the same page about affordability, but what does that mean for the rest of us? 
. One thing that worries me is the Department of Community Safety proposal - hope they can find common ground on that one 
. Overall, it's a positive start for our city's new government 
#MamdaniMeninPartnership #AffordableHousingForAll #CommunityFirst
Just read that the homeless population in NYC is expected to surge by 15% next year due to rising housing costs and reduced affordable options 
. And I'm curious to see if Menin will actually back Mamdani on some of his more divisive ideas... or if she'll use her newfound influence to push her own agenda 
think we got a real team player on our hands with menin as speaker, hopefully she can keep mamdani from getting too carried away with those socialist ideas 
how much of it will actually get allocated to affordable housing? we need to see some serious numbers on that one 
this is so cool! Mamdani and Menin seem like they're meant to work together 
. I love how they're both super excited about affordability and affordable housing 
I'm low-key worried about this partnership between Mamdani and Menin... it seems like they're trying to paper over some major issues with just "cooperation" 
and don't even get me started on childcare costs skyrocketing