Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito with two members of the Progressive Caucus. (Photo: NYC Council/William Alatriste)
The City Council’s Progressive Caucus, the left-leaning body that sparked the liberal shift of the council this year, has elected new leadership.
Councilmen Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso have been elected co-chairs of the caucus, replacing Melissa Mark-Viverito, who is now speaker of the body, and Councilman Brad Lander, now a deputy leader of the council. The two councilmen beat out Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez in a vote of taken by caucus members last week, according to Mary Tek, a spokeswoman for the caucus.
The caucus also named freshmen lawmakers Ben Kallos and Helen Rosenthal as vice chairs for policy and budget advocacy respectively. Councilwoman Margaret Chin was elected treasurer, whose role is to manage a fund that pays the salary of Ms. Tek. (Caucus members pay dues.)
While the significance of the caucus’ role in elevating Ms. Mark-Viverito to the speakership is now recognized, council observers wondered what role the caucus will now play in a body that is already overwhelmingly left-wing.
“What exactly is the point of having a Progressive Caucus if the entire body is leaning that way? Do you really need a Progressive Caucus if the speaker herself is progressive and a member of said caucus?” one council source asked. “It sounds like some members need to get together a form a moderate caucus.”
Founded in 2010 by Ms. Mark-Viverito and Mr. Lander, the caucus was originally a small minority of the 51-member body. But with the election of about two dozen new council members, many of whom have pledged to join the caucus, their ranks are have grown.
Ms. Mark-Viverito and Mr. Lander gave up their posts because of their greater leadership roles in the council, sources say.
The caucus will announce its updated member list later this month.
