Overview
- Council members voted 51-0 to make Menin the first Jewish speaker, as the women-majority chamber opened its 2026 session.
- Menin named a senior team that includes Miguelina Camilo as chief of staff, Simone A. Jones as deputy chief of staff and the Council’s first chief equity officer, and Bhav Tibrewal as chief advisor.
- The Council formally received 19 vetoes issued by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, giving members 30 days to consider overrides that Menin says will include a significant number.
- After Menin raised concerns about rescinded orders tied to antisemitism, Mayor Zohran Mamdani re-established the Office to Combat Antisemitism and ordered an NYPD review of security at houses of worship; Menin plans legislation creating protest buffer zones around sensitive sites.
- Menin outlined priorities on affordability and governance, including an affordable housing plan using library sites and underused city properties, procurement reform, lower health care costs, reduced fines, baby bonds, and collaboration with Mamdani on universal child care while maintaining the Council’s independence.