City council, or local legislature, decides what kind of parks you’ll have, where new affordable housing will get built, whether your gas station can add gaming machines, and so much more. The mayor shares some responsibilities with the council and often has limited or no veto power, but it is the council that determines these issues and the overall direction of their cities.
The council does most of its work through a series of committee meetings and hearings on subjects like human services, infrastructure, and government affairs. These committees discuss proposed laws and listen to feedback from New Yorkers like you. Each Council Member, through a voting process, is assigned to serve on several of these committees and subcommittees.
Council Members are elected to four-year terms and appoint their own council president, who is also their spokesperson. The council president also presides over the council’s general meetings and votes in case of a tie. The council establishes its own rules and procedures and keeps a record of all its proceedings in a journal, which is open to the public.
It’s important for residents to understand how these processes differ from one place to the next, because state and federal law, court decisions, and administrative agencies can sometimes tie councils’ hands. It’s also important to know that when you reach out to your Council Member, they are not alone. Each councilmember has key staff members — the chief of staff, scheduler, and office manager — who you should contact first for information about community events and to arrange a meeting with your council member.