The chairs and memberships of the City Council’s various committees have been divvied up, and although Queens members no longer control all three of the most prominent committees – Finance, Land Use and Transportation – the borough is well represented.
Among the Democrats, three-termer Leroy Comrie (CD 27) took over the chair of the powerful Land Use Committee from Melinda Katz, who moved on to an unsuccessful City Comptroller bid.
Like her, he will also sit on the Zoning and Franchises sub-committee. Comrie also sits on the Consumer Affairs; Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations; Finance and Rules, Privileges and Elections Committees.
In her first full term, Elizabeth Crowley (CD 30) will chair the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee and sit on Environmental Protection; Housing and Buildings; Parks and Recreation; State and Federal Legislation and the Women’s Issues Committees.
Jackson Heights freshman Daniel Dromm (CD 25) chairs the Immigration Committee and sits on Education; Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations; Juvenile Justice; Parks and Recreation and Veterans Committees.
Julissa Ferreras (CD 21), now a full-termer, chairs the Women’s Issues Committee and sits on Civil Rights; Consumer Affairs; Economic Development; Finance; Health and the Parks and Recreation Committee.
In his third term, James Gennaro (CD 24) continues as chair of the Environmental Protection Committee and sits on the Civil Service and Labor; Consumer Affairs; Public Safety and the Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee.
Freshman Democrat Karen Koslowitz (CD 29), who actually has a previous stint in the Council, will chair the important Consumer Affairs Committee and sit on Aging; Education; Finance; Rules, Privileges and Elections and the Standards and Ethics Committees.
Veteran James Sanders, Jr. (CD 31) chairs the Civil Service and Labor Committee and sits on Community Development; Juvenile Justice; Land Use (chairing the Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses sub-committee) and the Veterans Committee.
Third-termer Peter F. Vallone, Jr. remains at the helm of the Public Safety Committee and sits on Environmental Protection; Fire and Criminal Justice; Governmental Operations; Health and the Waterfronts Committee.
Neighboring freshman James Van Bremer (CD 26), formerly of the Queens Public Library, will chair the Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Committee and sit on the Civil Rights; Finance; General Welfare; Health; Lower Manhattan Redevelopment; Parks and Recreation and the Transportation Committee.
Freshman Mark Weprin (CD 23), a former State Assemblymember, will chair the Zoning and Franchises sub-committee of the Land Use Committee and also sit on Education; Economic Development; Oversight and Investigations; Standard and Ethics and the Technology Committee.
Air Force and Council veteran Thomas White, Jr. (CD 28) will chair the Economic Development Committee and sit on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations; Environmental Protection; General Welfare and the Housing and Buildings Committee.
Republicans don’t get to run any committees – their talents will shine in the minority.
Returning for a full-term, Eric Ulrich (CD 32) will sit on the Civil Service and Labor; Education; Housing and Buildings; Public Safety and Transportation and Waterfronts Committees.
In addition, Ulrich will be Minority Whip of the five-member Republican delegation – a leadership position bearing a $5,000 stipend. Ulrich said he will donate it to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
Freshman Dan Halloran (CD 19), an attorney having experience with both police and district attorneys, has a seat on the Fire and Criminal Justice; Land Use (Planning, Dispositions and Concessions sub-committee); Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services; Public Housing and the Public Safety Committees.
Millionaire businessman and veteran pharmacist Peter Koo (CD 20) has seats on the Aging; Land Use (Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses sub-committee); Oversight and Investigations; Small Business; Transportation and the Youth Services Committee.
