By Rich Bockmann
The new City Council will take further shape tomorrow as Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) is expected to dole out key leadership positions that will define the legislative body’s power structure for the next four years.
Mark-Viverito was elected speaker during the Council’s first meeting earlier this month after she lined up the support of the legislative body’s Progressive Caucus late last year, and at Wednesday’s meeting she is expected to reward supporters with appointments to key positions and committees.According to a source, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) will be named majority leader at tomorrow’s meeting, though the information could not be independently confirmed.
“Jimmy’s selection as a majority leader is a testament to his commitment to the progressive issues that matter to the new city government,” the source said.
A Mark-Viverito spokesman declined to comment.
The majority leader is the council’s No. 2 lawmaker and was last held by Councilman Joel Rivera (D-Bronx), son of former Bronx Party chairman and current state Assemblyman Jose Rivera, who was term-limited from his seat.
Van Bramer, who chaired the council’s Cultural Affairs Committee, is a progressive who was elected to a second term last year and has distinguished himself as a vocal supporter of LGBT issues and paid sick day legislation.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
