By Bill Parry
City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) was named chairman of the powerful and prestigious Committee on Finance, replacing Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, who did not seek re-election to a third term. The committee has jurisdiction to review and modify the city’s $85 billion budget and oversees fiscal policy, the comptroller’s office, the city’s Banking Commission, and the Department of Finance.
“Being Finance Committee chairperson gives me the opportunity to set priorities for the city using the vast resources that are available to us,” Dromm said. “I intend to use this position to move a progressive budget forward, working closely with Speaker Corey Johnson, who I thank for giving me this opportunity to serve.”
Dromm is also a member of the committees on Aging; Civil and Human Rights; Civil Service and Labor; Education; and Immigration. He is the chairman of the Irish Caucus and a member of the Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Caucus and the Progressive Caucus.
Johnson also reappointed City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) as chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee. The expanded committee now has jurisdiction over the Department of Environmental Protection as well as the Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability and the Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
“I am excited to continue as chair of the Council’s newly strengthened Environmental Protection Committee,” Constantinides said. “Making our city greener and more environmentally friendly will remain our top priority. Climate change is perhaps one of our planet’s greatest dangers, and I remain committed to implementing policies that will combat its effects.”
Constantinides was also named a member of the Council’s budget negotiating team, which negotiates the city’s budget with the mayor every fiscal year.
“We will work to ensure that our city’s budget provides adequate funding for programs and capital projects in all our neighborhoods,” Constantinides said. “Thank you to Speaker Johnson for this opportunity — I look forward to working with him and my Council colleagues on a productive legislative session.”
He was also appointed to sit on four additional committees: Parks, Transportation, For-Hire Vehicles, and Land Use, as well as the subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) was “thrilled” to be reappointed chairman of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, the only committee he asked to chair when he was first elected eight years ago.
“I love this committee and am so proud to be the champion of culture, the arts, and public libraries in this city. And it means so much to me that I will serve out all 12 years in the Council chairing this important committee,” Van Bramer said. “I look forward to working with Speaker Johnson and my colleagues to fight for culture, the arts, and public libraries in the City Council term. I am also grateful to serve on the speaker’s leadership team and the budget negotiating team, and I look forward to working with the speaker and my colleagues to fight on behalf of all New Yorkers.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
