Carlina Rivera calls on Council to elect woman of color as next Speaker

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Councilmember Carlina Rivera. Photo courtesy of Rivera’s Office.

Councilmember Carlina Rivera. Photo courtesy of Rivera’s Office.

By David Brand

Councilmember Carlina Rivera has called on the City Council to elect a woman of color as the legislative body’s next speaker. It’s a description that she herself fits. 

Rivera, who represents the Lower East Side, East Village and Murray Hill, is already considered a front-runner to be the next speaker. Other women of color considered contenders include Queens Councilmember Adrienne Adams and Brooklyn Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel.

“As for who is going to lead the Council, I will tell you that I certainly hope … that it is a woman,” Rivera said during an appearance on WBAI’s “City Watch” on Sunday. “There are so many women in our communities who are leading us hyper-locally and through their organizing, making changes.”

“So I’m hoping that the next speaker is a woman, and specifically a woman of color,” she continued.

Listen to the interview:

Rivera’s comments came on International Women’s Day amid a dearth of women holding elected office in New York City government. The three citywide elected officials — Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — are all men. So is the current speaker, Corey Johnson.

Women account for less than a quarter of the council — 12 of the 50 seats that are currently occupied. A special election in Brooklyn’s District 37, a seat vacated by ex-Councilmember Rafael Espinal, will likely result in a 13th woman taking office — the two top contenders, Sandy Nurse and Darma Diaz, are both women.

The council typically chooses a senior member as speaker following months, perhaps years, of backroom deal-making among allies, rivals and county organizations. 

But the pickings will be slim in the 2022 session. Only 17 councilmembers are eligible for re-election; the rest, including Speaker Corey Johnson, are term-limited.

The previous two speakers, Christine Quinn and Melissa Mark-Viverito, were both, like Rivera, women from Manhattan.

Johnson shored up support from his fellow members during the 2018 speaker race by campaigning and fundraising on behalf of his colleagues and earning the support of the influential Queens organization. 

When asked whether she may do the same, Rivera laughed.

“I love Queens. I’m a lifelong New Yorker. I go to every borough,” she said.

Editor’s Note: Reporter David Brand is co-host of WBAI’s City Watch.