8 JANUARY 13, 2022 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
Adams offi cially becomes fi rst Black Council speaker
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Though it was already decided
last month, the New York City
Council’s official vote on Jan.
5 made Council Member Adrienne
Adams (D-Queens) the fi rst Black City
Council speaker.
The speaker of the council is the
body’s leader, not a mayoral appointment,
but serving the City Council
who voted for her in one of the most
powerful City Hall positions.
The council voted 49-2 to elect
her, with Council Members Charles
Barron (D-Brooklyn) and Kristin
Richardson Jordan (D-Manhattan)
voting “no.”
Council Member Selvena Brooks-
Powers (D-Queens) began the vote
by nominating Adams and giving a
speech on her capabilities as head of
the council. “
Whether through her work in
educational equity, her service to
residents of Community Board 12 or
her leadership with the Public Safety
Committee and the Black Latino and
Asian Caucus. Adrienne has been
a champion for all New Yorkers
throughout her career,” Brooks-
Powers said.
Though Adams was expected to
win, as the majority of supporters
was confi rmed in December, two of
her colleagues were adamant that she
was the wrong choice, without presenting
another qualifi ed candidate.
And although Adams would become
the fi rst Black woman speaker in the
Council — which now has a majority
of 31 women — Barron remained
skeptical.
“Stay woke. Don’t be lulled to sleep
or inaction because of black faces and
high places,” Barron, noting the new
speaker’s politics are in line with that
of Mayor Eric Adams and Governor
Kathy Hochul when it comes to public
safety—specifically bringing back
solitary confi nement in the city’s jails
and prisons.
But many “yes” votes stepped up to
confi rm that this is not true.
Freshman members Tiff any Cabán
(D-Queens) and Chi Ossé (D-Brooklyn)
have been watching Adams’ past work
and reaffi rmed Adams’ opposition to
solitary confinement and achievements
as former chair of the committee
on public safety.
“I want to applaud her for her bold
stances in favor of just cause employment
protections, basement apartment
legalization, support of robust
violence intervention programs and
opposition to solitary confi nement,”
Cabán said.
Aft er her win, Adams thanked the
members and other newly elected
officials who were in attendance
of the council’s fi rst meeting of the
year, such as the new Bronx Borough
President Vanessa Gibson, and the
new Comptroller Brad Lander.
She also outlined her priorities for
the year, aft er holding a moment of
silence for the more than 35,000 in
the city who died from COVID-19.
Read more on PoliticsNY.com.
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Former southern Queens Councilman
Eric Ulrich was appointed
as a senior adviser to Mayor Eric
Adams on Wednesday, Jan. 5, and will
be part of a team that will oversee operations
at City Hall and advance the
mayor’s strategic policies and priorities.
Ulrich served as a Republican member
of the City Council for 12 years during
which time he was instrumental in
passing legislation that established the
New York City Department of Veterans
Services. Following Superstorm Sandy,
he organized relief eff orts that helped
displaced residents rebuild and recover.
“I am truly grateful to serve in the
Adams Administration,” Ulrich wrote
on Twitter. “I look forward to helping
him implement his vision for a better
New York.”
Ulrich represented District 32,
which encompasses the neighborhoods
of Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor,
Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard
Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park,
Richmond Hill and Woodhaven, until
he was term-limited out in 2021. He was
replaced on the City Council by Joann
Ariola.
Ulrich is the product of New York
City public and parochial schools and
is the fi rst member of his family to earn
a college degree, having earned a B.A.
from St. Francis College and his M.B.A.
at Baruch College School of Public
Aff airs.
Former Queens Assistant District Attorney
Andrea Shapiro Davis was also
appointed to the team as senior adviser
for talent and appointments. She had
been serving as CUNY’s interim vice
chancellor for university advancement
since August 2019. Shapiro Davis is a
proud graduate of Queens College and
Hofstra University School of Law.
St. John’s University graduate Frank
Carone joins the administration as
chief of staff aft er serving as the Kings
County Democratic Committee.
“We are at a pivotal moment in our
city’s history, and we need strong leadership
to bring New York back better
than ever,” Carone said. “Mayor Adams
has already proved himself in the early
days of his administration to be exactly
that kind of leader. I am honored to
join his team and serve the city that I
love. As chief of staff , I will be focused
on ensuring City Hall runs smoothly,
keeping our city agencies aligned, and
delivering on the mayor’s vision for the
city.”
Former Councilman Eric Ulrich is
going back to City Hall as one of
Mayor Eric Adams’ senior advisers.
Photo courtesy of Ulrich’s offi ce
Adrienne Adams on her fi rst day as speaker of the City Council, Jan. 5.
Photo by John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit
Ulrich heading back to City Hall as senior adviser for Adams
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