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NYC Government

The best way to move our city forward is to engage the NYC government and even become part of it. NYC government includes the Mayor’s office, City Council, borough (county), state and federal governments.

nyc.gov is New York City’s web portal. In New York City, you can dial 311 for customer service. 311 can point you to the NYC department that can help you. Leave 911 for real emergencies.

Get to know your government. Democracy only works if we participate. If you have a problem, reach out. Don’t be afraid. New York government works for us and doesn’t care about immigration status. Their job is to represent you. Make them work.

One of the best ways to improve government is to run for office yourself. You can learn the game from people who already hold public office. Many Americans start their political careers on school boards. Some like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez start with the U.S. Congress. Go for it!

NYC Government Elections

U.S. elections are a real circus, our Carnival. In the same way that little work gets done during Carnival season, government doesn’t get much done during election years.

We have presidential elections every four years, congressional elections every two years, and state and local elections in between. Some voters skip state and local elections, but that’s a mistake. Good government starts at the local level.

Primary Elections Often Determine the Winner

Before general elections, we have primary elections to choose who will represent the political parties in the general election.

Many voters ignore the primaries, but that’s a mistake. Primary elections often decide who will win because politicians have drawn district boundaries to make them loyal to one party or the other. Whoever wins the primary in these districts will win the general election.

New York City Government

New York City Hall in Manhattan's Civic Center (Demerzel21/Dreamstime)
New York City Hall in Manhattan’s Civic Center (Demerzel21/Dreamstime)

New York City Mayor

In early 2021, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio leads the New York City government. He is term-limited so the 2021 election is very much about finding a new mayor.

NYC Borough Governments

New York City is made up of five boroughs (counties). Each has its own borough government. Borough presidents govern with the help of appointed community boards that advise on and coordinate community services.

New York State Government

In 2021, Governor Cuomo runs New York State from Albany. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cuomo filled the role of America’s father figure because the then U.S. President wouldn’t. Cuomo is seeking his fourth term as governor in 2022.

The New York State government has a lot of control over New York City. You may have noticed this in battles over the MTA (trains, subways and buses), and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early 2021, New York State Attorney General Letitia James has been doing a great job protecting the interests of New Yorkers. She came up in the New York City Council from Brooklyn’s 35th Council District (Clinton Hill, Fort Greene and parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant). She was then NYC Public Advocate. It’s an interesting position. The public advocate acts as a government watchdog to make sure that the government serves the public instead of itself. She has carried that role into the state attorney general’s office. Thank you!

Federal Government

The Federal government is supposed to be formed of three co-equal parts: President, Congress and Supreme Court.

From 2016-2020, the U.S. Congress gave a lot of its power to a U.S. President who also tried to stack the U.S. Supreme Court. That is some very bad precedent. We hope that the institutions will self-correct so that another dishonorable president cannot steal the whole government.

U.S. Congress

The U.S. Congress consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate.

The Senate used to be the more respected branch of Congress, but lately they seem to have lost their mind. Senators are tying themselves in knots of lies and conspiracy theories instead of working for the people. They care more about reelection than actually doing their jobs. It’s sad to watch. If you don’t work for the people, you shouldn’t be in government.

U.S. Representatives From New York

The number of representatives for each state is determined by population. In 2021, New York state had 27 members.

Nydia Velázquez

U.S. Representative NY District 7. First Latina on the New York City Council and first Puerto Rican woman in U.S. Congress.
MANHATTAN
Lower East Side, East Village
BROOKLYN
Brooklyn Heights, Bushwick, Carroll Gardens, Greenpoint, Red Hook, Williamsburg
QUEENS
Maspeth, Ridgewood, Woodside

Continue Reading Nydia Velázquez

U.S. Senators from New York

Every state has two senators. Chuck Schumer is Senate Majority Leader.

New York CIty

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