Williams discloses CUNY, explains vote on quadrennial commission and draft riots study
Council Member Nantasha Williams discloses her CUNY affiliation. She explains her support for the Quadrennial Advisory Commission recommendations on elected official compensation as a transparent process, and for Intro 496A acknowledging the 1863 draft riots. She thanks her constituent Nia Clark and Cheryl Wills of NY1 for renewed attention. She also shares that her staffer Kate was formerly a para.
Williams.
I am disclosing on the record that I am affiliated with CUNY, and I'd like permission to explain my vote.
Permission granted.
Thank you so much, Majority Leader.
One of the greatest responsibilities we have as legislators is to build public trust.
Sometimes that means creating transparent processes for the decisions government makes.
Other times it means taking an honest look at the history that has shaped our city.
Today we're doing both.
Legislation implementing the recommendations of the Quadrennial Advisory Commission that we thank reflects this council's commitment to a transparent, independent, and predictable process for reviewing elected officials'compensation.
Government is strongest when New Yorkers understand not only the decisions we make, but the process behind them.
We're also taking an important step toward acknowledging one of the darkest chapters in New York City's history, the draft riots of 1863.
Included horrific acts of racial violence against black New Yorkers, yet there remains no formal public acknowledgement of those events in our city's landscape.
I want to thank
My constituent, Nia Clark, who's reporting on Cheryl Wills, New York One, helped bring renewed attention to the draft riots.
I want to thank Speaker Julie-Menin for her leadership, council staff, committee members, and chairs for their work on these measures, and all of my colleagues for their partnership.
And very briefly in my 53 seconds, as I was just sharing with the speaker that I have a staffer, my special assistant, Kate, who started working for me.
No, this is, I can do this now.
It's during general discussion.
No, this is not my interns.
This is about the parabola.
My apologies.
Y'all can all laugh at me now.
You're 10 seconds back, Majority Leader.
Yeah, please give her her seconds back.
That's my apologies.
You're the best.
Very quickly, Kate, my special assistant, started working for me.
She's a constituent, part-time.
When I first got into the council, she eventually moved to full-time.
She was a para, and one of the things that she mentioned was the salary, and I was able to give her a higher salary.
And perhaps if her salary was higher, sadly, I might not have her in our office.
I'm thankful, but I'm just really excited for this bill and for people like Kate.
Thank you so much, Majority Leader.
And congrats, Chair De La Rosa.
Thank you.