City Council elects Natasha Williams deputy speaker; adopts appointments and land-use call-ups

Natasha Williams was designated deputy speaker of the New York City Council following a roll-call vote at the Jan. 15 stated meeting, which the clerk announced as 50 in the affirmative, 0 negative and 0 abstentions. Members offered congratulatory remarks before the tally was recorded.

The action was part of a broader leadership and committee organization led by Speaker Julie Menon, who introduced the council’s senior leadership team and said a staff directory will be circulated to members. Menon named Miguelina Camilo as chief of staff and noted Camilo is the council’s first woman and first Latina to hold that post.

Council members used the meeting’s permission-to-explain process to outline priorities for their new committees. Among the appointments confirmed were chairs and subcommittee leads for fire and emergency management, public safety, parks, finance, workforce development, higher education, oversight and investigations, and housing and buildings. The clerk reported that all items on the day’s general orders calendar were later adopted by a vote of 51 in the affirmative, 0 negative and 0 abstentions, and land-use call-ups were adopted by a reported 50–0 roll call.

The council referred newly introduced bills to committee as indicated on the meeting agenda; no substantive policy votes on individual bills were taken during this stated session. Several members emphasized priorities they plan to pursue in committee — including public safety, childcare, affordable housing, veterans’ services and workforce development — and pledged collaboration with the speaker and city agencies.

The meeting moved on to general discussion and ceremonial recognitions after the leadership and appointment votes; no additional final votes on legislation were recorded during the session.