22 CityAndStateNY.com
14 VINCENT ALVAREZ
President New York City Central Labor Cou nc il The spine of the city’s labor force – comprised of teachers, truckers, electricians, firefighters – has a fighter in Vincent Alvarez, who’s rolled up his sleeves as executive director of the New York City Central Labor Council. In times of crisis – be it last year’s possible strike by MTA employees or this year’s
coronavirus impacting millions – Alvarez has been on hand to lend his voice to 1.3 million members in the umbrella group.
Sepú lveda’s Green Light Bill c leared a path for u ndoc u mented immigrants to obtain driver’s lic enses. believing Rikers can be saved through renovations and the “No New Jails” activists. Next on her list: realizing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s expanded plan for more affordable housing.
15 MARISA LAGO
Chair New York City Planning Commission As chair of the City Planning Commission, Marisa Lago has a front row seat to the changing New York City skyline and the uptick in resentment that goes with it. Among the notable decisions she’s had to preside over was the approval of the closing of Rikers Island in favor of smaller jails. It was with plenty of resistance from both sides of the argument—those
Carlina Rivera is already a front-runner for council speaker.
only since 2017, but she’s already a front-runner to replace Corey Johnson as the next council speaker. Introducing a bill that required Airbnb to disclose host data in New York City and cochairing the Women’s Caucus have raised her profile. Should 2021 prove prosperous for the hospitals committee chair, it could propel her to the speaker post.
18 16 LUIS SEPÚLVEDA
State Senator State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda secured one of his biggest victories last year with the passage of the Green Light Bill, clearing a path for undocumented immigrants to obtain state-issued driver’s licenses. The measure was opposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which suspended the Trusted Traveler Program at New York airports once the law went into effect. The Bronx lawmaker in the past mulled a run for district attorney.
17 CARLINA RIVERA
New York City Council Member New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera may have been in the chamber
ANTONIO REYNOSO
New York City Council Member Antonio Reynoso has led successful reforms to New York City’s commercial waste industry as chair of the Sanitation Committee, introducing legislation that established greater city control over an unregulated and often unsafe industry. The Brooklyn lawmaker has been ramping up for a run for borough president – he’s got plans for his home borough and will likely give other candidates a run for their money.
19 ANTONIO DELGADO
Congress Member Harvard Law School-educated freshman Congressman Antonio Delgado managed to flip the 19th Congressional District seat from red to blue in 2018, helping Democrats regain the majority in the House of Representatives.
NYC DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING; NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL; STATE SENATE; A KATZ, LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
for just two years, but she’s already proven an aggressive advocate for state Senate Democrats’ most urgent progressive causes, including legalizing sex work and holding the line on bail reform. And she isn’t afraid to stand up to her old boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, publicly disagreeing over a bill to increase the number of vendor permits following the controversial arrest of the “Churro Lady.” Ramos is up for reelection, and her increasing clout can serve as a guarantee for another term.
August 24, 2020