As the City Council speaker race reaches its final leg, some lament the lack of a female finalist.
For a while, it seemed the first majority female New York City Council might end up electing a female speaker. But as the ground shifts in the fast-moving race to choose the council’s leader, those close to Mayor-elect Eric Adams are pushing for Council Member Francisco Moya, as City & State and othersreported earlier this week.
In a statement Wednesday night, several groups focused on electing women criticized Adams for pushing only a male candidate. “With a historic 31 member majority of women, and an historic year for gender representation, women’s groups are working with the new majority to empower them to select a woman speaker,” the letter – signed by leaders of groups including 21 in ’21, Eleanor’s Legacy and the National Organization for Women in New York City – read. “It is unconscionable that Mayor-elect Adams would indicate support for only male identified Speaker candidates.”