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Adrienne Adams elected NYC Council's first black speaker
Adrienne Adams made history Wednesday, becoming the first Black woman to be chosen as the New York City Council's speaker.
NEW YORK - The New York City Council will have its first Black leader after Adrienne Adams was chosen as the council’s speaker Wednesday.
Adams, a Democrat from Queens, was elected to serve as speaker on a 49-2 vote by council members.
The 61-year-old is a lifelong resident of Queens and was a Bayside High School classmate of New York City’s new Mayor Eric Adams. The two are unrelated.
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Adrienne Adams takes over the role of council speaker from Corey Johnson, who was term-limited.
Adams will preside over the city’s first-ever majority female council, with women making up 31 of the 51 members of the council sworn in Wednesday.
Adams’ term as speaker runs through the end of 2023.