New York City Council is getting younger - defying national trends
Since 2010, the New York City Council has been getting younger.
With each new council, the number of members ages 30 through 44 has stayed the same or increased, while the number of members ages 45 through 69 has stayed the same or decreased.
The current council also has the body’s youngest elected member, Chi Ossé, who took office when he was 23 and stepped in to represent Brooklyn’s 36th District from former Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr., who took office at the age of 48. Cornegy’s predecessor was Al Vann, who joined the council at 67 after a quarter century in the Assembly. As older members leave the council, they are being replaced by younger and younger members.
“It’s just good to get some dynamic new energy in there,” said Trip Yang, a New York City-based Democratic political strategist who has worked with council members for more than a decade. “It is even better to balance those dynamic new ideas with proven veteran leadership from people who understand city government and people who understand the levers to pull within city government to get things done.”
There were a number of things that could account for the age shift, according to Yang and various council members who spoke to City & State.
“Over the past 10 years, we’re seeing different types of people run – whether it’s AOC down to Ritchie Torres – we’re seeing this trickle-down effect stemming from national politics that’s letting folks believe that they can run for office,” Ossé, now 25, said in an interview. “Instead of waiting our turn, I find that a lot of young people are just jumping into the ring and trying to do what needs to be done themselves.”
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/08/new-york-city-council-getting-younger-defying-national-trends/389890/
