New ‘Working Group’ Being Built to Steer City Council Legislation
ROSS BARKAN
In a departure from the unilateral leadership style of her predecessor, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is currently in the process of creating a “policy working group” that would set the City Council’s agenda and even vet new legislation, sources say.
The council’s 10-member leadership team is hashing out the details of the group, which is still remains in the planning stages. But it will likely meet twice a month and take on a very formal structure, sources say.
Details of the working group remain under wraps–one council insider joked that the “first rule about the working group is that you don’t talk about the working group”–and decisions are far from finalized. Those familiar with the discussions, however, say the group may tap only council members closest to Ms. Mark-Viverito–unlike the leadership team, which includes Republican Minority Leader Vincent Ignizio and Councilman Dan Garodnick, Ms. Mark-Viverito’s top rival in the speaker’s race.
The group’s direction will likely be guided by Ms. Mark-Viverito’s deputies, especially Councilman Brad Lander, chair of the rules committee.
http://politicker.com/2014/03/new-working-group-being-built-to-steer-city-council-legislation/
