The Caucus welcomed recently-elected Council Member and Former State Senator Bill Perkins as a member of the Caucus. Bill Perkins, was re-elected to the New York City Council in a Special Election on February 14th, 2017. Perkins brings a breadth of experience – having been elected to the Senate in 2006 after previously serving as deputy majority leader on the City Council for eight years, from 1998-2005.
The council member was a prime sponsor of the Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 2004, and a dedicated affordable housing advocate. He also fought tirelessly to reform public authorities like the MTA, and worked to extend unemployment benefits and to make health care more accessible during his Senate tenure. A lifelong resident of Harlem, Bill Perkins started his political career as a community activist and known for his tenacious and unyielding commitment to serving the community.
“As we go to work on the behalf of all New Yorkers, having a progressive leader like City Council Member Bill Perkins on the team makes us strongly. I warmly welcome him back to the Council and into the Progressive Caucus,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso, co-chair of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus.
“I also enthusiastically welcome Council Member Bill Perkins to the Progressive Caucus. He comes a time when the wellbeing of our communities is at-stake, so I welcome his leadership, experience, and commitment in serving New Yorkers during these hard times,” said Council Member Donovan Richards, co-chair of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus.
“We welcome Council Member Bill Perkins to the Progressive Caucus, an organization that follows in the steps he set from long before,”said Council Member Ben Kallos, Vice-Chair of Policy, instrumental in developing this platform.
“I also welcome Council Member Bill Perkins – who has been leading with progressive values for a long time. His addition to the Progressive Caucus is a welcomed one and we’re excited to continue our fight for a better, fairer city,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal (Vice-Chair for Budget Advocacy).
