New York City's 31st City Council district explained

New York City's 31st City Council district
Leader Title:Councilmember
Leader Name: Selvena Brooks-Powers
DRockaway Beach
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:160123
Population Footnotes:[1]
Footnotes:Registered voters (2021) 102,579[2]
Demographics Type1:Demographics
Demographics1 Info1:68%
Demographics1 Title1:Black
Demographics1 Info2:16%
Demographics1 Title2:Hispanic
Demographics1 Info3:11%
Demographics1 Title3:White
Demographics1 Info4:2%
Demographics1 Title4:Asian
Demographics1 Info5:3%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics Type2:Registration
Demographics2 Info1:77.4%
Demographics2 Title1:Democratic
Demographics2 Info2:5.2%
Demographics2 Title2:Republican
Demographics2 Info3:14.7%
Demographics2 Title3:No party preference

New York City's 31st City Council district is one of 51 districts in the New York City Council. It has been represented by Democrat Selvena Brooks-Powers since a 2021 special election to succeed fellow Democrat Donovan Richards.[3]

Geography

District 31 covers the farthest southeastern neighborhoods of Queens as well as the eastern section of the Rockaways, including the neighborhoods of Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Arverne, Edgemere, and parts of Springfield Gardens.[4] Rockaway Community Park, Idlewild Park, much of John F. Kennedy International Airport, and some of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge are all located within the district.

The district overlaps with Queens Community Boards 12, 13, and 14, and is contained entirely within New York's 5th congressional district. It also overlaps with the 10th, 14th, and 15th districts of the New York State Senate, and with the 23rd, 29th, 31st, and 32nd districts of the New York State Assembly.[5]

List of members representing the district

MembersPartyYears servedElectoral history
District established January 1, 1974

Angelo J. Arculeo
RepublicanJanuary 1, 1974 –
December 31, 1982
Redistricted from the 22nd district and re-elected in 1973.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1977.
Lost re-election.

Sal Albanese
DemocraticJanuary 1, 1983 –
December 31, 1991
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1985.
Re-elected in 1989.
Redistricted to the 43rd district.

Juanita E. Watkins
DemocraticJanuary 1, 1992 –
December 31, 1991
Elected in 1991.
Re-elected in 1993.
Re-elected in 1997.
Termed out.

James Sanders Jr.
DemocraticJanuary 1, 1992 –
December 31, 2012
Elected in 2001.
Re-elected in 2003.
Re-elected in 2005.
Re-elected in 2009.
Termed out and ran for New York State Senate.

Donovan Richards
DemocraticJanuary 1, 2013 –
December 2, 2020
Elected in 2013.
Re-elected in 2017.
Resigned to become Queens Borough President.
VacantDecember 2, 2020 –
March 19, 2021

Selvena Brooks-Powers
DemocraticMarch 19, 2021 –
Elected to finish Richard's term.
Re-elected in 2021.

Recent election results

2023 (redistricting)

Due to redistricting and the 2020 changes to the New York City Charter, councilmembers elected during the 2021 and 2023 City Council elections will serve two-year terms, with full four-year terms resuming after the 2025 New York City Council elections.[6]

2021

In 2019, voters in New York City approved Ballot Question 1, which implemented ranked-choice voting in all local elections. Under the new system, voters have the option to rank up to five candidates for every local office. Voters whose first-choice candidates fare poorly will have their votes redistributed to other candidates in their ranking until one candidate surpasses the 50 percent threshold. If one candidate surpasses 50 percent in first-choice votes, then ranked-choice tabulations will not occur.[7]

2021 special

In 2020, Councilmember Donovan Richards was elected as Queens borough president, triggering a February 2021 special election for his seat. Like most municipal special elections in New York City, the race was officially nonpartisan, with all candidates running on ballot lines of their own creation. It was also the first in the city's history to utilize ranked-choice voting (although an earlier special election in the 24th district was nominally ranked-choice, one candidate won with a majority in the first round).

2013 special

In 2012, Councilman James Sanders Jr. was elected to the 10th district of the New York State Senate, triggering a February 2013 special election for his seat. Like most municipal special elections in New York City, the race was officially nonpartisan, with all candidates running on ballot lines of their own creation.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census Demographics at the NYC City Council district (CNCLD) level. NYC Open Data. June 28, 2021.
  2. Web site: Council District Summary Report. New York City Board of Elections. February 21, 2021. June 28, 2021.
  3. Web site: District 31 - Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. New York City Council. June 28, 2021.
  4. Web site: Council Members & Districts . New York City Council. June 28, 2021.
  5. Web site: NYC Boundaries Map. BetaNYC. June 28, 2021.
  6. News: Pazmino . Gloria . Why the Census Means NYC Lawmakers Will Serve 2-Year Terms Instead of 4 . 11 November 2022 . www.ny1.com . New York 1 . 15 January 2020 . en.
  7. Web site: How Does Ranked Choice Voting Work in New York City?. The City. Rachel Holliday Smith. January 18, 2021. June 28, 2021.