Williams Has Inside Track for Housing Committee Chair

A number of high-profile New York City Council committee chairmanships are expected to be announced at the Council’s stated meeting Wednesday afternoon, and multiple sources have indicated that Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams, a member of the Council Progressive Caucus, is the frontrunner to chair the Housing and Buildings Committee.

Several New York City housing sources told City & State that Williams was a likely pick for the chairmanship, in part owing to his early backing of Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito but also because of his record of advocacy on housing issues. Before running for the Council in 2009, Williams was a housing activist, heading the organization New York State Tenants & Neighbors.

One political source said that Councilman Corey Johnson was also in the running for the Housing chairmanship, but a recent report indicated that Johnson could be named chair of the Health Committee.

Williams’ office did not respond to a request for comment.