The brand new GOP chief on the Metropolis Council informed The Publish after her beautiful ascension Friday that she needs to be a “hands-on” chief whereas rising the Republican presence in New York.
“We need to develop our social gathering within the senate, within the meeting, develop our social gathering proper right here within the Metropolis Council,” stated Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola — who took the helm of the smattering of Republicans on the council in a contoversial vote Friday.
Ariola, born and raised within the thirty second District that she serves, stated her focus because the council’s GOP chief received’t stray from her present priorities — which embrace getting unvaxxed metropolis employees who have been sacked in the course of the pandemic their jobs again and ensuring “sanctuary metropolis” legal guidelines serving even some unlawful migrants are used for his or her meant objective.
“If the president introduced again the individuals who have been within the armed forces with out having to get alleged vaccine, why can’t our municipal employees come again?” Ariola stated.
“And our right-to-shelter legal guidelines on this metropolis have been meant for our homeless inhabitants,” she stated.
Such points have been debated exhaustively between the council and the Adams administration — however Ariola hopes as a GOP chief she’ll be capable to push the agenda much more with the assistance of different Republican honchos and even Democrats.
“I need this to be a working workplace. I need this to be an workplace that’s energetic on all ranges of presidency, from the federal authorities all the way in which to the town authorities,” she stated.
“I need to proceed to work with all my colleagues even on the Democratic aspect, and the speaker. It’s essential to have that relationship.
“I used to be additionally as soon as chair of the [Queens] Republican Get together, and I actually had no downside backing a conservative Democrat.”
The longtime Queens civic chief received a Republican major in June 2021 with greater than 80% of the vote and in November the identical yr was elected to the Metropolis Council in a normal election by a margin of greater than 65%.
She entered her second time period unchallenged in 2023.
She’s been behind the push to ban ski masks throughout demonstrations, which she claims “emboldens folks to behave out and trigger chaos in our streets,” significantly given the rise in native antisemitic protests.
Ariola additionally has fought to produce all Large Apple firehouses and police precincts with “red-line” and “blue-line” American flags in response to leftists claiming they’re fascist symbols.
She is also working to assist crack down on animal abuse.
Since taking workplace, Ariola has fought for higher high quality of life within the neighborhoods of District 32, which incorporates Rockaway Seaside, Ozone Park and Howard Seaside.
However she stated the complete metropolis will reap the advantages of her new function.
“Queens is getting the popularity that it deserves. I imply, it’s been 20 years since anybody from Queens held this place, however that doesn’t matter to me,” the pol stated.
“Each single borough will get the identical consideration that Queens will get. I’m not parochial like that.”
Ariola took the helm after a previous vote to call Staten Island’s David Carr prime canine was tossed within the trash.
She took dwelling three votes, a majority of the five-person delegation now that former Minority Chief Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) has departed.
Chatting with the interior turmoil of the social gathering, Ariola stated she’s not anxious.
“There isn’t any animosity. I spoke with council member Carr final evening. Our dialog ended on a optimistic word,” Ariola stated simply moments after the vote.
She takes the place from Borelli, a longstanding Republican voice within the council, who left workplace to take a DC lobbying gig.
He was term-limited and slated to forgo his seat come 2026.
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