The Progressive Caucus of the New York City Council is a bloc of progressive New York City Council members that was formed in 2009. It has 24 members, which includes nearly half of the Council's 51 members. It is co-chaired by Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn) and Tiffany Cabán (D-Queens). Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn) and Kayla Santosuosso (D-Brooklyn) are Vice Chairs.
Statement of principles The Progressive Caucus's stated objective is to create a "more just and equal New York City, combating all forms of discrimination, and advancing policies that offer genuine opportunities to all New Yorkers, especially those who have been left out of our society's prosperity." The Caucus's stated principles prioritize:
a "fair budget", a progressive economic policy, "safe, decent, affordable housing", "high-quality public education", "a more sustainable and environmentally just city", "strong, vibrant, diverse neighborhoods", a criminal justice system focused on "prevention, alternatives-to-incarceration, partnership with communities, and police accountability", "full civil rights for all New Yorkers", and a restoration of "confidence and participation of government" and "strengthening the practice of local democracy".
Legislative agenda The Progressive Caucus has prioritized 13 bills in three categories for the 2026-2029 legislative session. They are:
A more affordable city: the "SAFER Homes Act" to deal with "the most financially and physically distressed buildings" the "Community Opportunity to Purchase Act" for certain real estate "Establishing a Baby Opportunity Fund" to start a pilot program to distribute $2,000 each into savings accounts for eligible children. Worker justice and consumer protection: "Trip-Level Data Reporting" to mandate that third-party delivery companies share certain data with the city "Delivery Protection Act" to mandate labor conditions for delivery workers "Self-Service Checkout Regulation" Safer city and better quality of life: "Indirect Source Rule" to capture more pollution emissions "Capping Renewable Energy Credits" to reduce speculation in credits "Ban the Scan" to regulate the use of biometric recognition technology "The CURB Act" to prohibit the NYPD from using its Strategic Response Group or kettling, tear gas, or similar tactics on peaceful protests (similar to a bill on the 2023 agenda) "Department of Community Safety" to "promote community safety and non-police emergency response" "Abolish GANGS Database" "Lighting Underneath Elevated Trains" to assess streets and sidewalks that currently may be shaded by elevated tracks, and install needed lighting History The Progressive Caucus was formed in 2009 order to promote policies focused on building "a more just and equal New York City." The Caucus initially consisted of 12 members (nearly 25% of the 51-member New York City Council), co-chaired by Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) and Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx).
The caucus grew to 35 members following the 2021 city council elections. This enabled them to exercise an increased level of oversight regarding Mayor Adams's administration, which had an adversarial relationship to more progressive Council members.
The caucus then narrowed to 20 members in February 2023, following new bylaws requiring members to sign on to their Statement of Principles. As of 2026, the caucus had grown to 24 members.
In July 2016, the caucus encouraged New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign an anti-Airbnb bill into law. This bill, the first of its kind as it pertained to regulation of Airbnb, was signed into law in the state of New York on October 21, 2016. Also, in November 2016, the caucus endorsed Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Its 2018 agenda included the Right to Know Act, which mandated that NYPD officers identify themselves to non-officers under certain circumstances.
The caucus launched the Progressive Caucus Alliance as a campaign arm for the group ahead of the 2017 election, endorsing a slate of incumbent members and ideologically aligned challengers. The group was inactive until 2025, when it endorsed a slate of incumbent members for the 2025 election.
In 2023, the caucus prioritized 7 issue areas and related bills:
Banning Solitary Confinement Prohibiting housing discrimination on the basis of arrest record or criminal history The "Public Bank Package" Police Transparency The "Zero Waste Package" Creating Permanently Affordable Housing The Earned Safe and Sick Time Act Expansion for Gig Workers
Members Membership as of 2025 includes the following members:
DistrictBoroughMemberFirst electedNotes 1st Manhattan Chris Marte 2021 2nd Manhattan Carlina Rivera 2018 10th Manhattan Carmen De La Rosa 2021 Vice-chair 14th The Bronx Pierina Sanchez 2021 16th The Bronx Althea Stevens 2021 18th The Bronx Amanda Farías 2021 Council Majority Leader(2022-present) 22nd Queens Tiffany Cabán 2021 25th Queens Shekar Krishnan 2021 26th Queens Julie Won 2021 27th Queens Nantasha Williams 2021 33rd Brooklyn Lincoln Restler 2021 34th Brooklyn Jennifer Gutiérrez 2021 Vice-chair 35th Brooklyn Crystal Hudson 2021 36th Brooklyn Chi Ossé 2021 37th Brooklyn Sandy Nurse 2021 Co-chair 38th Brooklyn Alexa Avilés 2021 39th Brooklyn Shahana Hanif 2021 Co-chair 40th Brooklyn Rita Joseph 2021 Membership during the 2021-2023 term:
Christopher Marte (D-Manhattan) Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) Carmen De la Rosa (D-Manhattan) Pierina Sanchez (D-The Bronx) Althea Stevens (D-The Bronx) Amanda Farias (D-The Bronx) Tiffany Caban (D-Queens) Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens) Julie Won (D-Queens) Nantasha Williams (D-Queens) City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens, ex-officio member) Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) Jennifer Gutierrez (D-Brooklyn) Crystal Hudson (D-Brooklyn) Chi Osse (D-Brooklyn) Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn) Alexa Aviles (D-Brooklyn) Shahana Hanif (D-Brooklyn) Rita Joseph (D-Brooklyn) Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn)
Membership during the 2018-2021 term included the following members:
Co-chair Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) Co-chair Diana Ayala (D-Manhattan/The Bronx) Vice Co-Chair Keith Powers (D-Manhattan) Vice Co-Chair Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn) City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan) Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn) Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn) I. Daneek Miller (D-Queens) Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) Deborah Rose (D-Staten Island) Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Queens) Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn)
References
External links Official website Official Facebook Statement of Principles