Corey Johnson (politician)

Corey David Johnson (born April 28, 1982) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been speaker of the New York City Council since 2018.[1]

This article is about the American politician. For other people with the same name, see Corey Johnson.
Corey Johnson
Speaker of the New York City Council
Assumed office
January 3, 2018
Preceded byMelissa Mark-Viverito
Acting New York City Public Advocate
In office
January 1, 2019 – March 19, 2019
Preceded byLetitia James
Succeeded byJumaane Williams
Member of the New York City Council
from the 3rd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2014
Preceded byChristine Quinn
Personal details
Born (1982-04-28) April 28, 1982
Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materGeorge Washington University (attended)
WebsiteOfficial website

Johnson was first elected to the New York City Council as the member for the third district in 2013. The district includes Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, the West Village, as well as parts of Flatiron, SoHo, and the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He briefly served as Acting New York City Public Advocate in 2019. He was elected by the council as speaker in January 2018.[2]

Early life

Johnson was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, and raised in neighboring Middleton, in a union household by his mother, Ann Queenan Richardson, a homeless services provider, and his stepfather, Rodney Richardson, a Teamster.[3][4] Johnson's birth father, David Johnson, was born to an American father and Korean mother in South Korea.[3]

Johnson made national headlines in 2000 when, as captain of his high school football team at Masconomet Regional High School, he publicly came out as gay. His story was reported by major national news outlets, including The New York Times and 20/20.[5][6]

Shortly after graduating from high school, Johnson moved to New York City and engaged in LGBT rights activism, after spending less than one semester at George Washington University.[3] He was a contributor and eventually the political director of the LGBT blog Towleroad.[7]

In 2005, Johnson joined Manhattan Community Board 4 (CB4).[8] He was elected Chair of CB4 in 2011, becoming the youngest Community Board Chair in New York City at the time.[9] That same year, City & State profiled him as a "rising star" in New York City politics.[10]

New York City Council

In 2013, Christine Quinn ran for mayor of New York City as her term in the city council was expiring. Johnson, then chair of community board 4, ran to succeed Quinn in council district 3 and was elected in November 2013 with 86% of the vote.[11] He took office on January 1, 2014.[12] Johnson's district includes all or part of the West Side neighborhoods of Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Hudson Square, the Upper West Side, Times Square, FlatIron, Hudson Yards, the High Line, the Theater District, and the Garment District.

Before being elected as speaker, Johnson was frequently named as a potential candidate and perceived as a leading contender.[13][14][15] In mid-December 2017, with the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio, the concession of other front runners, and backing of the Bronx and Queens Democratic Party, Johnson became the presumptive favorite for the speaker position and was elected by the Council in January 2018.[16] At the time he was elected speaker, Johnson was the only openly HIV-positive politician in the state of New York.[17][18][19]

Health

As Chair of the City Council's Committee on Health, Johnson oversaw a number of hearings on major health issues affecting New York City, including the 2015 Bronx Legionnaires' disease outbreaks and the proliferation of synthetic marijuana, also known as K2, in New York. On April 6, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law Johnson's bill prohibiting the use of smokeless tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, at sports stadiums and arenas that host events that require a ticket for admission.[20] The legislation effectively banned chewing tobacco from professional baseball in New York City. A similar ban was previously enacted in cities including San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago.[21] Johnson's legislation to require transparency regarding health services administered at Rikers Island was signed into law on June 16, 2015.[22]

Criminal justice reform

On August 16, 2016, the City Council passed legislation introduced by Johnson and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to create a City office responsible for the coordination of social and healthcare services for individuals who have been released from the New York City Department of Correction.[23]

LGBT rights

In 2014 Johnson introduced legislation to remove surgical requirements for transgender New Yorkers to correct their birth certificates. The legislation passed the City Council on December 8, 2014, and was adopted on January 8, 2015.[24]

In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, sparking the start of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, Queerty named Johnson one of the Pride50 “trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people".[25][26]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spoke out against a field hospital run by Samaritan's Purse and Mount Sinai Hospital in Central Park, due to the evangelical Christian aid group's requirement that staff sign a pledge against gay marriage.[27][28][29][30] Mount Sinai eventually severed ties with the organization due to the protests against their participation.[29][30][31]

Women's issues

Johnson’s first legislation to pass the City Council was a bill granting a presumption of eligibility for people transitioning from domestic violence shelters to Department of Homeless Services shelters. The bill allows these individuals to bypass extensive intake procedures they already underwent during their first shelter placement.[32]

Education

Johnson introduced legislation with Council Member Vanessa Gibson to require the New York City Department of Education to report on the use of disciplinary measures in public schools. The legislation passed on September 30, 2015, and was signed into law on October 13, 2015.[33] Johnson later introduced legislation requiring the Department of Education to regularly report on student health services in public schools, to ensure that such services are adequately serving New York City students. Mayor de Blasio signed this legislation into law on February 8, 2016.[34]

Rent regulation

Johnson was the prime sponsor of legislation declaring a housing shortage emergency in 2015, which allowed rent stabilization laws to be extended.[35] On June 3, 2015, he was arrested in Albany in an act of civil disobedience while protesting for the extension of rent regulation and the reform of New York's rent laws. Fifty-five protesters were arrested for blocking the entrance to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office.[36]

Animal welfare

Johnson worked with Council Member Elizabeth Crowley in 2014 to introduce a set of bills to regulate the sale of pets in New York City, with the purpose of animal protection. The bills regulate irresponsible breeders, combat overpopulation, provide for the safe accounting of animals and ensure that known animal abusers are unable to obtain animals. The package of legislation passed in December.[37] In 2015 Johnson introduced legislation mandating that either fire sprinklers or supervision be present in all establishments that house animals for more than 24 hours.[38] In 2016, Johnson co-sponsored legislation by Council Member Rosie Mendez to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. In October 2016 Johnson held a hearing in the Health Committee and spoke passionately in support of the legislation, saying to the media that "trucking wild animals in and out of the city strictly for entertainment purposes is not a humane way to be treating them.”[39] On June 15, 2017, Johnson chaired a meeting of the Health Committee and passed the bill by a vote of 7-0.[40] The bill headed to the full City Council for a vote on June 21, 2017.

Transportation

On May 27, 2015, the City Council passed Johnson's legislation requiring all heavy-duty vehicles in New York City's fleet to be equipped with sideguards, devices meant to reduce casualties that large trucks often cause to pedestrians and cyclists.[41] In December 2018 Transportation Alternatives presented the first-ever Vision Zero Leader of the Year Award to Johnson.[42]

Labor

In response to a growing trend of hotel rooms being converted into luxury condominiums, Johnson introduced legislation to limit the number of condo conversions hotel owners can make. The legislation's goal was to protect jobs in the hotel industry. It was passed by the City Council in May 2015 and signed into law the next month.[43]

Election history
New York City Council: District 3
Election Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct
2013 Primary election Corey Johnson Dem 12,538 63.28% Yetta Kurland Dem 7,275 32.72%
2013 General election Corey Johnson Dem 23,608 86.6% Richard Stewart Rep 3,691 13.4%
2017 General election Corey Johnson Dem 24,639 94.3% Marni Halasa Other 1,487 5.7%

See also

References
  1. Lavers, Michael. "Corey Johnson elected speaker of NYC Council". The Washington Blade. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  2. "Reports Say Corey Johnson is Steps Away from Becoming the next New York City Council Speaker". City & State. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  3. Goodman, J. David (January 4, 2018). "Sober and H.I.V. Positive, New Council Speaker Has Weathered Adversity". Retrieved January 4, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Biography". council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  5. "Icon Recast: Support for a Gay Athlete". The New York Times. April 30, 2000. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  6. GB PFLAG (February 12, 2015), A Life Rooted in Courage Part 1 of 2, retrieved December 12, 2016
  7. "Corey Johnson Declares Victory in NYC City Council Race - Towleroad". Towleroad. September 10, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  8. admin (January 28, 2014). "Meet the City Council's New Members: Corey Johnson". CSNY. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  9. State, City &. "Meet the City Council's New Members: Corey Johnson". cityandstateny.com. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  10. "Rising Stars 40 Under 40: Corey Johnson". City & State. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  11. "New York City Council - 2013 Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  12. Tajanko, Darius. "The New York City Council - Corey D. Johnson". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  13. "New York City Girds for Political Brawl Over Looming Speaker Vacancy". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  14. "Corey Johnson's Very Busy Campaign Weekend". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  15. "City Council speaker race heats up as Melissa Mark-Viverito's heir apparent won't seek reelection". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  16. "Reports Say Corey Johnson is Steps Away from Becoming the next New York City Council Speaker". City & State. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  17. Gloria Pazmino (November 28, 2017). "Corey Johnson's charm offensive". Politico.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. Rebecca Lewis (December 26, 2017). "Six Things to Know About Corey Johnson". City & State. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  19. Gabe Ponce de Leon (October 24, 2017). "Still Rising: The NYC 40 Under 40 all-stars". City & State. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  20. Berkman, Seth (April 6, 2016). "It's Official: Smokeless Tobacco Is Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  21. Isidore, Chris (March 17, 2016). "Smokeless tobacco gets banned at baseball games - even for players". CNN Business. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  22. "Council Passes Rikers Island Health Reporting Bill". Observer. May 27, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  23. "New York City Council passes bill to help ex-cons". New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV. August 16, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  24. "Transgender birth certificate bill passes Council". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  25. "Queerty Pride50 2019 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  26. Gallagher, John (June 12, 2019). "Will Corey Johnson's charm and energy make him the next mayor of New York City?". www.queerty.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  27. ""It's Time For Samaritan's Purse To Leave New York City"". Instinct Magazine. May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  28. Ault, Nicole (2020-04-05). "Christian Relief Comes to Central Park" The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  29. Ring, Trudy (May 4, 2020). "Homophobe Franklin Graham's Group Pulling Out of New York City". Advocate. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  30. • Kelleher, Patrick (May 4, 2020). "Franklin Graham dismisses coronavirus as a ploy to smear Trump after being told he can't use it to push his cruel homophobia". PinkNews. Retrieved May 7, 2020. • "Controversial Central Park field hospital closing". WPIX. May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020. • Reid-Smith, Tris (May 5, 2020). "New York kicks out Franklin Graham's tent hospital he used to promote anti-LGBT+ agenda". Gay Star News. Retrieved May 8, 2020. • Krisel, Brendan (May 5, 2020). "Mount Sinai Ends Partnership With Evangelical Group". NY Patch. Retrieved May 10, 2020. • Riley, John (May 4, 2020). "Anti-LGBTQ organization's New York field hospital for COVID-19 patients to close". Metro Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2020. • Reddish, David (May 4, 2020). "New York to Franklin Graham: Girl, bye!". Queerty. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  31. • Stack, Liam; Fink, Sheri (May 10, 2020). "Franklin Graham Is Taking Down His N.Y. Hospital, but Not Going Quietly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 10, 2020. • "Controversial Central Park Field Hospital to Close; Samaritan's Purse Staffers Will Stay at Mount Sinai". NBC New York. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  32. Tajanko, Darius. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 0361-2014". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  33. Tajanko, Darius. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 0730-2015". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  34. Tajanko, Darius. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 0771-2015". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  35. "City Council votes to extend expiring rent laws". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  36. "Pols arrested in Albany as rent war ratchets up | The Villager Newspaper". Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  37. "Council passes bill to ban pets from puppy mills". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  38. "New Law Requires Automatic Fire Sprinklers In NYC Businesses With Animals". Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  39. "Animal advocates push ban in NYC on exotic circus animals". October 13, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  40. "City Council still pushing for wild animal ban at circuses". Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  41. Tajanko, Darius. "The New York City Council - File #: Int 0198-2014". legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  42. "Transportation Alternatives Names Council Speaker Corey Johnson Recipient of First-Ever Vision Zero Leader Award | Transportation Alternatives". www.transalt.org. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  43. "City Council passes hotel conversion bill". The Real Deal New York. May 15, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by
Christine Quinn		 New York City Council, 3rd District
2014–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Melissa Mark-Viverito		 Speaker of the New York City Council
2018–present
Preceded by
Letitia James		 Public Advocate of New York City
Acting
2019		 Succeeded by
Jumaane Williams
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