Each borough in NYC has its own president. The presidents are obliged to advise the mayor of NYC, make proposals on land issues, communicate and advocate for the needs of the borough during the allocation of the city budget, appoint officials and members of the public council, etc.
They defend the interests of their communities before mayoral agencies, the city council, the state government, public corporations and private enterprises. Borough presidents are elected by popular vote for a 4-year term, although this has not always been the case.
They can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Read more about the most famous Queens leaders on queensyes.com.
Claire Shulman
Claire Shulman made history as the first female president of Queens. A former nurse, she entered government through the largely nonpartisan world of community boards. Having won the favor of the community, in 1986, Shulman became the leader of Queens. She served for 16 years. During this time, she made sure that every constituent’s voice was heard. Few people in Queens have provided as reliable and effective public service as C. Shulman.
Despite the many doubts of her opponents about her competence, the fearless activist proved that she could effectively fight for Queens in a male-dominated political world. The woman secured funding for the construction of the Queens Hospital Center and 30,000 educational facilities. Shulman was a member of the Board of Estimate, which at the time functioned as one of the two main bodies of NYC (after the City Council). Therefore, the president directly influenced the approval of the city’s budget.
C. Shulman is remembered for her excellent negotiation skills. For example, in 1987, she defended the community when the board planned to build apartment buildings. Residents of the neighborhoods, which consisted mostly of single-family detached houses, opposed the idea. Shulman was able to convince the board not to build apartment buildings in as many as 12 neighborhoods.
The politician has never been afraid to speak her mind. She cooperated with various groups, associations and officials at various levels with one goal in mind: to improve the life of the community. The president effectively solved problems related to economic development, ecology and airport disputes. In addition, Shulman provided all the necessary services for the ethnically diverse population.
Even after she left office, the former president continued to contribute to the improvement of life in the community. She founded the Flushing Willets Point Corona lobbying corporation, through which she influenced the NYC Council.
Helen M. Marshall
Democrat Helen M. Marshall became the first black president of Queens. As the second woman to hold this office (after Shulman), throughout her career she fought not only to improve the lives of her constituents but also to constantly overcome gender stereotypes. Marshall is best remembered for building public libraries and fighting to preserve Queens’ cultural heritage.
H. Marshall served as president from 2002 to 2014. Her main areas of focus included tourism, healthcare, education, housing and parks. Marshall granted Queens the status of NYC’s tourism center. Realizing the importance of education, the president allocated a huge amount of money from the budget for libraries. She allocated more money to library projects in Queens in just one decade than the presidents of the other four boroughs combined!
The woman is also famous for creating the Queens General Assembly. It promoted intercultural exchanges between the various ethnic groups that inhabit the borough. In addition, during her tenure, the president fought for quality health care, improved living conditions for the elderly and cared for the environment.
Donovan Richards
In 2020, Democrat Donovan Richards was elected president of Queens. The politician managed to reduce the crime rate in the community, strengthen protection against natural disasters, achieve the construction of affordable housing, provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs whose businesses suffered from crises, etc.
The president had allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to schools, cultural institutions, hospitals, libraries and parks. After Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in August-September 2021, Richards created an organization to fight climate change. He also took care of building the infrastructure needed to protect Queens from natural disasters. Richards also opened an immigrant reception center, which is especially necessary for a borough as diverse as Queens.
To restore the borough’s economy, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the president initiated a small business grant program. Thanks to the financial assistance, business owners were able to resume their operations. This had a positive impact on the economy of Queens and NYC as a whole. The politician also facilitated the rapid receipt of vaccines by citizens by opening Citi Field for this purpose.
D. Richards had always cared about disadvantaged communities. He organized many events to distribute food to the needy. In addition, hundreds of affordable housing units were built on the president’s initiative, making it possible to rent or buy a home at a reasonable price.
Richards’ ability to connect with voters stems from his 10 years of experience in the NYC Council in various positions. During this period, he learned a lot about his community and developed a practical approach to helping citizens.
Melinda Katz
From 2014 to 2019, Queens was led by Melinda Katz. As president of the borough, Katz managed a multimillion-dollar budget, much of which was allocated to vulnerable groups. Interestingly, M. Katz’s long career in public service began with her election to the New York State Assembly in 1994. Subsequently, Katz became a member of the NYC Council. Only after that, the woman became the president of Queens.
M. Katz has been a dedicated public servant, advocating for her community. She has become a voice for people who have few rights and opportunities in today’s world. In 2020, Katz made history when she became the District Attorney of Queens County, the first woman to hold this position.
George U. Harvey
George U. Harvey was the first Republican to serve as president of Queens. He served the state and its voters with integrity and dedication for 12 years (1929-1941). During this period, Harvey significantly improved the borough’s infrastructure.
The president made the greatest contribution to the 1939 World’s Fair (Expo), an international fair that became a symbol of industrialization and an open platform for different countries to demonstrate their technical and technological achievements. The now-popular Flushing Meadows Corona Park was created specifically for the Expo.
James J. Crisona
Democrat James J. Crisona was another dedicated Queens leader who is remembered by voters for just one year (1958) as borough president. Crisona first served the community as a legislator, as a member of the New York State Assembly and then the New York Senate. The man resigned from his position as borough president to serve on the New York State Supreme Court.