Melissa Mark-Viverito

Melissa Mark-Viverito
Member of the New York City Council from the 8th District
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2006
Preceded by	Philip Reed
Constituency	Manhattan Valley, El Barrio/East Harlem in Manhattan; and part of Mott Haven in the Bronx
Personal details
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Residence	New York City, New York, USA
Alma mater	Columbia College B.A. Baruch College MPA
Website	NYC Council: District 8

Melissa Mark-Viverito is the New York City Council member for Council District 8, which includes the topmost part of the Upper East Side, Spanish Harlem/El Barrio/East Harlem, Manhattan Valley and part of the Upper West Side as well as part of Mott Haven in the Bronx. Her district also includes Randalls Island, Wards Island and Central Park.

Early life and background

Viverito was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She graduated from Columbia University in 1991 and earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College, City University of New York in 1995.

She is a former member of Community Board 11, coordinator of the movement Todo Nueva York con Vieques^[1][2] and president of Mujeres del Barrio. Viverito ran unsuccessfully against Philip Reed for City Council in district 8 in 2003.

Before running for City Council, Viverito was an employee of Local 1199, an influential health care workers union.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Viverito was elected to her first term in the City Council in 2005. During her first four years in office, she sponsored and passed several of pieces of legislation, regarding tenant harassment, building safety, green buildings and park conservancies.^[3]

In January 2009, Viverito criticized the voting record of newly appointed New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on immigration.^[4]

Viverito is currently in her second term and serves as Chair of the Council's Parks & Recreation Committee.^[5] In March 2010, Viverito and 11 other Council Members announced the formation of the City Council's Progressive Caucus. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Caucus along with Brooklyn Council Member Brad Lander.^[6]

References

1. ^ New York Boricua website
2. ^ VVAw.org site
3. ^ About Melissa - News from Melissa Mark-Viverito
4. ^ New York Times article re Viverito's criticisms of Gillibrand
5. ^ Melissa is Named Chair of Parks & Recreation Committee
6. ^ NY Times: Dozen Council Members Form a Bloc for Liberals

External links

• Official NYC Council Website about Melissa Mark-Viverito
• News from Melissa - Official Blog about the Council Member

Political offices
Preceded by Philip Reed	New York City Council, 8th District 2006–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Markviverito, Melissa
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
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