Helen Foster

Helen Dianne Foster currently represents District 16 in the New York City Council, which comprises the neighborhoods of Claremont, Morrisania, Highbridge, Melrose, and Morris Heights.

Elected in 2001, she replaced her father, Rev. Wendell Foster, who was forced to retire from the City Council due to term limits. With her election she became the first African-American woman to be elected within Bronx County. She is the current co-chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus. She currently serves as chairwoman of the Parks & Recreation Committee, and serves as a member of the Aging, Education, Health, Lower Manhattan Redevelopment, and Public Safety Committees.

Prior to her election to the Council Foster was an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, subsequent to which she became an Assistant Vice-President for legal affairs at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Foster holds degrees from both Howard University and CUNY School of Law, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Christ Church.

Controversial Remarks

In the wake of the murder of Sean Bell, Foster made a series of comments that attacked the NYPD, declaring that even though a Haitian-American police officer was involved in Bell's killing, the shooting itself was an illustration of racism within the city's police department. [http://www.nypost.com/seven/11302006/news/regionalnews/city_pols_vent_their_race_rage_regionalnews_frankie_edozien.htm]

External links

* [http://council.nyc.gov/d16/html/members/home.shtml Official NYC Council Website about Helen Foster]
* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30F11FD3E580C758DDDAE0894DB404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fL%2fLead Council Speaker Is Accused Of Stalling Lead Paint Bill]
* [http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/dist16.html New York City District 16]
* [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/406465p-344083c.html City Got Yanked Around]