New York City Council
In March 2012,Rosenthal announced her candidacy for District 6 of the New York City Council,whose incumbent,Gale Brewer,was term-limited out of office. [4] Rosenthal focused her campaign on issues including public school education,affordable housing,budget expertise,and mass transit improvements. Her bid was endorsed by organizations including the Sierra Club,the National Organization for Women-NYC,and TenantsPAC,a group which advocates for rent-regulated tenants. Other supporters included Gloria Steinem,Michael Moore,former City Councilwoman Ronnie Eldridge,State Senator Liz Krueger,and State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick. [4] [5]
In September 2013,Rosenthal won the Democratic nomination for the District 6 City Council seat,defeating six other candidates. [6] She went on to win the November general election with 78% of the vote,which was the highest of any candidate running for City Council throughout New York City. [7]
While her initial focus was on constituent services and fiscal responsibility, [8] pedestrian safety emerged as a key issue for Rosenthal when three pedestrians were struck and killed on the Upper West Side over a ten-day period in January 2014. [9] She passed Coopers Law in response to his death crossing West End Avenue with the right of way; [10] and advocated for better transportation services meeting the needs of all New Yorkers. [11] Drawing on her budget expertise,she became a leading voice for MTA fiscal accountability. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
As Chair of the Committee on Contracts she and then Public Advocate Leticia James were alerted to a NYC DOE $1.1 billion computer contract which had been approved by the Panel for Education Policy. Their call for an Oversight Hearing resulted in cancellation of the contract and a rebid. The final cost of the contract was $472 million [17] saving more than half a billion dollars on that contract alone. [18]
In 2017,Rosenthal was re-elected for a second term with 87% of the vote—again with the highest total of any candidate running for City Council throughout NYC [19] —after securing the Democratic nomination again in the primary with two opponents. Rosenthal's support of a controversial school desegregation plan in her district was cited in endorsements received from The New York Times ,the New York Daily News,and the Amsterdam News . [20] [21] [22]
Rosenthal was ranked top lawmaker on New York City Council in City and State 2019. [23]
At the end of her term in 2021,and with advocacy from PowHer and Legal Momentum,Rosenthal sponsored and passed 2022/32 which requires salary range transparency for all NYC jobs. PowHer's post NYC Salary Transparency Law Hailed as Transformative Step Toward Wage Equity,included a quote from Rosenthal,“Our new law shines a light on pay inequity…. Its goal is to level the playing field and restore dignity to those seeking employment…. A brighter light would include full compensation –in addition to salary –and a look-back window for employees to see the salary range for all employees with the same title.” [24] According to the New York City Council 2025 Report, New York City Strives for Pay Equity:The Salary Transparency Law, salary transparency rose by 138% within a year of enactment.
