Indian American Councilman Shekar Krishnan, has been named Chair of New York City Council’s Committee on Oversight and Investigations, considered its most powerful committee to investigate matters that affect New Yorkers.
“It’s time for our City Council to fight even harder for New Yorkers, using every tool at our disposal to hold accountable those who take advantage of New Yorkers,” said Krishnan, the first Indian-American ever elected to the City Council in NYC history.
“From taking on greedy corporations and bad landlords, to ensuring that the corruption we’ve seen in city government over the last four years never happens again, the Oversight Committee will be a fighter for the new era,” he said after being named for the job by Speaker Julie Menin.
“I’m honored that Speaker Menin has trusted me to lead the oversight arm of our City Council and know that with a Speaker and Mayor dedicated to a more affordable city, we will fight for and defend everyday New Yorkers in every way we can.”
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“While chairing the Oversight Committee, we’ll launch investigations against bad landlords, predatory corporations and government agencies that aren’t doing enough to protect families,” Krishnan posted on X. “We’ll ask the hard questions to hold them accountable so they can’t cheat or screw over New Yorkers together, we’ll make New York City a better place for our families.”
Krishnan said he had fought for the last four years, in the interests of immigrant neighbors, workers and families. He had taken on Uber and Lyft to protect drivers from exploitation, and fought to minimize the impact of former Mayor Eric Adams’ “anti-immigrant” agenda.
Krishnan has also been named to Speaker Menin’s Leadership Committee and Budget Negotiations Team.
Krishnan represents District 25, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Woodside, Queens, three of the most diverse immigrant communities in the world.
Before his election to City Council, Shekar was a long-time community activist in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst and civil rights lawyer fighting housing discrimination.
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He co-founded the legal services organization Communities Resist, a legal services organization highly acclaimed citywide for its community-rooted, intersectional approach to housing and racial justice in North Brooklyn and Queens.
Krishnan began his legal career with the landmark Broadway Triangle fair housing struggle against the City of New York, a successful case challenging a rezoning under the Fair Housing Act.
He also co-founded Friends of Diversity Plaza. Located on the border of Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, Diversity Plaza has become a national symbol of how public space can bring people together.
Son of immigrants from South India, Krishnan is also a father of two small children, and husband to Zoe, an immigration public defender and reproductive justice advocate.
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