Council Member John Liu is the Chairperson of the Council’s Transportation Committee. He also serves on the committees on Education, Consumer Affairs, Contracts, Oversight & Investigations and Lower Manhattan Redevelopment.
As Chairperson of the Council’s Committee on Transportation, Liu focuses public policy on the critical role transportation options play in economic development and access to jobs. He demands, and has secured, more accountability from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a behemoth agency infamous for its lack of responsiveness to the general public. He has enacted legislation improving safety for pedestrians and has initiated public works projects to improve vehicular traffic flow and ease congestion. He has also developed programs bringing yellow taxicabs to areas outside Manhattan. He also vigorously conducts legislative oversight over the Department of Transportation and the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Liu strongly believes that quality education is key to the future of each of our school kids as well as key to the future of our city as whole. As a member of the Council’s Committee on Education, he insists on raising standards in our public schools, increasing reliance and trust in teachers to teach our kids and investing city resources in our future generations. He has also provided millions of dollars to fund high-tech upgrades to local schools.
Shocking as it may be, Liu is the first and currently the only Asian Pacific American to be elected in New York City. Though he wishes Asian Pacific Americans had been elected long ago, he is honored to be the first. As the first, he embraces opportunities to broaden representation and access to government for APAs and for all groups who have lacked a strong voice in government.
Liu attended local public schools and then went on to graduate from the Bronx High School of Science and Binghamton University, where he earned a degree in Mathematical Physics. Prior to serving in the City Council, he worked as a manager at the global consulting firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Liu draws upon his real world fiscal expertise to root out waste and mismanagement in municipal government.