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Councilmember Helen Diane Foster, who was born and raised in Bronx County, was elected to the New York City Council in November 2001. She was the first African- American woman elected to a city office from Bronx County. Councilmember Foster represents the 16th District, which is one of poorest council districts in the city. It compromises Highbridge, Morrisania, West Bronx and Melrose. Councilmember Foster was re-elected in 2005 with 98% of the vote and again in 2009.
Councilmember Foster is not a “yes, sir” type of elected official. She has taken some courageous stands in the City Council, such as voting against the new Yankee Stadium and the water filtration plant. Those stands were taken because Councilmember Foster felt the needs of developers were valued above the needs of the community. Nonetheless, she has worked to make sure that the promises made by those developers to the community are met. Councilmember Foster is often called upon to speak at churches, schools and community events. She uses her role as councilmember to empower communities and encourage youth through access to information.
Presently, Councilmember Foster is the Chairperson for the New York City Council Committee on State and Federal Legislation. She is the immediate past chair of the New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation. She also serves on the New York City Council Committees on Aging, Education, Health; Community Development, and Public Safety. She is the former Co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus of the New York City Council and the current Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus of the New York City Council.
Councilmember Foster attended Hyde School in Bath, Maine, Howard University in Washington D. C. and City University of New York School of Law (CUNY). While attending law school, Councilmember Foster participated in an international exchange program at the University of Havana. She served as a summer associate at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and the Atlanta Legal Aid Office.
Upon graduating from CUNY, Councilmember Foster worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. She eventually moved into the private sector where she served for a number of years as an Assistant Vice President for Legal Affairs at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Councilmember Foster serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Christ Church, United Church of Christ, and is also a member of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is married to Eric McKay, a writer and film maker, and has a 12 year old stepdaughter, Aminah McKay.
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Entered City Council: 01/01/2002
Current Term Expires: 12/31/2013
Represents: West Bronx, Morrisania, South Bronx, Highbridge, Melrose
Committees: Aging; Community Development; Education; Finance; General Welfare; Health; Public Safety; State & Federal Legislation, Chair
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