Comparing every New York City Council speaker of the past 20 years

Christine Quinn is one of New York’s 20 most influential politicians of the past 20 years. See the full list.

The Christine Quinn era certainly had its low points. A slush fund scandal. Her infamous flip-flop on term limits. A disappointing mayoral bid.

On term limits and other matters, she didn’t always stand up to New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Adrienne Adams was a more adversarial council speaker, orchestrating several veto overrides. And Quinn didn’t anoint any protégés, unlike Melissa Mark-Viverito or Corey Johnson.

But she has wielded more power than any council speaker who came after her. The term limits deal extended her speakership – and determined the city’s trajectory for another four years. She responded to the scrutiny of member items with real reforms. And while she never became mayor, she still shapes policy as the leader of Win, the city’s largest family shelter and supportive housing provider.