Stephen Levin served three terms in the New York City Council, representing the 33rd District - which covers Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and parts of nearby neighborhoods. He took office January 1, 2010, succeeding David Yassky, and was term-limited out at the end of 2021.
Committee Leadership
From 2014 to 2021, Levin chaired the Council's General Welfare Committee, overseeing the budgets and programming of the city's human-services agencies, including the Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Social Services. Earlier in his tenure he also served on the Education, Transportation, Environmental Protection, Land Use, and Cultural Affairs committees.
Participatory Budgeting
In 2013, Levin introduced participatory budgeting in the 33rd District - one of only eight Council districts to offer it at the time - allowing residents to directly propose and vote on how a portion of the capital budget was spent in their neighborhoods.
Notable Legislation
- Fracking-waste ban (Intro 446-A): A 2016 bill to prohibit the discharge or use of oil and natural gas waste within the city - described at the time as the first municipal ban of its kind in the nation.
- Street-vendor fines: A 2013 bill that reduced fines for street food vendors over procedural violations.
- Affordable housing: Negotiated terms for the Rose Plaza waterfront development and the Domino Sugar factory redevelopment, including increased three- and four-bedroom affordable units.
Neighborhood Advocacy
Levin was active in efforts to preserve green space and public amenities in the district, including work on Brooklyn Bridge Park, the planned Bushwick Inlet Park, and the fight to keep Long Island College Hospital open.
This page is part of an unofficial archive maintained for historical reference only.