Council Member Keith Powers represents New York City’s District 4, covering the East Side of Manhattan and Midtown, and serves as Chair of the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee. In his time in office, he has introduced and passed legislation relating to the topics of more affordable housing, campaign finance reform, and criminal justice reform. Throughout his life, he has been committed to his community through his work in government, and as both a tenant leader, and a civic leader. Council Member Powers’ first bill signed into law in 2018 expanded sexual harassment protections under New York City Human Rights Law to all employees in New York City. Under previous law, employees of small businesses were not protected under city law against sexual harassment. As Chair of the East Midtown Governing Group, Council Member Powers oversees public realm improvement projects and new development in a newly rezoned area of Manhattan to bring new office space and infrastructure improvements to a central business district. As Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, Council Member Powers was a leading voice in the city’s effort to close Rikers’ Island. Council Member Powers holds a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate Center and completed his undergraduate at the University of Dayton.