Althea Stevens
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Althea Stevens
|image = Althea Stevens.jpg
|office = Member of the New York City Council
from the 16th district
|term_start = January 1, 2022
|term_end =
|predecessor = Vanessa Gibson
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|1|2}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Long Island University (BA)
Hunter College (MA)
|website = {{url|council.nyc.gov/district-16|Official website}}
}}
Althea V. Stevens (January 2, 1983) is an American politician who has represented the 16th district on the New York City Council since 2022. Her district encompasses the South Bronx communities of Morrisania, Concourse, Highbridge, and Morris Heights.{{Cite web |last=Ostreicher |first=Skye |date=2021-05-20 |title=Watch Althea Stevens: Candidate for NYC Council District 16 (Bronx) |url=https://politicsny.com/2021/05/20/watch-althea-stevens-candidate-for-nyc-council-district-16-bronx/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=politicsny.com |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
A native of New York City, Stevens graduated from Hunter College.{{Cite web |title=District 16 |url=https://council.nyc.gov/althea-stevens/district-16/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Althea Stevens |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Elected Leaders |url=https://www.cuny.edu/elected-leaders/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=The City University of New York |language=en}} Before her election to the City Council, Stevens was a member of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Tenants Association.{{Cite web |last=Rebert |first=Jonah |date=2021-07-12 |title=How 16th Council District Candidate Althea Stevens Plans To Revitalize The Bronx {{!}} The Bronx Daily {{!}} Bronx.com |url=https://bronx.com/how-16-th-council-district-candidate-althea-stevens-plans-to-revitalize-the-bronx/,%20https://bronx.com/how-16-th-council-district-candidate-althea-stevens-plans-to-revitalize-the-bronx/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |language=en-US}}
Career
Before her election to the City Council, Stevens was a member of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Tenants Association.
= New York City Council =
Stevens was a successful candidate for the New York City Council in the 2021 election. During her candidacy for office, Stevens endorsed reducing the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) budget by a minimum of $1 million.{{Cite web |title=Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Althea Stevens for City Council District 16 |url=https://jimowles.org/news/candidate-answers-to-joldc-althea-stevens-for-city-council-district-16 |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club |date=8 January 2021 |language=en-US}} Stevens' campaign was endorsed by the Working Families Party (WFP).{{Cite web |date=2020-12-11 |title=NY Working Families Party Endorses Four Bronx City Council Candidates, including Lora & Abreu |url=https://www.norwoodnews.org/ny-working-families-party-endorses-four-bronx-city-council-candidates-including-lora-abreu/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Norwood News |language=en-US}}
On the council, she chairs the Committee on Youth Services, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Youth and Community Development.{{Cite web |last=Khurshid |first=Samar |date=2022-01-20 |title=Speaker Adams Names City Council Leadership, New Committee Chairs and Members |url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/11044-speaker-adams-city-council-leadership-committees-chairs-members |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Gotham Gazette |language=en-gb}}
On December 5, 2024, Stevens was one of the 30 council members voted for The City of Yes legislation. The legislation allows the conversion and construction of 80,000 legal and new housing units across the 5 boroughs of New York. It awaits Mayor Adam's signature.https://citymeetings.nyc/city-council/2024-12-05-0130-pm-stated-meeting/chapter/althea-v-stevens-explains-her-vote-on-city-of-yes-zoning-plan
Personal life
Stevens owns two turtles, named Purple and Squirt.{{Cite web |last=Aponte |first=Claudia Irizarry |date=2022-01-02 |title=Meet Your City Council: Learn More About NYC's New Lawmakers |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/1/2/22858693/meet-your-new-nyc-city-council |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=THE CITY |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{New York City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Althea}}
Category:New York City Council members
Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:African-American New York City Council members