John Liu

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For other uses of the name John Liu, see John Liu (disambiguation)

John Liu is the City Council Member representing New York City Council New York City Council District 20. He was elected to the New York City Council by the people of northeast Queens (Flushing, Queens , Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Gardens, Kissena Park, Harding Heights, Auburndale, part of Whitestone) in November 2001. He is Chairperson of the Council's Transportation Committee. His service in this position has been controversial and unproductive since the MTA, the city's largest transit organization, seldom shows up for scheduled meetings.

He also serves on the committees on Education, Consumer Affairs, Contracts, Oversight & Investigations and Lower Manhattan Redevelopment.

As Chairperson of the Council's Committee on Transportation [1], Liu focuses public policy on the critical role transportation options play in economic development and access to jobs. He demands, and has secured, more accountability from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA, a behemoth agency infamous for,as Liu says, its lack of responsiveness to the general public. He has enacted legislation improving safety for pedestrians and has initiated public works projects to improve vehicular traffic flow and ease congestion. He has also developed programs bringing yellow taxicabs to areas outside Manhattan--something the city has lacked since its consolidation in 1898.

Liu believes that quality education is key to the future of each of our school kids as well as key to the future of our city as whole. As a member of the Council's Committee on Education, he has insisted on raising standards in our public schools, increasing reliance and trust in teachers to teach our kids and investing city resources in our future generations. He has also been a part of efforts to provide millions of dollars to fund high-tech upgrades to local schools.

As the first Taiwanese-American to be elected to the City Council, he embraces opportunities to broaden representation and access to government for Pacific Asian Americans and for all groups who have lacked a strong voice in government.

In NYC political circles, Liu is known for his many press releases and media advisories. It is not uncommon for his City Council office to send out 2-3 press releases every single day.

John and his wife Jenny have a newborn son, Joseph. They are homeowners in Flushing, living just blocks from where John grew up. Beginning with Kindergarten at PS 203, Liu attended local public schools and then went on to graduate from the Bronx High School of Science and Binghamton University, where he earned a degree in Mathematical Physics. Prior to serving in the City Council, he worked as a manager at the global consulting firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

He is the oldest of three siblings: Robert and Edward Liu (the youngest). John Liu's campaign survived the fraud conviction of his father, Joseph Liu. Liu's father was the head of Flushing's Great Eastern Bank. Officers in Great Eastern Bank have contributed to John Liu, who has raised more money than any other council candidate.