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sponsor content What's this? Events The NYC Council speaker was one of the honorees at the Women’s Thought Leader Reception presented by City & State and Kasirer. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Secretary to the Governor Karen Persichelli Keogh and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.
Rebecca C. Lewis/City & State By Rebecca C. Lewis State Bureau Chief October 22, 2026 11:35 PM ET Events New York City Read First New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin celebrated the freshly passed landmark ban on horse carriages Thursday evening at the third annual Women’s Thought Leader Reception presented by City & State and Kasirer.
She accepted one of three awards and addressed the crowd after an introduction by top lobbyist Suri Kasirer. “I can't tell you after the day we've had today at City Hall, standing up to – I'll just say certain men – it really means a lot to have that incredibly kind introduction from you,” Menin quipped, taking a dig at Transport Worker Union International President John Samuelsen, one of the loudest and most brash opponents of the ban. The fight isn’t over, as Samuelsen made good on his promise to immediately file a lawsuit after the ban passed.
But Menin still took the opportunity for a victory lap. “A lot of people said to me, ‘Don’t take this on, you're going to take on a lot of powerful interests.’ ... But that's what leadership is,” she said.
“It’s about tuning out the noise. There are always going to be haters.” Kasirer also honored Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and secretary to the governor Karen Persichelli Keogh with women’s thought leader awards. Even as they spoke earnestly about their own lived experiences as women in politics, both made sure they didn’t end their speeches without a mention of the upcoming elections.
“It’s been a really tough year, and I hope in 11 days we have – the cavalry is coming, folks,” Keogh said to cheers. “The cavalry is coming.” And when Cruz mentioned Gov. Kathy Hochul as a woman who has paved the way for other women, she encouraged attendees to acknowledge the race.
“You can clap for that, we’re all going to go out and vote,” she said.
Source: City & State New York
