What's a Public Advocate?

The Public Advocate -- one of three city-wide public officials -- traces back to 1831 as the President of the Board of Alderman and then, in 1937, as the President of the City Council. (Prominent occupants of the office have include Al Smith and Fiorello La Guardia) In 1993, the office was renamed Public Advocate. Mark Green served as the first Public Advocate (1993-2001) and Betsy Gotbaum the second (2002-2009).

The Public Advocate is next-in-line to the Mayor in case of a vacancy and is regarded as the "ombudsman" who answers citizen complaints about government and investigates city services. According to a court decision, the PA is regarded as a counter-weight to a powerful mayor, and can be a powerful voice for transparency, accountability and progressive reform.

The Public Advocate also investigates city agencies in order to prod them to be more effective and sits ex officio on the City Council where he/she can introduce legislation.