The new GOP chief on the City Council told The Post after her stunning ascension Friday that she wants to be a “hands-on” leader while growing the Republican presence in New York.
“We want to grow our party in the senate, in the assembly, grow our party right here in the City Council,” said Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola — who took the helm of the smattering of Republicans on the council in a contoversial vote Friday.
Ariola, born and raised in the 32nd District that she serves, said her focus as the council’s GOP leader won’t stray from her current priorities — which include getting unvaxxed city workers who were sacked during the pandemic their jobs back and making sure “sanctuary city” laws serving even some illegal migrants are used for their intended purpose.
“If the president brought back the people who were in the armed forces without having to get alleged vaccine, why can’t our municipal workers come back?” Ariola said.
“And our right-to-shelter laws in this city were meant for our homeless population,” she said.
Such issues have been debated exhaustively between the council and the Adams administration — but Ariola hopes as a GOP leader she’ll be able to push the agenda even more with the help of other Republican honchos and even Democrats.
“I want this to be a working office. I want this to be an office that is active on all levels of government, from the federal government all the way to the city government,” she said.
“I want to continue to work with all my colleagues even on the Democratic side, and the speaker. It’s very important to have that relationship.
“I was also once chair of the [Queens] Republican Party, and I really had no problem backing a conservative Democrat.”
The longtime Queens civic leader won a Republican primary in June 2021 with more than 80% of the vote and in November the same year was elected to the City Council in a general election by a margin of more than 65%.
She entered her second term unchallenged in 2023.
She’s been behind the push to ban ski masks during demonstrations, which she claims “emboldens people to act out and cause chaos in our streets,” particularly given the rise in local antisemitic protests.
Ariola also has fought to supply all Big Apple firehouses and police precincts with “red-line” and “blue-line” American flags in response to leftists claiming they’re fascist symbols.
She also is working to help crack down on animal abuse.
Since taking office, Ariola has fought for better quality of life in the neighborhoods of District 32, which includes Rockaway Beach, Ozone Park and Howard Beach.
But she said the entire city will reap the benefits of her new role.
“Queens is getting the recognition that it deserves. I mean, it’s been 20 years since anyone from Queens held this position, but that doesn’t matter to me,” the pol said.
“Every single borough will get the same attention that Queens gets. I am not parochial like that.”
Ariola took the helm after a prior vote to name Staten Island’s David Carr top dog was tossed in the trash.
She took home three votes, a majority of the five-person delegation now that former Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) has departed.
Speaking to the inner turmoil of the party, Ariola said she’s not worried.
“There is no animosity. I spoke with council member Carr last night. Our conversation ended on a positive note,” Ariola said just moments after the vote.
She takes the position from Borelli, a longstanding Republican voice in the council, who left office to take a DC lobbying gig.
He was term-limited and slated to forgo his seat come 2026.
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