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Melinda Katz is an American Democratic Party politician in New York, and a member of the New York City Council from Queens. She represents the 29th Council District, which encompasses Forest Hills, Rego Park and Kew Gardens. Member Katz is presently the Chair of the Committee on Land Use of the New York City Council, and has held that position under former Council Speaker Gifford Miller and the present Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The Committee on Land Use is a critical part of the land use processes for the City mandated under the Charter of the City of New York ("ULURP"). The Committee is ultimately responsible for oversight over New York City Franchises, Zoning matters, and Landmarks and Historical Preservation.

Ms. Katz is a prominent member of the Queens County Democratic Party Organization.

In 1998 she mounted a campaign for a congressional seat in the 9th District of New York, which was being vacated by Charles Schumer, who would go on to win election to the United States Senate by defeating the incumbent at the time, Alphonse D'Amato.

In a bitterly contested, four-way Democratic primary, Katz narrowly lost-by a little over one half of one percent-to City Councilman Anthony Weiner, who is a former legislative aide to Charles Schumer. [1] Although she retained almost all of her support in the Queens' portions of the 8th congressional district, she was not able to surmount the large amount of support Weiner and other candidates garnered withing the portions of the district within the borough of Brooklyn. Ironically, Katz and Weiner are now each other's constituents—with both residing in Forest Hills, Katz represents Weiner in the City Council and Weiner represents Katz in the U.S. Congress.

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Members of New York City Council Speaker: Christine C. Quinn
Manhattan - 1: Gerson (D) 2: Mendez (D) 3: Quinn (D) 4: Garodnick (D) 5: Lappin (D) 6: Brewer (D) 7: Jackson (D) 8: Viverito (D)	9: Dickens (D) 10: Martinez (D) Bronx - 11: Koppell (D) 12: Seabrook (D) 13: Vacca (D) 14: Baez (D) 15: Rivera (D) 16: Foster (D)	17: Arroyo (D) 18: Palma (D) Queens - 19: Avella (D) 20: Liu (D) 21: Monserrate (D) 22: Vallone (D) 23: Weprin (D) 24: Gennaro (D) 25: Sears (D)	26: Gioia (D) 27: Comrie (D) 28: White (D) 29: Katz (D) 30: Gallagher (R) 31: Sanders (D) 32: Addabbo (D) Brooklyn - 33: Yassky (D) 34: Reyna (D)	35: James (D) 36: Vann (D) 37: Dilan (D) 38: Gonzalez (D) 39: DeBlasio (D) 40: Vacant 41: Mealy (D) 42: Barron (D) 43: Gentile (D)	44: Felder (D) 45: Stewart (D) 46: Fidler (D) 47: Recchia (D) 48: Nelson (D) Staten Island - 49: McMahon (D) 50: Oddo (R) 51: Ignizio (R)