Adriano Espaillat Named Most Powerful Person In Manhattan

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — The news publication City & State published its annual list Monday of the 100 most powerful people in Manhattan.

In a head nod to Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights and Inwood Congressman Adriano Espaillat was named the most powerful person in the borough for 2022.

The power list featured public officials, business executives, hospital CEOs, community leaders, and consultants, but all of them ranked under Espaillat for the most influence wielded in Manhattan.

Here's what City & State had to say about its reasoning for naming Espaillat No. 1 in 2022.

"As the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress, Rep. Adriano Espaillat has played a key role in immigration policy at the national level," reads the ranking. "In April, he met with President Joe Biden about easing COVID-19 border restrictions and introduced a bill to give undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship."

"But Espaillat wields even more influence back home in his district in northern Manhattan and the Bronx, where he supported Dominican American candidates like George Alvarez, who toppled an incumbent in a Democratic Assembly primary, and is backing challengers against incumbent State Sens. Robert Jackson and Gustavo Rivera."

As mentioned above, Espaillat is currently supporting Angel Vasquez against incumbent Jackson in Washington Heights.

Recently, he also backed and helped secure the victory for Carmen De La Rosa to replace Ydanis Rodriguez and Shaun Abreu to replace Mark Levine in Upper Manhattan City Council.

Espaill was ranked as the No. 2 most powerful person in Manhattan for the 2021 City & State list.

Here is the top 10 for the 2022 ranking.

1. Adriano Espaillat: Member of Congress
2. Jerrold Nadler & Carolyn Maloney: Members of Congress
3. Liz Krueger: State Senator
4. Carlina Rivera, Yuh-Line Niou, and Dan Goldman: Congressional Candidates
5. Kathryn Wylde: CEO, Partnership for New York City
6. Al Sharpton: President, National Action Network
7. Steven Roth: CEO, Vornado Realty Trust
8. Damian Williams: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
9. Mark Levine: Manahttan Borough President
10. Michael Dowling: President, Northwell Health

You can read the full list on City & State's website.