Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) was among the dozens of elected officials who joined Councilmember Susan Zhuang, the first Asian-American to represent Brooklyn in the City Council and his former chief of staff, at her ceremonial induction on Sunday, January 21.

Held at the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, 7802 Bay Parkway, the event drew a standing-room-only crowd of local residents as well as such luminaries as New York Senator Charles Schumer, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Congressmember Grace Meng, Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Assemblymembers Grace Lee, Jaime Williams and Simcha Eichenstein, and Councilmember Kalman Yeager among numerous elected officials from both sides of the aisle. In addition, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the House of Representatives minority leader, congratulated Councilmember Zhuang through a video presentation. Also in attendance were community leaders from across the 43^rd Council District that Councilmember Zhuang represents.

“This is a historic day,” said Assemblyman Colton, who praised Councilmember Zhuang for the work she has done already since she got involved in public service. “Susan Zhuang is a trailblazer, as the first Asian-American elected to the City Council from the borough of Brooklyn. I have known her since 2014, when she joined my staff as a volunteer, and I know she will work hard for the people of her district, advocating for them, helping to pass legislation that will benefit them, and assisting them in solving myriad problems, as she did when she served as my chief of staff.”