Brian Laird on WNYC, we continue now to meet the four new members of the New York City Council

who won their seats in the November election.

And today's new council member is in a category of his own

for being nationally known as one of the exonerated Central Park Five from that wrongful

conviction from way back 35 years ago, arrested when he was just 15 years old and sent to prison

for a crime. The justice system later concluded he did not commit when they found the real

attacker of the woman known as the Central Park Jogger.

Before being elected to city council, Yusuf Salam had already become a renowned motivational

speaker, an author of the book whose title reflects that called Better Not Bitter.

Now he represents New York City Council District 9, centered in Harlem, going up to Hamilton Heights, and down to Morningside Heights,

and the Manhattan Valley portion of the Upper West Side. On his city council bio page, he calls

himself a family man, father, poet, activist, and inspirational speaker. And I'll add to that

with a bit of poetic justice of its own. Councilmember Salam has now been appointed chair

of the New York City Council Public Safety Committee. Councilman, an honor to have you on as part

of the series. Welcome back to WNYC.

My pleasure, and thank you for having me. Can I start by going back to when you were 12 years old?

Your book tells those of us who didn't know that you were admitted at that young age to LaGuardia

High School, the High School of Music and Art. Were you into the arts as a young kid?

I was, and I still am. Yeah, I was never

trained in art, but it's somehow one of the gifts that God gave me. And interestingly enough,

while I was in prison, I was able to really hone that skill to almost expert levels and create some really,

really great things. So right now, some of the jewelry that I wear are actually pieces that I've

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