From 1975 to 1978, Brewer served as director of scheduling for Mary Anne Krupsak, the former Lieutenant Governor of New York. From 1978 to 1990, she was chief of staff to then-New York City Council member Ruth Messinger. From 1990 to 1994, Brewer was director of the New York City Office of Federal Relations in New York in the administration of David Dinkins. From 1994 to 1998, she was Deputy Public Advocate for Intergovernmental Affairs under Mark J. Green. Brewer then served as Project Manager for the NYC Nonprofits Project and worked with the Telesis Corporation, a private firm that builds affordable housing. She was a member of Manhattan's Community Board 7 and Chair of the New York State chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus. In 2000, she was cited by the New York Daily News as #20 of "50 New Yorkers to Watch". Brewer began serving on the New York City Council in 2002. In each re-election vote in 2003, 2005, and 2009, she received over 80% of the votes cast. Brewer has helped to pass legislation protecting domestic workers, establishing the New York City Broadband Advisory Committee, establishing an electronic death registration system and requiring New York City publications to be made available via the Internet, as well as two bills aimed at eliminating graffiti and unwanted stickers.
Committee work
Brewer chaired the Select Committee on Technology in Government from 2002 to 2009 and remains a member of that committee. In June 2004, in conjunction with a graduate student Digital Opportunities Team at CUNY Hunter College departments of Urban Affairs and Planning supervised by Professor Lisa Tolliver, the committee published a study and recommendations titled Expanding Digital Opportunity in New York City Public Schools: Profiles of Innovators and Leaders Who Make a Difference. The report was one of numerous initiatives and events implemented by the Select Committee, which included roundtables, conferences, hearings, and collaborative partnerships. Brewer chairs the Committee on Governmental Operations. Other committees on which Council Member Brewer serves include: Aging; Finance; General Welfare, Higher Education; Housing & Buildings; Mental Health; Technology; Transportation; and Waterfronts. In addition, she co-chairs the Manhattan Delegation, sits on the Council's Budget Negotiating Team, and is a member of the Rules Committee Working Group. Brewer was a member of the New York State Universal Broadband Initiative’s Digital Literacy and Community Outreach Action Team and served as a member of the New York State Attorney General’s Real Estate Working Group/Subcommittee on Enforcement and Mediation, the Foundation Center Library Advisory Committee, and the Information Technology and Communications Committee of the National League of Cities. Brewer is a member of the Board of Directors of the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee; she also sits on Advisory Committees to John Jay College of Criminal Justice and William E. Macaulay Honors College. Gale also sits on the New York Academy of Medicine's Age-Friendly Board.
Election as Manhattan Borough President
Brewer was ineligible to run for re-election to the City Council in 2013 because of term limits. In February 2013 Brewer announced she would run for Manhattan Borough President. On September 10, 2013, Brewer won the Democratic primary, taking nearly 40% of the vote in a tight four-way race. Brewer won the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 and assumed office on January 1, 2014. Brewer was re-elected in 2017. Due to term limits for Borough Presidents, she is ineligible to run for re-election in 2021 to that office.
Personal life
Brewer is married to Cal Snyder. They have adopted several children. Their son Mo Sumbundu, works for Empire State Development.
