State of the Speaker

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito delivered her fourth and final State of the City Address on Thursday. Let’s hope it’s the last ever. This lame tradition of council speakers giving such a yearly speech was started by Peter Vallone when he thought he had a political career beyond City Hall; it turned out he didn’t. His successors, Gifford Miller and Christine Quinn, kept it up — and also failed to win higher office.

But Mark-Viverito continues the practice, even though she has no obvious hopes to move up. Indeed, part of the introduction to her speech was a “What’s Next” video making light of her future prospects.

And that silly video set the tone for her equally silly remarks about resisting Washington. The speech hit all the predictable progressive beats and applause lines:

Cooperation with federal immigration authorities? Resist! Free birth control! Comprehensive sex ed! Dismiss warrants for low-level offenses committed 10 or more years ago!

Now, look: New York leaders will surely have plenty of gripes with Washington in the months ahead — but Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo will inevitably lead those fights. Wouldn’t it be nice if the council had its eye on less sexy issues?

Just four in 10 kids graduate college- or career-ready from the city’s public high schools. Yet Mark-Viverito’s only concern was to force new school curricula that reflect the backgrounds of all students.

She had nothing on the homeless crisis or the woes of the Administration for Children’s Services and the Housing Authority.

Of course, de Blasio engineered her rise to the speakership, so she doubtless feels obliged to avoid issues that would embarrass him. But the City Council could at least focus on the nuts-and-bolts problems facing each member’s constituents.

Something for every council member to consider, when the time comes to choose Mark-Viverito’s successor.