The first Borough President of Brooklyn was elected in November of 1897, as Brooklyn became part of a consolidated New York City. The borough president is an advocate for the entire Borough of Brooklyn and all its residents, who represents the borough's interests within city government and presents Brooklyn's priorities to the state and federal governments as well. He works with the mayor in preparing the annual executive budget presented to the City Council, and also communicates Brooklyn's budget priorities directly to the council.

The borough president reviews major land use decisions and proposes sites for city facilities within Brooklyn. As chair of the Borough Service Cabinet, he convenes hearings to receive city agencies' testimony on issues of public concern.

As chair of the Borough Board, the borough president leads the Brooklyn City Council delegation and the borough's Community Board chairs in the review and approval process for transfer of public properties in Brooklyn to private use, and the review of uniform land use applications.

The borough president monitors the delivery of city services in Brooklyn, intervening where problems arise. He appoints one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 900 members to Brooklyn's community boards. The community boards, in turn, assess the needs of their delivery of city services in their districts, hold public meetings on issues of concern to district residents, and review uniform land use applications. Community boards may also initiate a community-planning process for their districts under §197-a of the New York City Charter.