Meet the 50+ officials shaping the mayor’s vision for NYC
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has assembled an administration that balances youth and political newcomers with seasoned government veterans, a strategy designed to address concerns about his relative inexperience in municipal governance. Among more than 50 officials now serving in his administration are former federal officials, longtime city bureaucrats, and longtime advocate allies who worked alongside him during his five years in the New York State Assembly. Dean Fuleihan, serving as first deputy mayor at 74 years old, brings deep institutional knowledge to the role. He previously served as first deputy mayor under Bill de Blasio and before that held the title of budget director. His appointment signals a strategic move to reassure those concerned about Mamdani’s age and management background while leveraging his Albany experience to advance policy objectives. Elle Bisgaard-Church, 34, continues as chief of staff after managing Mamdani’s state Assembly office and his mayoral campaign. Unlike traditional political consultants, Bisgaard-Church is a Democratic Socialists of America member, reflecting Mamdani’s own ideological commitments. Her retention alongside Fuleihan illustrated the administration’s deliberate strategy of balancing progressive values with pragmatic governance structures. The administration appointed Leila Bozorg as deputy mayor for housing and planning. She negotiated New York City’s City of Yes housing rezoning policy under the Adams administration and previously served as city planning commissioner. Julie Su, formerly acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor under President Biden, now heads a newly created deputy mayor role for economic justice, managing agencies focused on workers, small businesses, and consumer protection. Helen Arteaga, who led NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, oversees health and human services. The administration retained Jessica Tisch as police commissioner despite significant ideological differences, signaling pragmatism on public safety. Lillian Bonsignore became the first openly gay fire commissioner and just the second female fire commissioner in department history, bringing decades of EMS leadership experience. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels rose through department ranks as a Bronx teacher before becoming superintendent in two Brooklyn districts. Health Commissioner Alister Martin, a Harvard-trained emergency room physician with public policy expertise, takes charge during challenging public health circumstances. Budget Director Sherif Soliman, who served in three prior mayoral administrations at the Finance Department, MTA, and CUNY, now manages a $115 billion city budget. Cea Weaver, director of a newly revitalized Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, brings longtime housing advocacy credentials from leadership roles at Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Bloc, where she helped pass the state’s 2019 landmark tenant protection laws. Corporation Counsel Steven Banks, nominated for confirmation, previously led the Department of Social Services and served as attorney-in-chief at the Legal Aid Society. Afua Atta-Mensah, who served as political director for Mamdani’s campaign and transition, now leads the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, tasked with releasing a preliminary racial equity plan within the first 100 days. Stanley Richards, formerly with the Fortune Society, made history as the first formerly incarcerated person to serve as Department of Corrections commissioner. Yesenia Mata, an Army military police sergeant and immigration rights leader, became the first Latina to head the Department of Veterans Services. These appointments represent a deliberate effort to fulfill campaign promises while maintaining government functionality. By blending longtime administrators with younger, ideologically aligned staff, and combining the progressive energy that propelled Mamdani to victory with the institutional knowledge necessary to manage the world’s largest city, the administration aims to demonstrate that transformative leadership can coexist with competent governance. The administration’s composition will be tested as it tackles affordable housing crises, budget shortfalls, and strained city-state relationships requiring both vision and pragmatic execution across all five boroughs of the city.
