From de Blasio veterans to labor leaders, mayor assembles experienced team
Zohran Mamdani has assembled a cabinet that blends his democratic socialist base with seasoned government operators, signaling both continuity and change as New York City enters a new era. The mayor’s leadership team reflects calculated balance: pairing first deputy mayor Dean Fuleihan, 74, a veteran of previous administrations, with chief of staff Elle Bisgaard-Church, 34, a Democratic Socialists of America member who ran his Assembly office. This strategy addresses persistent concerns about the young mayor’s experience while maintaining fidelity to the movement that elected him. The appointments extend across housing, economic justice, public safety, education, and infrastructure portfolios. Leila Bozorg leads housing and planning efforts after successfully negotiating the City of Yes for Housing rezoning under the Adams administration. Julie Su, former acting labor secretary under Biden, heads a new deputy mayor role for economic justice. Helen Arteaga, who ran NYC Health plus Hospitals Elmhurst during the pandemic, oversees health and human services. School superintendent Kamar Samuels takes the education post after managing complex school mergers in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Fire commissioner Lillian Bonsignore becomes the first out gay FDNY chief. Jessica Tisch remains police commissioner despite philosophical differences with Mamdani on key policing issues, both pledging to work collaboratively.
A Coalition of Experience and Ideology
The administration reflects Mamdani’s campaign coalition. Cea Weaver, longtime housing advocate feared by the real estate industry, leads the revitalized Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. Tascha Van Auken, who mobilized 3 million door knocks during the campaign, directs the new Office of Mass Engagement to drive community participation in city governance. Afua Atta-Mensah, Mamdani’s campaign political director, leads the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice. Jahmila Edwards, an 11-year operative at District Council 37, directs intergovernmental affairs to coordinate with Albany and Washington. This blend positions the administration to pursue both incremental progress and systemic change.
Expertise in Key Portfolios
Budget Director Sherif Soliman brings deep experience, having led finance under de Blasio and served in previous administrations. Corporation Counsel Steven Banks, a former Legal Aid Society leader, takes the law department post and will likely face litigation with the Trump administration. Technology chief Lisa Gelobter, co-inventor of the GIF, leads the Office of Technology and Innovation. Transportation commissioner Mike Flynn, a planning consultant, oversees the department amid promises of free bus service.
Housing and Affordability Focus
The housing appointments particularly reflect Mamdani’s campaign priorities. Beyond Bozorg and Weaver, Housing Preservation and Development commissioner Dina Levy manages rental vouchers, affordable unit preservation, and landlord accountability. Department of Buildings commissioner Ahmed Tigani oversees construction permitting and zoning enforcement. These figures collectively control tools to reshape how the city houses residents.
Labor and Worker Rights Emphasis
Julie Su’s appointment signals the administration’s commitment to worker protections and small business support. Sam Levine, who led the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, now heads the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, going after delivery app exploitation and consumer fraud. This structure enables aggressive enforcement against bad actors while protecting workers.
Diversity and Representation
The administration includes former healthcare executive Helen Arteaga as deputy mayor for health, fire commissioner Lillian Bonsignore as first out gay FDNY chief, Yesenia Mata as first Latina veterans services commissioner, and Lisa Garcia as environmental protection chief with EPA experience. Yet Mamdani faced criticism in January for racial representation gaps among senior leadership, prompting the appointment of Afua Atta-Mensah. The administration continues filling positions in February 2026, with commissioners announced for immigrant affairs, youth services, aging, and disability inclusion.
Building Accountability Structures
Nadia Shihata, a federal prosecutor who led the R. Kelly case, takes the Department of Investigation post, overseeing corruption investigations that may implicate the administration itself. Stanley Richards, formerly incarcerated and now Fortune Society executive, becomes the first formerly incarcerated corrections commissioner, managing Rikers Island reforms alongside a court-appointed remediation manager. Mamdani has created new offices to advance campaign promises while retaining institutional competence. The appointments suggest a mayor intent on delivering both progressive policy and effective government, though tensions between those goals will emerge. For updates on administration hires, watch City and State coverage. Learn more about New York City governance at the official NYC government website. Track budget and fiscal policy via the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget. Understand labor issues through U.S. Department of Labor resources.
