He’s running City Hall as a team effort.
On Monday, Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani unveiled a roster of progressive leaders for his transition committees, drawing on a mix of local Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) figures and seasoned bureaucrats from the former Bill de Blasio administration. Two of the new hires—Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser, co‑chairs of the New York City DSA—touted the election results as a “mandate” for their shared socialist platform.
Mamdani’s 400‑person transition squad spans the typical range of municipal issues, from health to economic development, but also adds two fresh groups: one focused on “community organizing” and another on “worker justice.” In a northeastern press briefing, he said, “We’re aiming to build a very different City Hall.”
Gordillo will helm the economic and workforce development committee, while Mausser will sit on the small‑business and Minority & Women‑Owned Business Enterprise committee. Their inclusion reflects the broader strategy of mixing ideological firepower with institutional know‑how.
More than 70,000 applicants from every ZIP code in the city have expressed interest in working for Mamdani’s incoming team, which will start on Jan. 1. The makeup of the advisors appears more seasoned than many expected: former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh joins the government operations committee, Rodney Harrison—known for his roles in the NYPD and Suffolk County police—heads community safety, and Oxiris Barbot, once de Blasio’s health commissioner, takes part on the health side.
Business and real‑estate voices also find a seat: Kathryn Wylde of the Partnership for New York City sits on the economic workforce committee, while Jed Walentas, chair of the Real Estate Board of New York, joins the housing panel. On youth and education, Christine Marinoni—widow of Cynthia Nixon—serves; she had donated a modest $1,100 to Mamdani’s campaign.
A key player on the housing committee is Annemarie Gray, the executive director of the vocal YIMBY group Open New York. An alumna of the de Blasio era, she helped push ballot measures that grant the mayor new powers over housing. “I joined this committee because Zohran is committed to an all‑of‑the‑above approach to the housing crisis that we know New York City needs, one that protects current tenants, while also building homes for future families,” she said.
The two new committees bring a mix of local organizers, labor leaders, and policy experts. Notably, Ai‑jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a 2014 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, and a Golden Globe attendee, will serve on the worker‑justice committee.
Mamdani explained that worker justice is vital because the city has historically fallen short for blue‑collar New Yorkers. He added that the community organizing group is designed to bridge the gap between City Hall’s intentions and the lived realities of residents, stating, “There has too often been a distance between the intent of what City Hall does and the impact of what it actually has in any given neighborhood across the five boroughs, and you will typically find out from the New Yorkers who live there of the ways in which it’s fallen short.”
He concluded that the transition period is an opportunity to learn from past shortcomings and to craft a more effective City Hall in executing its vision.
— Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
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