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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                  APRIL 17, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 25

                    Mayor Mamdani Reshapes City

            Leadership with Key Appointments

            New York mayor taps experienced officials across design, regulation and pensions in governance push

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            suring integrity… we can achieve the
                                                                                                                  Mamdani administration’s  goals  of
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  making the city safer,” Rehman said.
                  ohran Kwame Mamdani on                                                                              In  the  financial  sphere,  Ahmer
                  Thursday announced a slate of                                                                   Qadeer has been appointed to over-
            Zhigh-level appointments and                                                                          see one of the city’s most critical port-
            one major nomination across critical                                                                  folios as Director and Chief Pension
            city agencies, signalling a continued                                                                 Administrator of the Mayor’s Office
            effort to consolidate his administra-                                                                 of Pensions and Investments. Qadeer
            tion’s governance agenda around ac-                                                                   will be responsible for managing the
            countability, equity and institutional                                                                retirement security of nearly 800,000
            reform.                                                                                               active  and retired city workers  and
                The mayor named Erich Bilal                                                                       overseeing more than $300 billion in
            as  Executive  Director  of the  Public                                                               assets.
            Design Commission (PDC), Asim
            Rehman as Commissioner and Chair                                                                      Bringing a background in labor
            of the Business Integrity Commission
            (BIC), and Ahmer Qadeer as Direc-                                                                     policy, economic justice and
            tor and Chief Pension Administrator                                                                   corporate governance, Qad-
            of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and  awaiting landmark designation.   administration is emphasising acces-
            Investments (MOPI).                   The LPC has, since its creation  sibility, sustainability and community  eer’s role will involve balancing
                He also nominated Lisa Kersav-  in 1965, designated more than 38,000  engagement.                 financial returns with long-
            age  to  serve  as  Chair  of  the  Land-  buildings and sites, including over   “Design excellence is not a luxu-
            marks Preservation Commission  1,400 individual landmarks and 159  ry; it is an essential tool for inspira- term sustainability and ethical
            (LPC), a role subject to City Council  historic districts across New York  tion, equity, and restorative justice,”   investment considerations. His
            confirmation.                     City.                             Bilal said, underscoring a philosophy
                “These leaders are proof that     “It is an honor to join the Mam-  that aligns with the administration’s  appointment aligns with the
            there is no one way to serve New  dani administration,” Kersavage said,  broader messaging on inclusive ur-  administration’s emphasis on
            Yorkers,” Mamdani said in a state-  adding that she aims to ensure pres-  ban development.
            ment. “They have practiced law,  ervation efforts are carried out “equi-  Regulatory enforcement and  linking fiscal policy with broad-
            spearheaded major public projects  tably and efficiently” while advancing  business  oversight will  fall  under   er social outcomes.
            and fought tirelessly to make our city  broader city goals.         the leadership of Asim Rehman,
            fairer and more affordable.”          Her  nomination  reflects  a  bal-  who takes over as Commissioner
                The appointments come as the  ance the administration is attempting  and  Chair  of  the  Business  Integrity   “I am honored by this appoint-
            Mamdani administration approaches  to strike between preservation and  Commission. Rehman most recently  ment and looking forward to contrib-
            its early milestones in office, seeking  development, particularly as New  served as Commissioner and Chief  uting to the stewardship of the City’s
            to embed policy priorities through  York grapples with housing pressures  Administrative Law Judge at the  pensions on behalf of working New
            leadership changes across agencies  and competing demands on land use.  Office  of  Administrative  Trials  and  Yorkers,” Qadeer said.
            that shape the city’s physical land-  In the realm of urban design and  Hearings and has held senior roles   Collectively, the appointments
            scape, regulatory environment and  infrastructure, Erich Bilal will take  across multiple city agencies, includ-  reflect  an  effort  by  the  Mamdani
            financial stewardship.            charge of the Public Design Commis-  ing the Department of Investigation,  administration to place experienced
                At the centre of the announce-  sion, an independent body responsi-  Law Department and Department of  professionals in roles that  intersect
            ment is the nomination of Lisa Ker-  ble for reviewing design proposals for  Correction.              with some of the city’s most pressing
            savage to lead the Landmarks Pres-  city-owned property.                His mandate at the BIC includes  challenges—housing and develop-
            ervation Commission, the largest      Bilal  joins  from  the  New  York  improving safety and fairness in the  ment, regulatory enforcement, and
            municipal preservation agency in the  City Economic Development Corpo-  trade waste industry, as well as com-  financial management.
            United States. Kersavage, currently  ration, where he worked on housing,  bating corruption and fraud in regu-  They also reinforce a governing
            serving as the agency’s Executive Di-  infrastructure and public space proj-  lated sectors.          approach that blends technical exper-
            rector, brings more than two decades  ects across the five boroughs.    The appointment signals the ad-  tise with a stated commitment to eq-
            of experience in historic preservation   As Executive Director, Bilal will  ministration’s continued focus on en-  uity and public accountability. From
            and urban planning.               oversee  the  commission’s  review  forcement and integrity, particularly  preserving historic neighbourhoods
                Her tenure has focused on pro-  processes and guide city agencies  in industries that have historically  to ensuring fair business practices
            tecting architecturally and cultural-  in delivering projects that are both  faced scrutiny.          and safeguarding pension assets, the
            ly  significant  sites  while  addressing  functional and visually cohesive. His   “By furthering BIC’s mission of  selected officials will play a key role
            longstanding institutional challeng-  role is expected to be central to shap-  combatting corruption, promoting  in  translating  policy priorities  into
            es, including a backlog of properties  ing public spaces at a time when the  fairness, advancing safety, and en-  operational outcomes.

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