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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                  JUNE 26, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 20

                                     Mayor Mamdani Appoints

             Siddhartha Sanchez as Executive Director

                              of Mayor’s Office of Food Policy

            NEERAJ DHAR                                                                                           and more than 100 acres of public
                                                                                                                  land while advancing environmental
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  restoration, public access and com-
                    ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-                                                                        munity engagement. A cornerstone
                    dani has announced the                                                                        of that work was the community-led
            Mappointment of Siddhar-                                                                              Bronx River Foodway – the first ed-
            tha Sanchez as the executive director                                                                 ible food forest in a New York City,
            of  the  Mayor’s  Office  of  Food  Pol-                                                              which demonstrates how public land
            icy (MOFP). Sanchez brings more                                                                       can be used to strengthen food sover-
            than two decades of experience in                                                                     eignty and community well-being.
            nonprofit  leadership,  government                                                                        Prior to that role, Sanchez served
            philanthropy and community-based                                                                      as Interim Executive Director of the
            food systems work to advance the ad-                                                                  Bronx Cooperative Development
            ministration’s commitment to make                                                                     Initiative, where he advanced efforts
            healthy, affordable food accessible to                                                                to leverage institutional procurement
            every New Yorker.                                                                                     as a tool for community wealth-build-
                “New Yorkers are struggling  to                                                                   ing and equitable food systems.
            put healthy food on the table while                                                                       As co-founder of KPS Strategies,
            grocery prices continue to rise. Build-  rector, Mayor’s Office of Food Poli-  that access to fresh, affordable, cultur-  a public interest consulting firm, San-
            ing a city that people can afford means   cy. “Food security is inseparable from   ally relevant food is directly connected   chez  advised  government  agencies,
            building a food system that works for   racial and economic justice, and for   to health, equity, and opportunity. We   mission-driven businesses, philan-
            everyone,”  said  Mayor  Mamdani.   too many New Yorkers — especially   look forward to seeing how Sanchez   thropic organizations and nonprof-
            “Siddhartha Sanchez has spent his ca-  in  low-income  communities  of  col-  continues to advance bold, communi-  its on food systems strategy, stake-
            reer fighting for food justice, strength-  or — access to healthy, affordable   ty-centered solutions that strengthen   holder  engagement  and cross-sector
            ening community-led solutions and   food remains out of reach. I am com-  food systems across New York City.”   collaboration.  Earlier in his career,
            expanding access to healthy food.   mitted to the Mamdani Administra-     Siddhartha Sanchez is a life-  he served as Senior Advisor to U.S.
            Food access is an economic justice is-  tion’s vision of a city where every resi-  long advocate for food justice whose   Representative José Serrano, helping
            sue and I am proud to welcome him to   dent can thrive, and I look forward to   work centers racial,  environmen-  secure federal funding  for food ac-
            this administration, as we work to en-  building on the tremendous founda-  tal and economic justice for more than   cess and infrastructure projects, and
            sure that every New Yorker has access   tion MOFP has laid. Because of their   20 years. He has dedicated his career   managed a philanthropic portfolio
            to food as a basic human right.”      work, we understand these challenges   to serving low-income communities of   supporting organizations focused on
                “Food insecurity is among the   more clearly than ever before. I’m ea-  color across New York City, develop-  food access, affordable  housing  and
            most pressing issues facing our city,   ger to work alongside our most im-  ing deep expertise at the intersection   community development.
            and making high-quality, nutritious   pacted communities to continue turn-  of  food  systems,  economic  develop-  Born and raised in Washington
            food affordable and accessible to New   ing MOFP’s legacy into real solutions.   ment,  climate  justice  and  communi-  Heights, Sanchez is a lifelong vegan,
            Yorkers is a top priority of this ad-  I’m excited to get started.”  ty-driven policy.                family  chef  and avid gardener. His
            ministration,” said Deputy Mayor for   The Mayor’s Office of Food Pol-  Most recently, Sanchez served as   parents migrated from the Dominican
            Health and Human Services Dr. Hel-  icy works across City government to   Executive Director of the Bronx Riv-  Republic. He holds a  bachelor’s de-
            en Arteaga. “It is important to have   increase food security, expand access   er Alliance, where he oversaw stew-  gree in International Relations from
            dedicated, experienced partners in   to healthy food and build a more eq-  ardship of a 23-mile urban watershed   Brown University.
            government, and Siddhartha Sanchez,   uitable,  sustainable  and resilient
            who has dedicated more than two de-  food system. As Executive Director
            cades to serving low-income commu-  of MOFP, Sanchez will also serve as
            nities of color in New York City, is just   a member of the Mayor’s Grocery
            the kind of leader we need to further   Store Task Force.
            our food policy agenda. I am thrilled   “Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is
            to announce his appointment as Exec-  proud to celebrate Siddhartha San-
            utive Director for MOFP, and I look   chez’s appointment as Executive Di-
            forward to working alongside him to   rector of Food Policy,” said Michael
            help struggling families put healthy,   Partis, Executive Director of Red
            affordable food back on their tables.”  Hook Initiative (RHI). “Their lead-
                “I am deeply grateful for the op-  ership, deep commitment to food
            portunity to serve the people of New   justice,  and  understanding  of  how
            York City — the city I grew up in and   policy impacts communities like Red
            have dedicated my career to,”  said   Hook make this a powerful and time-
            Siddhartha Sanchez, Executive Di-  ly choice. At RHI, we see every day

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