Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 22 - The Indian EYE 020626
P. 22

    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 06, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 22

                                  Mayor Mamdani Names New

             Commissioners to Lead Key City Agencies

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            taining public trust and delivering re-
                                                                                                                  sults.
            New York, NY
                                                                                                                      Lisa Garcia was appointed Com-
                    ayor Zohran Mamdani on                                                                        missioner of the Department of Envi-
                    Tuesday announced three                                                                       ronmental Protection, bringing to the
            Mmajor appointments to lead                                                                           role a long career in environmental
            critical New York City agencies, nam-                                                                 law, policy, and climate justice. Gar-
            ing Sharun Goodwin as Commission-                                                                     cia previously served as Regional
            er of the Department of Probation,                                                                    Administrator for the U.S. Environ-
            Yume Kitasei as Commissioner of                                                                       mental Protection Agency’s Region
            the  Department  of  Citywide  Admin-                                                                 2, where she oversaw environmental
            istrative Services, and Lisa Garcia as                                                                programs across New York, New Jer-
            Commissioner of the Department of                                                                     sey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Is-
            Environmental Protection. The ap-                                                                     lands, and multiple tribal nations. Her
            pointments, which draw on decades of                                                                  career also includes leadership roles
            experience across city, state, and fed-                                                               at Earthjustice, the New York State
            eral government, reflect the Mamdani                                                                  Department of Environmental Con-
            administration’s emphasis on experi-                                                                  servation, and the New York State At-
            enced leadership, institutional knowl-                                                                torney General’s Environmental Pro-
            edge, and a renewed commitment to                                                                     tection Bureau, as well as academic
            affordability,  equity,  and  justice  for                                                            appointments at  Rutgers,  Columbia,
            working-class New Yorkers.                                                                            and NYU law schools.
               “Working-class New Yorkers     nearly  four decades inside the agen-  justice partners in pursuit of mean-  As  DEP  commissioner,  Garcia
            deserve a city that works for them,”  cy.  Goodwin  joined  the  department   ingful reform.          will oversee the city’s water supply,
            Mayor Mamdani said while an-      in 1987 as a probation officer trainee   Yume Kitasei was named Com-  wastewater  treatment,  and  environ-
            nouncing the appointments.        and rose through the ranks to serve as   missioner of the Department of   mental infrastructure while position-
                                              probation officer, branch chief, assis-  Citywide Administrative Services, an   ing New York as a global leader in
            “Each of these leaders shares     tant commissioner, and deputy com-  agency responsible for managing the   climate resilience and environmental
                                                                                city’s workforce, real estate portfolio,  justice. She said the same principles
                                              missioner for adult operations before
            a deep commitment to public       retiring  in  2024.  Widely  recognized   procurement systems, and adminis-  that guided her career—protecting
            service and a real ambition to    as an innovator, she helped pioneer   trative infrastructure. Kitasei brings   vulnerable communities and advanc-
                                              programs that emphasize education,  extensive institutional experience,  ing climate solutions—will shape her
            raise what New Yorkers expect     employment, and community engage-  having served in multiple senior   leadership at  DEP.  “The infrastruc-
            from government. I’m grateful     ment, including the Arches Transfor-  roles across mayoral administrations,  ture and resiliency needs of New York
                                              mative Mentoring Program and the
                                                                                including  chief  of  staff  to  the  first
                                                                                                                  City are immense,” Garcia said, “but
            to them for joining our admin-    Neighborhood Opportunity Network.  deputy mayor and deputy mayor for   this department and this administra-
                                                  As commissioner, Goodwin will
            istration and look forward to     oversee efforts to move New Yorkers   operations, as well as director of city   tion are ready to meet the challenge.”
                                                                                                                      Environmental justice advocates
                                                                                legislative affairs. She also previous-
            working together to deliver a     out  of  the  criminal  and  juvenile  jus-  ly worked in community roles at the   and former federal and state leaders
            new era for New York.”            tice systems while strengthening pub-  City Council and Manhattan Com-  welcomed Garcia’s appointment, cit-
                                              lic safety through services and support   munity Board 1.           ing her longstanding commitment to
                                              rather than punitive enforcement.     In her new role, Kitasei will be   communities  most  impacted  by  pol-
                Deputy Mayor for Operations
            Julia Kerson said the appointments   “Public safety and compassion are   tasked with modernizing city hiring   lution and climate change. Support-
                                              not opposing forces,” Goodwin said.  practices, improving asset manage-
                                                                                                                  ers said her leadership comes at a
            were central to the functioning of   “When we balance accountability with   ment, and ensuring city operations   critical moment, as cities face mount-
            city  government,  noting  that  agen-  opportunity and enforcement with   align with the administration’s afford-  ing climate risks and uncertainty in
            cies such as DCAS and DEP touch
            nearly every aspect of daily life, from   hope, we create lasting change.” She   ability agenda. “I’ve dedicated my ca-  national environmental policy.
                                                                                reer to city service, but I’m inspired by
                                                                                                                      Together, the appointments of
                                              pledged to lead the department with
            municipal buildings and vehicle fleets   transparency and dedication, focusing   the energy of this moment,” Kitasei   Goodwin, Kitasei, and Garcia un-
            to water treatment and climate resil-  on community-centered outcomes.  said. “At DCAS, I’m excited to help   derscore Mayor Mamdani’s strategy
            ience. She said both Kitasei and Gar-  Her appointment was welcomed   bring city government into a new era.”  of pairing deep experience with re-
            cia bring the experience and integrity
                                                                                    City leaders described Kitasei as
            needed to guide the city through a pe-  by criminal justice advocates, elected   a deeply knowledgeable and effective   form-minded  leadership.  City  offi-
                                                                                                                  cials said the new commissioners will
                                              officials, and service providers, many
            riod of operational and environmen-  of whom said it signals a renewed   public servant with a rare understand-  play central roles in advancing public
            tal challenges.                   commitment to probation models    ing of how to make complex govern-  safety, operational excellence, and
                Sharun Goodwin’s appointment
            as Commissioner of the Depart-    rooted in dignity, prevention, and   ment systems work better for resi-  environmental sustainability, setting
                                                                                                                  the tone for an administration fo-
                                              opportunity. Several leaders praised
                                                                                dents. They noted that her leadership
            ment of Probation marks a return to   Goodwin’s  ability  to  bridge  agency   comes at a time when modernization   cused on delivering tangible improve-
            leadership for a veteran who spent
                                              staff, community organizations, and   and  efficiency  are  essential  to  main-  ments in the lives of New Yorkers.
                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 |