Page 14 - The Indian EYE 022026

North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

14 FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Mamdani Reshapes City Hall with Key Appointments

Across Technology, Disability Services and Aging

New leadership team signals push for digital equity, accessibility, senior support
and government accountability in New York City

OUR BUREAU with disabilities and her history of advocacy. Orga-
nizations including New York Lawyers for the Pub-
NEW YORK, NY
lic Interest and the Brooklyn Center for Indepen-
ayor Zohran Mamdani has unveiled dence of the Disabled praised her track record of
a sweeping set of leadership appoint- working collaboratively with affected communities.
Mments across New York City government, The third major appointment places Dr. Lisa
naming new commissioners to head the Office of Scott-McKenzie at the helm of the Department
Technology and Innovation, the Mayor’s Office for for the Aging (NYC Aging). A nearly four-de-
People with Disabilities, and the Department for cade veteran of New York City Health + Hospi-
the Aging, while also nominating a former federal tals, Scott-McKenzie most recently served as Chief
prosecutor to lead the Department of Investigation. Operating Officer at H+H/Woodhull, where she
Announced at the SAGE Center Brooklyn at by her commitment to leveraging technology for oversaw major operational divisions and multimil-
Stonewall House — a hub serving LGBTQ+ se- the public good,” he said. lion-dollar construction projects.
niors — the appointments underscore what the Supporters from across the tech and public A Certified Emergency Manager, she has
administration describes as a dual focus: modern- policy sectors echoed that theme, citing her experi- served as Incident Commander during crises rang-
izing city services while strengthening protections ence improving federal digital services and her will- ing from the 2003 Northeastern blackout to Super-
for vulnerable New Yorkers. ingness to confront inefficiencies and inequities in storm Sandy. She began her city career in 1986 in a
At the center of the technology overhaul is Lisa government systems. clerical role and rose through the ranks — a trajec-
Gelobter, who will serve as Chief Technology Offi- Alongside the technology leadership change, tory that supporters say reflects deep institutional
cer and Commissioner of the Office of Technology Mamdani appointed Nisha Agarwal as Commis- knowledge and commitment.
and Innovation (OTI). A veteran technologist and sioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Dis- As commissioner, Scott-McKenzie will focus on
entrepreneur, Gelobter brings decades of experi- abilities (MOPD). A public interest attorney and ensuring older adults can access affordable housing,
ence spanning Silicon Valley, federal government longtime city official, Agarwal has worked at the health care and essential services, while addressing
and social impact ventures. intersection of immigration, health policy, civic en- food insecurity and social isolation. “Our seniors
Gelobter most recently founded tEQuitable, gagement and disability justice. have earned the right to age gracefully with digni-
a platform designed to help organizations ad- Her previous roles include Executive Director ty and respect in the city that we love,” she said.
dress systemic workplace culture challenges. In for Policy and Communications at the city’s De- City Councilmember Lynn Schulman, chair of
the Obama administration, she served as Chief partment of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Division the Health Committee, described her as “smart,
Digital Service Officer at the U.S. Department of of Mental Hygiene, leadership positions at the In- warm and kind,” adding that older New Yorkers
Education, where she worked to improve access to ternational Refugee Assistance Project, and head would be “in good hands.” Advocacy groups such
government services, particularly for underserved of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs under as LiveOn NY emphasized the urgency of strength-
communities. Her résumé also includes stints in the de Blasio administration. There, she helped ening housing and services as the city’s senior pop-
media and technology, including roles connected launch IDNYC, the municipal identification card ulation grows.
to pioneering internet platforms such as Shock- program, and co-founded Cities for Action, a na- In addition to the agency appointments, Mam-
wave and Hulu. tional coalition of local elected officials advocating dani nominated Nadia Shihata as Commissioner of
As CTO, she will oversee the city’s tech- on immigration issues. the Department of Investigation (DOI), the city’s
nology infrastructure, cybersecurity systems As MOPD commissioner, Agarwal will coordi- independent watchdog responsible for probing
and data management initiatives — respon- nate across agencies to ensure accessibility in hous- corruption, waste, fraud and abuse across munic-
sibilities that touch nearly every agency. But ing, transportation, health services and civic partic- ipal government. The nomination requires City
her mandate, according to both her and the ipation. “All of the priorities that Mayor Mamdani Council confirmation.
mayor, extends beyond technical upgrades. supports are critical for people with disabilities,” Shihata served more than 11 years as a feder-
“Technology impacts how people experience Agarwal said, citing affordable housing, food ac- al prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
government every day — from accessing services to cess, health care, transportation and employment. Eastern District of New York, where she held se-
trusting that systems work fairly and responsibly,” “I will work with and on behalf of disabled New nior leadership roles in organized crime and public
Gelobter said. “My focus will be on using technolo- Yorkers to tackle these issues and ensure that peo- integrity units. Her cases included the prosecution
gy in service of the public good: improving delivery, ple with disabilities are at the forefront.” of R&B musician R. Kelly on racketeering charges
strengthening accountability, and ensuring innova- Mamdani framed her appointment as part of and investigations into civil rights abuses involving
tion reflects the needs of all New Yorkers.” a broader accessibility agenda. “It’s not enough for correctional officers.
Mamdani described her appointment as a sig- New York City to be affordable for everyone — it Shihata called the nomination “deeply hon-
nal that digital equity and public-interest technol- must be accessible to everyone, too,” he said. ored,” emphasizing DOI’s role in ensuring city
ogy will be central to his administration. “Lisa Ge- Disability rights advocates welcomed the move, agencies operate “with integrity, accountability,
lobter’s decades-long career … has been defined pointing to Agarwal’s lived experience as a person and fairness for all New Yorkers.”

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