Mayor de Blasio Announces Several New Appointments in Administration, NYC Council Passes and Introduces New Legislation, Special Election in City Council District 31

March 1, 2021

News in New York – Mayor de Blasio Announces Several New Appointments in Administration, NYC Council Passes and Introduces New Legislation, Special Election in City Council District 31

Mayor de Blasio Announces Several New Appointments in Administration

Last week, Mayor de Blasio announced several new appointments in his Administration. The Mayor appointed Meisha Porter as the new Commissioner of the Department of Education, and Lorraine Grillo as the Senior Advisor for Recovery. Porter, who currently serves as Bronx Executive Superintendent, will become the first Black woman NYC DOE Chancellor. She will take the role from current Commissioner Richard Carranza on March 15th. Grillo will take on the role of NYC’s “Recovery Czar” as she transitions from her roles as Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority. As NYC’s Recovery Czar, she will coordinate across City government to advance the Mayor’s recovery agenda.

NYC Council Passes and Introduces New Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council passed legislation that will require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, or another designated agency, to establish a plan to vaccinate homebound seniors for COVID-19. They also passed a bill that will require the Brooklyn Navy Yard development corporation to submit an annual update on the progress of its master plan. The Council introduced legislation that would provide temporary civil penalty relief for small businesses for certain violations incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a bill to adjust certain civil penalties for small businesses. There was also a bill introduced that would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop and maintain a unified scheduling system for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Special Election in City Council District 31

Last Tuesday, there was a special election in City Council District 31, which covers the neighborhoods of Far Rockaway and parts of Southeast Queens. As of Tuesday night, there is no clear winner, with Selvena Brooks-Power gaining 38% of the vote and Pesach Osina gaining 35% of the vote. As no candidate has received 50% of the vote, this election will trigger the first ranked-choice voting count in NYC history. To determine the winner, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate will have their second choice tallied. That process continues until someone gets more than 50% of the vote. The winner will replace former Council Member Donovan Richards, who now serves as Queen Borough President.

Please contact Katie Schwab or Rose Christ of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies with any questions you may have regarding this note or if you’re interested in ways to engage on these issues.

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

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About Cozen O’Connor

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