New York Note: FDNY Commissioner, Senate Staff Leadership, Manhattan Borough President

August 19, 2024

Mayor Appoints New Fire Department Commissioner

Mayor Adams has appointed Robert Tucker as the new Commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). Tucker succeeds Laura Kavanagh, who served in the role for less than two years. Tucker was most recently Chairman and CEO of T&M USA, a global security firm, and he previously served as Special Assistant to the Queens District Attorney. He is on the Board of Directors of the FDNY Foundation, FDNY’s official nonprofit, along with board membership for the New York City Police Foundation and the Westchester County Police Department. Tucker also worked on Mayor Adams’ mayoral transition team on the Public Safety and Justice Committee.

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New Staff Leadership for NYS Senate Majority

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has promoted two staffers to leadership positions. Eric Katz, who served as Counsel to the Senate Majority, has recently departed. Dorothy Powell will be the new Counsel to the Senate Majority, and previously worked as Deputy counsel. Jonathan Lang will be Secretary of Majority Counsel and Program, and was previously Deputy Director of Majority Counsel and Program. Both Powell and Lang have worked for the State Senate Democrats for over five years.

Keith Powers to Run for Manhattan Borough President

Keith Powers, current City Councilmember, announced that he will be running for Manhattan Borough President in 2025. Current Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine recently filed paperwork to run for NYC Comptroller, and current NYC Comptroller Brad Lander will be running against Eric Adams in the mayoral primary. Powers is term limited in the City Council, where he is currently serving his third term. Although no one else has announced their candidacy for the position, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblymember Alex Bores, Assemblymember Grace Lee, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, and Councilmember Shaun Abreu have all noted that they are considering a run for Borough President.

NYC Council Introduces and Passes Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council unanimously voted to approve a rezoning in the Bronx, which will bring 7,000 new homes to the area around four new Metro-North stations. The Council also introduced a bill that would create an AI working group within the NYC Commission on Human Rights. You can find all of the legislation that was passed and introduced here.

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