NEW YORK (WABC) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani held a press conference on Monday morning where he announced his first deputy mayor and his chief of staff.
Mamdani announced he is appointing Dean Fuleihan as his first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani’s longtime chief of staff, will hold the same title when he becomes mayor.
“The work of government begins here, by ensuring that those we choose to lead it do so with a singular goal: delivering for working New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “With Dean Fuleihan as First Deputy Mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as Chief of Staff, I have no doubt we will build a powerful and competent administration that delivers an affordable, livable city for working people.”
Fuleihan was also former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first deputy mayor and has been advising Mamdani since he won the primary.
He is expected to be one of many former de Blasio administration officials to join the Mamdani administration in the coming months.
The 74-year-old was a director of operations under the Giuliani Administration with decades in the State Assembly. Fuleihan is the son of Lebanese immigrants.
“I’ve spent my entire career guided by a commitment to serving working New Yorkers. Today, we stand at an exciting moment of promise for our city. I’m grateful to help build and carry out this vision for a new era of leadership, and to ensure that City Hall deploys all of the tools at its disposal to deliver on Zohran Mamdani’s affordability agenda,” Fuleihan said.
Rep. Ritchie Torres called Fuleihan an “exceptional appointment.”
“There are few people on earth who know the workings of city and state government as deeply as Dean Fuleihan, who has served as the First Deputy Mayor of NYC, the Director of NYC OMB, the chief fiscal advisor to the Assembly Speaker, and a seasoned negotiator on the state budget. An exceptional appointment in more ways than one,” Torres said.
And Bisgaard-Church is credited for bringing a bold and progressive vision to help drive change at City Hall.
The appointments come just six days after Mamdani’s historic election victory. Bisgaard-Church told reporters on Monday that the victory is a mandate for change.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to lead the campaign that brought hope back to New York City. Now, with sleeves rolled up, I look forward to delivering on the Mayor-elect’s affordability agenda and demonstrating what a well-run City Hall can do for everyday New Yorkers.” Bisgaard-Church said.
The focus now shifts to the NYPD. Mamdani has asked Jessica Tisch to remain as commissioner, but her plans are still unclear.
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