URGENT UPDATE: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is taking swift action to build his administration as his transition team launches an online hiring portal today. This new initiative is designed to recruit potential staff for City Hall, allowing applicants to submit their resumes and identify their areas of expertise in crucial sectors such as climate, housing, and education.
At a press conference on November 5, Mamdani emphasized his commitment to assembling a capable and compassionate team that aligns with his affordability-focused platform. “As we begin the transition to a new era, this resume portal will allow us to roll up our sleeves, hit the ground running, and enact the agenda that got Zohran elected,” said Elana Leopold, the transition’s executive director.
With a city government comprising more than 300,000 employees and managing a budget of $115 billion, Mamdani faces scrutiny regarding his executive experience, having served only four years as a Queens Assembly member. Nevertheless, he is determined to create a City Hall that delivers on the promises made during his campaign.
The hiring portal opens today, inviting applicants to showcase their skills in project management, policy, and communications. This move has been praised by Grace Rauh, executive director of the good government group Citizens Union, who highlighted the portal as a strong sign of Mamdani’s intent to attract new talent to city government. “This may seem basic, but it’s actually a strong sign that Mamdani intends to bring in new talent to city government,” Rauh posted on social media.
Mamdani’s transition team also announced the appointment of five women in leadership roles, including Maria Torres-Springer, former first deputy mayor, and Lina Khan, the former Federal Trade Commission chair under ex-President Joe Biden. These experienced bureaucrats will play key roles as Mamdani moves forward with his administration.
While Mamdani has yet to reveal his choices for top positions, such as first deputy mayor and Department of Education chancellor, he has expressed interest in retaining current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. However, it remains uncertain whether Tisch will continue under the new administration past December 31, the end of the outgoing mayor’s term.
As Mamdani heads to the annual SOMOS conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico today, where he is scheduled to arrive by 6 p.m. for a press conference and welcome reception alongside New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the political landscape of New York is abuzz with speculation on how he will fill the top ranks of his administration.
Stay tuned for more updates as Mamdani’s transition unfolds, shaping the future of New York City governance.
