Categories: New York City
01.27.2026
The new year marks a new City administration and council, along with new prospects and opportunities for the Network to advance supportive housing across New York City.
After running a historic volunteer-led campaign centered on affordability for all New Yorkers, New York City’s 112th mayor, Zohran Mamdani, began his term with a slew of appointments and executive orders. Among the many deputy mayors, commissioners, and agency officials who will influence the city’s landscape in the coming years, several key appointees directly impact supportive housing and homelessness policy. They include:
Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor of Housing and Planning. Bozorg is an urban planner and housing policy expert with experience in city and federal government, including senior roles focused on expanding and preserving affordable housing. Prior to this appointment, she was Executive Director for Housing in the Mayor’s Office and has worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Dr. Helen Arteaga, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services. Dr. Arteaga is a public health executive with a long career in New York City’s public hospital system, most recently serving as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. She brings deep experience advancing health equity and improving access to care for underserved communities across the five boroughs.
Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Levy is a housing and tenant advocacy leader with previous senior roles at New York State Homes and Community Renewal and the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Sherif Soliman, Director of Office of Management and Budget. Soliman is a longtime public finance and government operations figure with experience managing large-scale budgets and public institutions. He most recently served as Senior Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance and Chief Financial Officer at The City University of New York.
Ahmed Tigani, Commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB). After serving as Acting Commissioner of HPD last year, Tigani will be leveraging his experience in housing policy and city government in his new role as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Buildings, where he will oversee building safety, permitting, and code enforcement.
Other appointees shaping the city’s health and housing agenda include Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, and Cea Weaver, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants. In coordination with HPD, DOB, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the newly established Office of Mass Engagement, Weaver’s office will host “Rental Ripoff” hearings citywide within the first 100 days of the new administration.
Another major change in City Hall is the election of Julie Menin as the new Speaker of the New York City Council. Prior to representing District 5, Speaker Menin was an attorney and nonprofit founder and held leadership roles with Manhattan Community Board 1, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and the NYC Office of the Census. Speaker Menin also announced new council committee assignments, setting the stage for the Council’s legislative and oversight priorities over the next four years. Below, we highlight the committee chairs whose portfolios intersect with the work of the Network and the supportive housing community.
• Crystal Hudson (District 35) is Chair of the Committee on General Welfare, which oversees the city’s homeless shelter system and other social services deeply connected to supportive housing.
• Tiffany Cabán (District 22) is Chair of the Committee on Mental Health and Addiction, which focuses on policy related to mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use services, primarily through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
• Pierina Sanchez (District 14) is Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, which handles housing policy, building safety and enforcement, and rent regulation issues.
• Lincoln Restler (District 33) is Chair of the Committee on Contracts, which oversees the city’s procurement policies and procedures, including government-nonprofit contracts.
• Linda Lee (District 23) is Chair of the Committee on Finance, which leads the Council’s work on the city budget, including the annual budget process and agency funding decisions.
• Lynn Schulman (District 29) is Chair of the Committee on Health, which addresses the city’s health-related issues through DOHMH, Emergency Medical Services, and the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Susan Zhuang (District 43) is Chair of the Committee on Aging, which advances policy and programs for older New Yorkers, including the priorities of the Department for the Aging.
• Selvena Brooks-Powers (District 31) is Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice, which oversees the Department of Correction and the Department of Probation.
• Kevin C. Riley (District 12) is Chair of the Committee on Land Use, which is responsible for the Council’s review of major land use actions, including zoning, landmarks, and public siting decisions.
The Network congratulates the members of the new City administration and council. We look forward to partnering with them in the years ahead to ensure more New Yorkers have access to the stable housing and supportive services needed to thrive in our city.