Appointments Include Former Elected Officials, Civic and Faith Leaders, Community Members
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the appointment of the full slate of 13 members of the Charter Revision Commission (CRC) announced yesterday. The CRC will be chaired by Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, and will be tasked with reviewing the charter and determining how to make New York City’s municipal government more responsive and transparent to the city’s residents. Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York State Conference, will serve as vice chair, and Kenny Ngai, a 20-year veteran of New York City law enforcement, will serve as secretary of the CRC.
The 13-member CRC will review the entire city charter to ensure that the city’s municipal government works efficiently and remains responsive to all New Yorkers. More specifically, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can contribute to public safety and provide opportunities for greater community input and transparency when legislation is proposed that would impact public safety. Additionally, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can better promote fiscal responsibility and support working-class New Yorkers. The CRC will have the ability to evaluate processes for determining the financial impact of proposed legislation on current and future fiscal years, whether the financial impact is funded, and making that information more transparent to the public.
“Today marks a significant step forward towards enhancing transparency, responsiveness in city government, and further civic engagement as we appoint all 13 dedicated members of the Charter Revision Commission,” said Mayor Adams. “Their mission to explore innovative ways for the public to contribute to our city’s governance will be critical in moving our city forward. Together, we will work to make New York City safer and more inclusive for all its residents.”
“I am honored and grateful to be named chair of the New York City Charter Revision Commission by Mayor Eric Adams,” said Carlo Scissura, chair, CRC. “As a lifelong New Yorker, it is truly remarkable to get to continue to serve the city I love. Having served on two previous charter commissions, I am excited to work with my fellow commissioners and to listen to the voices of New Yorkers across the five boroughs.”
“I am proud to accept this responsibility to serve on the Charter Revision Commission and look forward to working with my colleagues to identify ways that we can further the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and, above all, the safety of every New Yorker,” said Ken Ngai, secretary, CRC. “Our top priority is pursuing policies that create pathways to prosperity for all, and I look forward to engaging with stakeholders across the city to achieve that mission.”
The members of the CRC are:
Carlo Scissura (Chair)
Carlo Scissura has participated in two Charter Revision Commissions in the past. Scissura currently serves as president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017.
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes (Vice Chair)
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes is president of the NAACP New York State Conference. She is also a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, a member of the NAACP Executive Committee, and an active member of various NAACP board sub-committees.
Ken Ngai (Secretary)
Ken Ngai is a well-respected law enforcement professional with more than 20 years of experience protecting public safety in New York City.
Kyle Bragg
Kyle Bragg served for four decades at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 32BJ, and retired as president after serving in that position since 2019.
Reverend Herbert Daughtry, Sr.
Reverend Herbert Daughtry Sr. is a civil rights activist who hails from a family that has produced five generations of church leaders.
Ruben Díaz Jr.
Ruben Díaz. Jr. represented his hometown and the people of the Bronx for more than two decades, serving in the state Legislature for seven terms.
Lorraine Grillo
Lorraine Grillo began her public service career as a community relations specialist at the New York City School Construction Authority, serving in several senior roles in the authority before being appointed as CEO and president in 2014.
Christopher B. Lynch
Christopher B. Lynch is a lifelong public servant. For the last decade, he has worked as a substitute teacher with the New York City Department of Education.
Stephanie McGraw
Stephanie McGraw is the founder and CEO of We All Really Matter (WARM), a domestic violence organization founded in 2010 out of her own vicious cycle of abuse.
Max Rose
Max Rose is the vice chairman of The Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security consultancy, and chairman and CEO of Pontis Partners.
Jackie Rowe-Adams
Jackie Rowe-Adams worked tirelessly with youth and seniors as a music specialist with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation from 1986 until her retirement in late 2021.
Bishop Gerald G. Seabrooks
Bishop Gerald G. Seabrooks is the pastor of the Rehoboth Cathedral, a purpose-driven ministry located in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz is the senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York.
