In his opening days at City Hall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani rolled out a slate of high-profile appointments spanning the judiciary, communications, civil rights and policy, setting an early tone for an administration focused on transparency, economic justice and working New Yorkers.
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City’s new administration wasted little time in shaping its governing team. In the first week of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s tenure, City Hall announced a series of consequential appointments that underscore the mayor’s priorities: reforming the judicial selection process, strengthening civil rights enforcement, sharpening the city’s communications operation and advancing an aggressive affordability agenda.
At the center of the mayor’s early moves was the appointment of renowned civil rights and election attorney Ali Najmi as Chair of the newly revitalized Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. Alongside the appointment, Mayor Mamdani signed an executive order aimed at making the judicial selection process more transparent and accessible to New Yorkers.
“While the judicial branch plays a crucial role in our democracy, it is often inaccessible and shrouded in secrecy,” Mayor Mamdani said. “My Administration will promote transparency in how we select New York City’s judges and ensure our city’s judicial system reflects the city it serves, applies the rule of law universally, and does so without favor.”
Najmi, a veteran defense and civil rights attorney, said his focus would be on inclusion and accountability. “A fair and equitable legal system is determined by our judges,” he said. “I am committed to making our judicial selection process more transparent and inclusive to ensure that all 8.5 million New Yorkers see themselves reflected on the bench.”
The announcement drew praise from across the legal community. Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders, said the inclusion of public defenders’ perspectives was long overdue. Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Charge and Chief Executive Officer of The Legal Aid Society, said Najmi’s background would help ensure a judiciary grounded in fairness, due process and access to justice.
At the same time, Mayor Mamdani unveiled a senior communications team drawn from national campaigns, city government and progressive organizing. Anna Bahr was named Communications Director, overseeing City Hall’s overall communications strategy, including the press office, digital media and agency communications. Bahr previously served as communications director for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, worked on his 2020 presidential campaign, and held roles under former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“Mayor Mamdani is modeling a different kind of government — not a billionaire-funded, consultant-driven administration,” Bahr said.
Joe Calvello was appointed Press Secretary, becoming the mayor’s chief spokesperson. Calvello previously served as a senior advisor to U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, chief strategy officer for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and held communications roles for Sens. Bernie Sanders and John Fetterman, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and numerous campaigns.
City Hall also named Monica Klein as Senior Advisor for Communications, focusing on long-term planning and earned media. Klein, a founding partner at Seneca Strategies, previously served as Mamdani’s transition communications director and as a deputy press secretary under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Dora Pekec, spokesperson for Mamdani’s campaign, will continue as Senior Spokesperson, leading rapid response and serving as the principal spokesperson for Room 9.
Beyond City Hall operations, the mayor made a major civil rights appointment, naming Christine Clarke as Chair and Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, reporting to Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. Clarke previously served as Chief of Litigation and Advocacy at Legal Services NYC, where she led landmark cases on housing, disability rights, workplace discrimination and language access.
“I am proud to announce Christine Clarke as our Chair,” Mayor Mamdani said, calling her a tireless advocate for working people. Clarke said she looked forward to fighting for a fairer, more equitable city. Her appointment was welcomed by Mai Ratakonda of the States United Democracy Center and Shervon Small, Executive Director of Legal Services NYC.
Rounding out the first-week announcements, Mayor Mamdani appointed longtime policy and budget expert Simonia Brown as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy, reporting to the First Deputy Mayor. Brown brings more than two decades of experience from City Hall, the NYC Office of Management and Budget, the New York State Assembly, and the Office of the State Comptroller. She previously served under Mayor Bill de Blasio and will work closely with partners in Albany to advance the administration’s affordability agenda.
Mayor Mamdani also announced the appointment of longtime housing leader Dina Levy as Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). Levy brings decades of experience developing and organizing for safe, affordable housing to the agency, fighting tirelessly for dignified housing for all New Yorkers. At HPD, Levy will execute on the Mamdani administration’s ambitious housing agenda, including preserving rent-stabilized housing, financing and constructing new affordable housing, connecting New Yorkers to housing, and ensuring the habitability of all homes in New York.
Together, the appointments offer a clear early picture of the Mamdani administration: an emphasis on transparency in governance, a communications operation built for engagement, robust enforcement of civil rights, and a policy team focused squarely on easing the cost-of-living crisis facing New Yorkers.
