Mamdani Administration Announces 1,200 Sidewalk Sheds Taken Down, Unveils New Designs to Brighten City Streets

 

Sidewalk sheds across the five boroughs have declined by roughly 15% since start of Mamdani administration 

 

Two innovative new designs now on display in Lower Manhattan prioritize light, visibility and pedestrian space 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Ahmed Tigani announced New York City has reduced the number of sidewalk sheds by approximately 1,200 since January, a decrease of more than 15% in 10 months. 

 

The administration is also advancing new rules to bring better-designed sidewalk sheds to streets across the five boroughs. The new designs will let more light reach sidewalks and storefronts, improve visibility and create a more welcoming pedestrian experience while maintaining essential safety protections.  

 

Two new designs by the architecture firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) are now on display outside DOB headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Earlier this summer, DOB showcased two additional designs by architecture firm Arup. On Thursday, TIME magazine named Arup's design one of its Best Inventions of 2026. 

 

“In the greatest city in the world, New Yorkers shouldn’t have to accept dark, obstructed sidewalks as a fact of life. We’re taking down sheds that don’t need to be there and building a better alternative for the ones that do. That means brighter sidewalks, clearer storefronts and better public spaces that work for the people who use them every day,” said Mayor Mamdani. 

 

“With fewer sheds on our streets and new, more attractive sheds going up soon, we’re making significant progress toward safer and more welcoming sidewalks and open spaces. The teams at DOB, Arup, PAU and public servants across the city are dedicated to creating more vibrant streetscapes, and New Yorkers are already seeing results,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. 

 

“Thanks to the leadership of the Mamdani Administration, significant progress is being made to return valuable sidewalk space back to New Yorkers,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Enhanced oversight by DOB is helping to compel owners to start long-delayed building repairs, leading to the safe removal of hundreds of long-standing sidewalk sheds in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. At the same time, the city’s six new improved shed prototypes, created by our partners at PAU and Arup, are being recognized as a significant step forward in pedestrian-focused design. I encourage everyone to take a trip to our headquarters building in Lower Manhattan over the next several weeks to get a better understanding of how much better these new designs are compared to the old pipe-and-plywood sheds currently seen throughout the city.” 

 

The PAU and Arup designs are the result of a multiyear effort to rethink sidewalk sheds, improve the look and feel of city streets and prioritize pedestrians without compromising public safety. The designs are owned by the City of New York and may be freely copied to encourage adoption across the five boroughs. DOB expects to finalize agency rules making the new designs available for citywide use before the end of the year. 

     

The new Baseline Shed and Speed Shed models 

New sidewalk shed designs by PAU 

The two sheds now installed in Lower Manhattan are the “Baseline Shed” and the “Speed Shed,” both developed by a design team led by PAU. This marks the first time either design has been installed on a New York City sidewalk.  

• Baseline Shed: Available in heavy-duty and light-duty versions, the design features transparent polycarbonate decking and an innovative angled roof that lets in natural light, improves sightlines to ground-floor businesses and creates a more open sidewalk.  

• Speed Shed: Designed for lighter-duty use, this shed features an angled roof made with rockfall netting roof to catch debris while allowing light to reach the sidewalk. Detachable wheels allow the structure to be moved quickly between locations as needed. 

 

Stronger oversight and enforcement 

Following the passage of Local Laws 48 and 51 of 2025, DOB has strengthened oversight and enforcement requirements for sidewalk sheds, including more frequent permit renewals and stronger penalties for sheds left in place when no active work is taking place.  

 

DOB has also established new regulations to reduce the footprint of sheds on large “campuses,” including NYCHA properties and university campuses, limiting unnecessary coverage of open space far from buildings. 

QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON HATE CRIME CHARGE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE OUTSIDE JEWISH-OWNED BAGEL SHOP THAT DISPLAYED ISRAELI FLAGS

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dawood Faisal was indicted for a hate crime for destroying property in May outside a kosher bagel store on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows that displayed Israeli flags. Faisal allegedly knocked over multiple plant stands outside the shop on two separate occasions and, in one instance, hurled dirt at Israeli flags and the front of the store.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, Dawood Faisal, repeatedly targeted a Fresh Meadows business specifically because it is Jewish-owned and featured Israeli flags, and destroyed property as an expression of antisemitism. Bias crimes are an affront to our entire community and will not be tolerated.”

Faisal, 22, of Fresh Meadows, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with two counts of criminal mischief in the third degree as a hate crime. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Hartofilis ordered him to return to court November 12.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on May 15, at approximately 6:18 p.m., Faisal knocked over nine metal plant stands outside Bagels & Co., a kosher shop on Union Turnpike where numerous Israeli flags and banners were on display. Dirt and plants spilled from the toppled containers onto the sidewalk. Faisal then picked up the debris and twice threw it at the shop.

On May 23, at approximately 1 a.m., Faisal returned to the Fresh Meadows shop. He pushed and kicked 11 metal plant stands causing plants and dirt to spill onto the sidewalk. After emptying each of the metal planters’ contents onto the sidewalk, Faisal attempted to kick over a large clay pot nearby without success then he manually uprooted the plants inside that vessel.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Patrick Lynaugh of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force in partnership with the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau.

Separately, Faisal was also arraigned on indictment charges in June of manslaughter, assault and other crimes for the death of 71-year-old Cara Trager in May. Faisal allegedly sped through two red lights on Francis Lewis Boulevard then collided with two cars, propelling one into a crosswalk where Trager and her husband were walking.

ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Sentenced for Attacking Guards While Serving Sentence for Separate NYC Terror Plot

 

Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 28, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced today to 50 years in prison for offenses related to a 2020 attack on correctional officers at U.S. Penitentiary Allenwood. This sentence will run consecutive to the 40-year sentence he is currently serving for his role in plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack in New York City on behalf of ISIS.

“Bahnasawy, who is already serving a 40-year sentence in federal prison for plotting mass casualty attacks in New York City on behalf of ISIS, savagely attacked corrections officers once again on behalf of ISIS,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Today’s sentence will further ensure that Bahnasawy remains in prison, where he can do much less harm, for a very long time.”

“We will prosecute those who aid, attempt to aid, or commit violence on behalf of the pernicious ISIS ideology wherever they may be found,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Today’s sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to fight those who perpetrate violence in the name of ISIS even behind prison walls.”

“Although he was behind bars, this convicted terrorist committed a horrific attack on two corrections officers in the name of ISIS, which they fortunately survived,” said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Today’s sentencing shows that violent attacks by those who support the evil ideology of ISIS or other foreign terrorist organizations cannot be tolerated by our society. Fighting terrorism is a central part of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people, and the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold these vicious criminals accountable.”

Bahnasawy was an inmate at USP Allenwood who, on Dec. 7, 2020, attacked two corrections officers using a weapon made from part of a steel desk in his cell. Bahnasawy stabbed one officer in the head and face, and, when a second responded to assist, Bahnasawy stabbed her in the hand. 

The first officer eventually lost his right eye as a result of the attack. When Bahnasawy was restrained, a note was found in his sock that read, “This is a terrorist attack for the Islamic State.” A pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) was also found taped to the inside of a locker door in Bahnasawy’s prison cell. Bahnasawy pleaded guilty in November 2025 to multiple counts of assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and possession of contraband inside a prison as well as providing material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. 

At the time of the attacks at USP Allenwood, Bahnasawy was serving a 40-year sentence for his role in plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack in New York City on behalf of ISIS. Bahnasawy, a then-20-year-old Canadian citizen and resident, plotted with Talha Haroon and Russell Salic to conduct bombings and shootings in heavily populated areas of New York City during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan in 2016, all in the name of ISIS.  

An undercover FBI agent (UC) infiltrated the co-conspirators’ terrorist plot, posing as an ISIS supporter prepared to join in the attacks. The FBI arrested Bahnasawy in May 2016 after he traveled from Canada to the New York City area in preparation for the attacks, and he has been in custody since that time.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office.

Trinitarios Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For 2021 Murder And Other Crimes

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that RAMON RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Pollo,” was sentenced to life in prison plus twenty years’ imprisonment for the June 21, 2021, murder of Milton Grant during a robbery in Manhattan, the attempted murder of a second man, and other racketeering and firearms offenses. On February 20, 2026, RODRIGUEZ was convicted after a two-week jury trial. RODRIGUEZ was also sentenced in a separate case in which he pleaded guilty to an assault that left a fellow prison inmate seriously injured. U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff presided over the trial and imposed today’s sentence. 

“Today’s sentence holds Ramon Rodriguez accountable for these heinous crimes and reaffirms the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to protecting the public from those who demonstrate such callous disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “Rodriguez decided that a watch was worth more than Milton Grant’s life, murdering him to steal it and then trying to kill Grant’s friend as he fled. Even behind bars, Rodriguez remained undeterred in his willingness to resort to violence, joining fellow gang members in a vicious assault on another inmate.” 

According to the Indictment, other documents filed in federal court, and evidence presented at trial:

From at least 2018 through 2025, RODRIGUEZ was a member of the Trinitarios and an associate of the Shooting Boys, a set of the Trinitarios that operated primarily in the Bronx and Manhattan. Members and associates of the Shooting Boys engaged in murders, attempted murders, robberies, drug trafficking, fraud, and witness retaliation.

On June 13, 2021, RODRIGUEZ and members of the Shooting Boys committed a robbery outside a Bronx nightclub. During the robbery, RODRIGUEZ shot a man in the leg, causing significant injuries. Just eight days later, on June 21, 2021, RODRIGUEZ and members of the Shooting Boys committed another robbery outside another Manhattan nightclub, during which they targeted the victim, Milton Grant, for his watch. During that robbery, RODRIGUEZ shot Grant in the head, killing him, and then stole Grant’s watch from his lifeless body. As Grant’s friend ran away, RODRIGUEZ shot at him as well, attempting to kill him.

After his arrest and detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, RODRIGUEZ continued to participate in the Shooting Boys gang, including by repeatedly possessing weapons. On December 3, 2023, RODRIGUEZ and other members and associates of the Shooting Boys ambushed, stabbed, and slashed an inmate whom the gang suspected was cooperating with law enforcement. 

RODRIGUEZ was sentenced to life in prison plus twenty years’ imprisonment for Grant’s murder, the attempted murder of Grant’s friend, and related offenses, and a separate concurrent term of 10 years’ imprisonment for the prison assault, to which he pleaded guilty. In addition to his prison term, RODRIGUEZ, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. 

Governor Hochul Convenes First Meeting to Advance Evaluation of 2042 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Announces Full Membership of Lake Placid–New York City Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee

Announces $2.5 Million in State Funding for Monument to a Miracle Project Honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team and Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the full membership of the Lake Placid–New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, with nearly 90 members. The committee held its first full meeting in New York City today, marking the next phase of an evaluation of the feasibility of hosting a future Games in New York State.

Governor Hochul also announced $2.5 million in State funding to support the Monument to a Miracle project, permanent tributes to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden.

“New York is an Olympic State. We have the history, we have the venues, and we have a passion for sports that’s second to none,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, I’ve assembled a team of the best and the brightest in sports, government, business and community leadership from all corners of the state to ensure we are in the best position possible to build a roadmap to bring the Olympic flame back to New York.”

Building on the Governor's June announcement of the Committee's leadership group and subcommittee co-chairs, the full Committee brings together leaders from government, business, sports and community organizations. The Committee will examine the opportunities, challenges and long-term considerations associated with a potential 2042 Winter Games in New York State.

Full Exploratory Committee Membership

The following individuals are serving on the Lake Placid–New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee.

Leadership Group

• Ashley Walden (Chair), Olympic Regional Development Authority
• Martin Brennan, Office of U.S. Senator Schumer
• Assemblymember Robert Carroll
• Jarred Jones, Office of U.S. Senator Gillibrand
• Deputy Mayor Jackie Kelly, Village of Lake Placid
• Secretary to the Governor Karen Persichilli Keogh, NYS Executive Chamber
• Commissioner Hope Knight, Empire State Development
• Deputy Mayor Julie Su, City of New York

Games Operations Subcommittee

• Marissa Shorenstein (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment
• Andrew Weibrecht (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Mirror Lake Inn
• Jeff Byrne
• Kelly Cheeseman, NY Islanders and UBS Arena
• Claire DelNegro, FIL - International Luge Federation
• Tom Harris, Times Square Alliance
• Jill Lafer, 92NY
• Alex Lasry, FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee
• Martina Lussi, Grandview Lake Placid
• John Morgan, JFM Sports
• Laura Pegula, Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres
• Jeff Potter, Monument to a Miracle
• Carlo Scissura, New York Building Congress
• Edward Smith, New York Athletic Club
• Craig Weatherup
• Tom Wright, Regional Plan Association

Finance Subcommittee

• Serge Abergel (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Hydro-Quebec Energy Services
• Peter Land (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Media Consultant and New York University
• Cali Brooks, Adirondack Community Foundation
• Greg Carey, Goldman Sachs
• Josh Cohen, NY Mets
• John Collins, NY Islanders
• Sharon Greenberger, YMCA of Greater New York
• David Heidercorn, L Catterton
• Reed Miller, High Peaks Resort
• Bruce Monette Jr., Adirondack Energy Products
• James Patchett, Gilbane Development Company
• Paul Pogge, IMA Financial Group
• Julie Samuels, Tech:NYC
• Rob Speyer, Tishman Speyer
• Blake G. Washington, NYS Division of the Budget
• Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson, Town of Keene
• Ann Wool, United Entertainment Group

Legal Subcommittee

• Anthony Crowell (Subcommittee Co-Chair), New York Law School
• Robert Landau (Subcommittee Co-Chair), NBCUniversal
• Jarrod Bernstein, Morrison Cohen
• James Bilsborrow, Weitz & Luxenberg
• Rick Cotton
• Elizabeth Fine, Liz Fine Advisory LLC
• Adrienne A. Harris, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
• Walter Kane, Cary Kane PLLC
• Bill Kissel, Of Counsel Norfolk Beier
• Randy Levine, New York Yankees
• Alex McKhann, Chelsea Piers Foundation
• Stephanie Pianka, Adirondack Community Foundation

Community Engagement Subcommittee

• Grace Bonilla (Subcommittee Co-Chair), United Way of New York City
• James McKenna (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Uihlein Foundation
• Katie Brennan, Village of Lake Placid
• Victor Calise, Walmart
• John Calvelli, Wildlife Conservation Society
• Adele Connors, Point Positive
• Gary Gertzog, Fanatics
• Dan Kelting, Paul Smith’s College
• Pat Kiernan, Spectrum News NY1
• Tuffy Latour, Bobsled/Skeleton Coach
• Rich Maroko, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO
• Frankie Miranda, Hispanic Federation
• Manny Pastreich, 32BJ SEIU
• Abby Praetorius, North Country Chamber of Commerce
• Andrew Rigie, New York City Hospitality Alliance
• Elinor Tatum, New York Amsterdam News
• Maria Torres-Springer, Charles H. Revson Foundation
• L. Joy Williams, NAACP New York State Conference

Strategic Advisors Subcommittee

• D. Billy Jones (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Clinton Community College
• Joe Martens (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Olympic Regional Development Authority
• Rebecca Dayton, Olympic Regional Development Authority
• Fred Dixon, NYC Tourism + Conventions
• Commissioner Mike Flynn, NYC Department of Transportation
• Steve Fulop, Partnership for New York City
• Executive Director Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority of NY and NJ
• Andrew Heinrich, Project Rousseau
• James Katz, NYS Executive Chamber
• Andrew Kimball, New York University
• Erik Kulleseid, Open Space Institute
• Kevin Law, Empire State Development
• Ross Levi, NYS Division of Tourism / Empire State Development
• Darcy Norfolk Rowe, Olympic Regional Development Authority
• Emma Pfohman, Association for a Better New York
• Basil Seggos, Foley Hoag
• Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, NYS Department of Transportation
• Tait Wardlaw, Olympic Regional Development Authority

Exploratory Committee Begins Its Work

First announced in June, the Exploratory Committee is examining whether a modern, regionally coordinated Winter Games concept connecting Lake Placid and New York City could be feasible under the International Olympic Committee's current hosting requirements.

The Committee is guided by a Leadership Group chaired by Olympic Regional Development Authority President and CEO Ashley Walden and supported by five subcommittees focused on Games Operations, Finance, Legal, Community Engagement and Strategic Advisors.

The full Committee convened October 19 at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan for briefings on the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, perspectives from Milano Cortina 2026, and Lake Placid and New York City's experience hosting major events, most recently the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Over the course of the exploratory process, members will examine Lake Placid and New York’s existing infrastructure and operational capabilities, financial and governance models, and opportunities for a multi-region Winter Games concept to deliver long-term community and economic benefits. The Committee will engage communities across the state and solicit public input to shape the findings and recommendations outlined in its final report.

The exploratory process is expected to continue over approximately one year, with findings and recommendations provided to State leadership for review. The effort is not a formal Olympic or Paralympic bid, and no final decision has been made to pursue hosting.

Building on New York's Olympic Legacy

Lake Placid hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1932 and 1980 and continues to welcome international competitions, national teams and visitors from around the world. More than $750 million in State investments has modernized the region's Olympic sports infrastructure, supporting year-round recreation, athlete development and international competition.

Together with New York City's global connectivity, world-class venues, hospitality capacity and experience hosting major international events, these existing assets provide a foundation for exploring a modern, regional approach to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Attorney General James Urges New Yorkers to Vote by Mail with Confidence as Key Deadlines Approach

 

AG James Reminds Voters That Saturday, October 24 Is the Last Day to Request a Mail Ballot Online or by Mail

New York Attorney General Letitia James today reminded New Yorkers that voting by mail is safe and secure, and urged voters who plan to vote by mail to request and return their ballots as soon as possible. With early voting beginning this Saturday, October 24, Attorney General James emphasized that New Yorkers can be confident their ballot will be counted, no matter how they choose to cast it. Saturday, October 24 is also the last day to request a mail ballot online or by mail.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG)’s Election Protection Hotline will be available to help voters resolve problems from Saturday, October 24 through Wednesday, November 4. New Yorkers can call 866-390-2992 or submit a complaint online.

“No matter how they vote, New Yorkers should feel confident their ballots will be counted,” said Attorney General James. “Mail voting in New York is safe, secure, and trusted by New Yorkers in every corner of our state. When the federal government tried to attack mail ballots, we went to court and stopped it. I am urging New Yorkers not to let anyone shake their confidence in our election system. Request your ballot, send it back early, and make your voice heard.”

New York’s mail voting system has strong safeguards at every step. Bipartisan teams of election workers review every mail ballot envelope and check each voter’s signature against their registration record. Once officials process a ballot, they update the voter’s record so no one can vote twice. If a ballot envelope has a fixable problem, such as a missing signature, election officials must notify the voter and give them a chance to fix it. Voters can follow their ballot from application to count using the State Board of Elections’ online ballot tracker.

Any registered voter can request a mail ballot without any excuse or justification. These differ from absentee ballots, which are offered to voters unable to vote in person for a specific, stated reason. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county Board of Elections by one week after Election Day – Tuesday, November 10 – to count.

Because of changes in how the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) applies postmarks, a ballot dropped in a mailbox will not likely be postmarked until the next day or later. Attorney General James encourages voters to mail in their ballots as early as possible and, if mailing close to Election Day, to ask for a free hand-stamped postmark at a post office counter. Alternatively, voters can drop their ballots off in person at their county Board of Elections, any early voting site in their county, or any open poll site in their county by 9 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can even go to their local BOE office, request and complete an early mail ballot, and submit it all in the same trip.

Attorney General James reassures voters that mail voting in New York will work this fall exactly as state law provides. In August, at the president’s direction, USPS issued a rule that would have allowed the agency to refuse to deliver mail ballots to eligible voters whose names were not on a new federal list, or whose envelopes did not meet new federal requirements. Attorney General James and a coalition sued and secured a court order blocking the rule, which the U.S. Supreme Court later upheld. In June, the Supreme Court also rejected an effort to require that mail ballots arrive by Election Day, preserving New York’s law that ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive within seven days. After months of attacking mail voting, even the president is now encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail.

New Yorkers voting by mail in the November 3 general election should keep these deadlines in mind:

• Saturday, October 24: Last day that county boards of elections will process mail ballot applications submitted online, by mail, email, or fax. It is also the last day to register to vote.
• Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1: Early voting. Anyone can drop off their completed mail ballot at any early voting site in their county.
• Monday, November 2: Last day to apply for a mail ballot in person at a county board of elections.
• Tuesday, November 3, Election Day: Mailed ballots must be postmarked by today. Voters can also drop off their ballots at any poll site in their county or at their county board of elections until 9:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 10: Last day for mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive.

Attorney General James also offers the following tips for New Yorkers voting by mail:

• Apply online now. Voters who have not yet requested their ballot can apply online through the State Board of Elections. A paper application mailed this week may not arrive before the October 24 deadline.
• Skip the mail, if preferred. Ballots can be returned in person at any early voting site or Election Day poll site in a voter’s county, or at their county board of elections.
• Make sure to sign. Follow the instructions that come with the ballot and sign and date the envelope where indicated.
• Track a ballot. Voters can visit voterlookup.elections.ny.gov to confirm their county board of elections received and counted their ballot. Voters in New York City can visit requestballot.vote.nyc/tracking to track their ballot.
• Changed your mind? You can still vote in person. Voters who requested, but have not submitted, a mail ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. Once it is verified that you have not submitted a ballot already, your vote will be counted.

New Yorkers who run into problems voting by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day can contact the Office of the Attorney General’s Election Protection Hotline at (866) 390-2992 or submit a complaint online.

Mayor Mamdani Announces New Appointees for Civilian Complaint Review Board

 

Appointees bring experience in criminal prosecution, public defense, education and social justice 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced new appointees to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the nation’s largest independent police oversight agency.

Under the leadership of CCRB Chair Jennifer Jones Austin, these appointees will advance the Mamdani administration’s whole-of-government approach to public safety by strengthening police accountability, building public trust and ensuring every New Yorker is treated with dignity. Independent oversight is essential to ensuring that New Yorkers can trust the institutions charged with keeping them safe.

June Northern will continue to serve as a member of the CCRB Board.

“I am proud to announce these new appointments to the Civilian Complaint Review Board,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Public safety is impossible without accountability. New Yorkers deserve an oversight system that operates with transparency and integrity. These new board members will advance that mission and strengthen the public’s trust in our city’s government.”

“On behalf of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, I welcome Mayor Mamdani's Board appointees, and I express heartfelt gratitude to departing Board members who served out their terms with dedication,” said Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, Jennifer Jones Austin.”

About the Members of the Civilian Complaint Review Board

Reginald Greene

Reginald Greene is a mediator on the JAMS Jed Melnick Team, which provides alternative dispute resolution services in complex commercial disputes. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney, and Deputy Chief of Legislation and Policy at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Greene began his career as a Teach For America corps member before becoming Founding Principal at KIPP Philosophers Academy and Vice President and Superintendent of Schools at Para Los Niños. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Reginald Greene said, “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani for the immense honor and opportunity to serve the people of our great city once more.”

Lisa Hoyes

Lisa Hoyes is the Assistant Dean for Public Service at New York University School of Law, where she leads the Public Interest Law Center. Before joining NYU Law, Hoyes spent more than fifteen years as a public interest attorney, including six years as an Assistant Federal Defender at the Federal Defenders of New York and nearly eight years at the Bronx Defenders. She also worked at the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama and began her legal career as a Soros Justice Fellow at the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice and The Door’s Legal Services Center. Hoyes earned her J.D. from NYU Law, where she was a Root-Tilden-Kern Scholar, and her B.A. from SUNY Purchase.

Lisa Hoyes said: "I’m honored to join the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Having spent much of my career representing people impacted by the criminal legal system, I understand the importance of meaningful police accountability and independent civilian oversight. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to help ensure that complaints of police misconduct receive thorough and fair review."

Lisa Landau

Lisa Landau is the Executive Director of the Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham School of Law. She previously served as General Counsel for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and as the Chief of the Health Care Bureau at the New York State Attorney General’s Office. She spent the early years of her legal career at the International Rescue Committee, The Legal Aid Society and at the ACLU. She received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and her JD from NYU School of Law.

Lisa Landau said, "I am honored to join the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board to do my utmost to ensure that complaints of misconduct are investigated and reviewed — with impartiality, and with a deep commitment to our NYC communities. As an attorney serving the public over my career, I am dedicated to bringing my social justice experience to the CCRB to help protect civilian rights, and ensure fair, independent oversight for all New Yorkers."

Wesner Pierre

Wesner Pierre is CEO of Partnership With Children, a 118-year-old nonprofit advancing youth mental health and well-being across New York City. A longtime leader in youth development, community-based services and violence prevention, Pierre has dedicated his career to strengthening institutions and creating conditions in which young people and communities can thrive. Previously, he served as Vice President at CAMBA, Inc., where he launched Brownsville In Violence Out (BIVO), a community-based gun violence prevention initiative. At The Harlem Children’s Zone, he held an executive leadership role overseeing large-scale youth development and educational programs. He began his career as Director of a Beacon Community Center. Pierre is an Aspen Institute Fellow and a founding board member of the CUNY School of Professional Studies’ master's in youth studies program, where he has also served as an adjunct professor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York and a master’s degree in urban affairs from Queens College. He was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens.

Wesner Pierre said, “I am deeply honored to serve on New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board. Growing up in South Jamaica, Queens, and spending my career working alongside young people, families and communities, I have seen firsthand how our experiences with institutions shape our sense of trust, dignity and belonging. I believe institutions have a responsibility to listen, examine themselves, and hold themselves accountable to the people they serve. I look forward to bringing my lived and professional experiences to this work and helping build a city where fairness, accountability and trust are more than ideals but experiences shared by all New Yorkers.”