BCEQ and Friends Comment on new NYC Parks Commissioners

 

 

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality and Other Friends on the appointment of the Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Donoghue & First Deputy Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa

 Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (BCEQ) congratulates Mayor Eric Adams as he appointed two highly qualified executives who are also women to the Department of Parks and Recreation: Commissioner Susan M. Donoghue, and as her First Deputy Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. Susan Donoghue is the President and Parks Administrator of the Prospect Park Alliance; and Iris Rodriguez-Rosa is the beloved Bronx Parks Commissioner. 

“Congratulations to Commissioner Donoghue and First Deputy Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa. We look forward to working with your leadership team to bring equity to the Bronx in terms of personnel, maintenance and capital improvements.” stated Chauncy Young, BCEQ Board Member.

Dr. Robert Fanuzzi, BCEQ President, commented: “With the appointments of Susan Donoghue as Parks Commissioner and Iris Rodriguez-Rosa as First Deputy, Mayor Adams choose two leaders who make parks the centerpiece of a healthy, resilient communities.  Having worked closely with Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa, we know first-hand what a difference a community-minded parks leader can make. We are Bronx parks champions, and look forward to working closely with Commissioner Donoghue and First Deputy to make sure all the health, environmental, and civic benefits of clean, green parks reach all our communities.”    

Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz said: "Our parks are an integral part of what makes our community here in the north and northwest Bronx special, and it is wonderfully exciting to welcome our new Parks Commissioner Donoghue as well as the Bronx's own Iris Rodriguez-Rosa as the First Deputy Commissioner. Congratulations, and I look forward to an accomplished and dedicated set of partners to work with on behalf of Bronxites and all New Yorkers."

“Today is a great day for NYC Parks as two extraordinary women were selected for leadership roles. I look forward to getting to know and working with Commissioner Donoghue.  While I will miss having Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa in the Bronx with us, I know she will be able to do even more for our parks in her new role,” said Christina Taylor, BCEQ Board Member.

“Iris has the ability to get down in the weeds and work with volunteer parks groups while still seeing the big picture and knowing how and when to say no. The city is lucky to have her experience and the Bronx is lucky to have her voice at the table,” remarked Deb Travis, Jerome Park Friends & Neighbors.

“We thank Mayor Adams for promoting from within the ranks of the Parks Department.  These two qualified candidates who also happen to be women have the knowledge and experience of Parks Leadership so critically needed in these days of budget cuts. We are all excited for Iris Rodriguez-Rosa who is a stella administrator with a keen understanding of the Bronx inequities in all City agency’s service delivery.  Remember the Bronx needs more than a fair share because we are so far behind at 62 of the 62 NYS counties in health outcomes and factors since 2009,” said Karen Argenti, BCEQ Board Member.

Formed in 1971, BCEQ has sought to establish — as an Inherent Human Right — a sound, forward-looking environmental policy regarding an aesthetic, unpolluted, environment protecting a natural and historic heritage. An all-volunteer organization celebrating 50 years of environmental advocacy, BCEQ goal is to advocate for improving water quality, developing waterfront greenways and recreational uses, and restoring shoreline natural habitats, among others.