Mayor Mamdani Nominates Five Housing Leaders to City Planning Commission

 

Re-nominates Kenneth Knuckles and Anthony Crowell; nominates Meenakshi Srinivasan, Margaret Anadu and Julie Stein  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani nominated five experts in housing, land use, public service and community development to serve on the New York City Planning Commission (CPC): Kenneth Knuckles, Anthony Crowell, Margaret Anadu, Meenakshi Srinivasan and Julie Stein.

Knuckles and Crowell currently serve on the independent 13-member commission, which plays a central role in shaping the City’s neighborhoods and determining how New York grows. The five nominees bring decades of experience in public service, affordable housing, urban planning, investment and community engagement.

The CPC holds public hearings and reviews land use applications from City agencies, elected officials, community boards and private property owners. Its decisions help determine where housing and businesses can be built, how neighborhoods grow, and how the City can invest in open space, infrastructure and climate resiliency. All five nominations are subject to the City Council’s advice and consent.

“Zoning and land use decisions shape whether New Yorkers can afford to live in their neighborhoods and whether our city is built to serve the people who call it home. We need a City Planning Commission that understands the urgency of our housing crisis and the responsibility that comes with shaping our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Mamdani. “These five nominees bring decades of experience in public service, housing and planning. I look forward to working with them to build a city where every New Yorker can live with dignity – with the housing choice, strong neighborhoods, excellent infrastructure and open space that New Yorkers deserve.”

“I’ve seen first-hand the importance of the City Planning Commission in shaping sites and neighborhoods across our city, and I know these five nominees will bring the expertise, thoughtfulness, and commitment to public service that the CPC demands. I’m thrilled to nominate them to this vital position and look forward to working with them and with communities, the City Council and other elected officials, and leaders across the five boroughs to build a more affordable city,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.

“I am honored to be proposed for reappointment to the City Planning Commission by Mayor Mamdani. Zoning and land use decisions are key to the quality of life throughout our various neighborhoods. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing effort to make our great City more liveable and accessible,” said Kenneth Knuckles.

“I’m honored to be nominated to continue my service on the City Planning Commission. The Commission has a vitally important mission to serve New Yorkers of all backgrounds, and few issues are more consequential to our city’s future than creating more affordable housing. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Commission members and all stakeholders to ensure that New Yorkers benefit for generations to come,” said Anthony Crowell.

“It is a privilege to serve as one of Mayor Mamdani’s nominees to the City Planning Commission. I am excited about the prospect of joining the Commission at such a pivotal time, as the city faces an acute housing crisis and the Commission’s expanded role is critical to addressing it. I welcome the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to the Commission and to fulfill the responsibility of serving the public with fairness and integrity,” said Meenakshi Srinivasan.

“There's no single fix for New York's housing crisis, but planning is one of our most powerful tools. I've spent my career getting housing and community investments built across this city, and I'm honored to be nominated to join the City Planning Commission to help shape a New York where everyone can afford to live, work and thrive,” said Margaret Anadu.

“I’m honored to be nominated to serve on the City Planning Commission. As a city planner who has spent much of my career in public service and working alongside communities across New York City, I know how important thoughtful planning is to the future of our neighborhoods,” said Julie Stein. “I would be grateful for the opportunity to bring that experience to the Commission and to help ensure New York continues to grow in a way that creates opportunity and benefits all New Yorkers.”

Kenneth J. Knuckles, Esq. was President and CEO of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (UMEZ) for 15 years. Previously, he served as a Vice President at Columbia University, Commissioner of the City Department of General Services, as Deputy Bronx Borough President and Assistant Housing Commissioner. He also served as legal counsel to several City agencies. Knucles currently serves as Vice Chair of the CPC, and Mayor Mamdani has nominated him to continue in that role.

Anthony W. Crowell, Esq. is Dean and President of New York Law School (NYLS) and a Professor of Law specializing in state and local government law and civic engagement. Before joining NYLS, Crowell served as Counselor to the Mayor in the Bloomberg administration. He began his City legal career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department’s Tax and Condemnation Division and Division of Legal Counsel. He was first nominated and appointed to the CPC in 2022.

Meenakshi Srinivasan served in City government for more than 28 years in planning, land use and zoning. She chaired the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), where she overhauled preservation strategies and introduced regulatory and transparency reforms. As chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA), she oversaw zoning variances, special permits and administrative appeals while implementing new agency rules, rigorous application standards and online resources. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Director of the Manhattan Office at the Department of City Planning. Most recently, she has advised on significant housing, mixed-use, commercial and institutional projects as a senior adviser in the land use and public strategies practices of two law firms.

Margaret Anadu is the CEO and founder of One Weaver, a firm that helps public leaders, nonprofits and developers deliver housing and essential infrastructure. She has spent over twenty years leading impact investing, including in affordable housing, most notably as a Partner at Goldman Sachs, where she served as Head of the Urban Investment Group and Global Head of Sustainability and Impact for Asset Management. She previously served as Chair of the Board of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and is a member of the boards of the Mellon Foundation, New York-Presbyterian, the Urban Institute and Enterprise Community Partners.

Julie Stein is the Executive Director of the Union Square Partnership, the business improvement district and community organization serving Union Square and 14th Street. She leads efforts to keep the neighborhood clean, safe and welcoming for residents, businesses and visitors. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the “New” New York Panel, a joint City-State initiative that brought together civic leaders to develop a roadmap for post-pandemic business district recovery. Stein began her career at City Hall and spent more than a decade at NYCEDC, working in urban planning and asset management.