Mayor Zohran Mamdani has officially named three key appointments poised to anchor his administration's pursuit of broader affordability, accessibility, and justice across New York City. Among the new appointments, Sharun Goodwin will head the Department of Probation (DOP), Yume Kitasei takes command at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and Lisa Garcia steps in as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as reported on the NYC Mayor's Office.
In a move that bolsters the administration's drive, Goodwin, a DOP stalwart known for her innovative contributions over a 37-year tenure, is set to bring fresh depths to empowering New Yorkers entangled in the justice system. "Public safety and compassion are not opposing forces — they are complementary responsibilities," Goodwin expressed in a statement obtained by the NYC Mayor's Office. This appointment ambitiously aims to reshape DOP's approach by balancing enforcement with supportive programs and engagement, which bodes well for a department seeking transformative justice.
Kitasei's appointment sees an experienced city administration veteran now at the helm of DCAS, the agency responsible for managing city government workflows and resources. "As DCAS Commissioner, I’m excited to work with the agency to transform how the City hires and manages its properties and help bring City government into a new era," Kitasei told the NYC Mayor's Office. Her extensive background across different executive roles in city governance makes her a pivotal player in steering the city's administrative engine toward efficiency and transparency.
Lisa Garcia, a force in the environmental policy arena, is tasked to lead DEP through the challenges of safeguarding the city’s infrastructure against the looming climate crisis. "I’ve been proud to fight for environmental and climate justice throughout my career. Those are the exact same principles I will bring to DEP," Garcia declared, according to a statement from the NYC Mayor's Office.
