There have been several new public agency appointments of note impacting the construction industry recently.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Tom Foley as the Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) replacing Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer who has served in the role since March.  Commissioner Torres-Springer will be departing his position on November 12 and will be joining the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as President for Construction and Development.  Foley is a 23-year veteran of DDC who helped lead the post 9/11 clean up effort and has been integral in the agency’s COVID-19 response.  Since 2017, he has served as the agency’s Deputy Commissioner for Public Buildings.

Governor Kathy Hochul has nominated Kevin Law to be chairman of Empire State Development (ESD).  Law had been the CEO of the Long Island Association for more than 10 years before stepping down from that post in April.  Law is now a partner and Executive Vice President at Tritec, a real estate development firm.  Since the ESD Chairmanship is a volunteer position, it will allow Law to continue in his position at Tritec.

Governor Hochul has also nominated Hope Knight as the President and CEO of ESD.  Since 2015, Knight has served as the President and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and also serves on the New York City Planning Commission.