Zohran Mamdani revealed another four City Hall appointments Wednesday with ties to the Eric Adams or Bill de Blasio administrations.
The new democratic socialist Hizzoner tapped Julia Kerson — who served under de Blasio, and more recently, for Gov. Kathy Hochul, as his deputy mayor of operations.
He also announced Ahmed Tigani as Department of Buildings commissioner, Louise Yeung as chief climate officer and Emmy Liss to head the office of childcare.
The rollout of new appointees came as Mamdani confirmed Manhattan’s District 3 superintendent Kamar Samuels will be the next leader of Big Apple public schools after sources told The Post on Tuesday he would be named school chancellor.
“There are five New Yorkers standing alongside of me with very different responsibilities and unique portfolios, but they share two things in common — a commitment to delivering a better future for those who call the city home, and to lead from City Hall with an unwavering commitment to excellence.” Mamdani said at a press conference.
Mamdani also confirmed Samuels would lead the city’s public school system, though he noted current Department of Education chief Melissa Aviles-Ramos would stay on for a month to help in the transition.
While Mamdani and Samuels have both been critical of the city’s Gifted and Talented programs, they said Wednesday there were no plans to immediately meddle in the classes in this school year or the portal applications for next school year.
And Mamdani, who has been critical of the mayor’s office having purview over city schools, said he would ask the state legislature to extend mayoral control next year.
“My approach to mayoral control will ensure that community involvement is not ceremonial or procedural, but tangible and actionable,” he said.
The Mamdani transition team boasted about the latest appointments’ vast government experience, including Kerson, who currently serves in Hochul’s administration as deputy director of infrastructure.
She was a senior advisor to de Blasio’s deputy mayor of operations, and later went on to work for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, helping to oversee major projects, according to Mamdani’s team.
“To deliver safe roads, clean streets, and fast buses, we need a Deputy Mayor of Operations who is experienced, hungry, and tireless in the pursuit of public excellence,” Mamdani said in a statement.
Tigani, who will lead the buildings department, currently serves as the acting commissioner for the city’s Housing Preservation & Development agency. He took over the position in March 2025, and had served in the mayor’s office under de Blasio.
Yeung, who will oversee the city’s climate agenda, most recently worked for the office of City Comptroller Brad Lander in a similar position.
She served as the director of resiliency for the Department of Transportation starting in 2019 before leaving near the start of Adams’ term, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Liss, the incoming early childhood executive director, has been in consulting after she was hired during the de Blasio era to focus on early childhood efforts, according to her LinkedIn.
The appointees join a growing list of de Blasio and Adams alums who Mamdani is turning to as he enters City Hall.
On Tuesday, he named former de Blasio aide Steven Banks to serve as corporation counsel and gave the nod to another two Adams holdovers Monday.
The post Zohran Mamdani reveals more de Blasio, Adams alums to join his administration appeared first on New York Post.
