Cynthia Nixon speaks at a 'Get Out the Vote' rally with women for de Blasio November, 2013
Photo: Splash News
Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio hasn’t named any key figures in his administration yet — but he’s got plenty of new advisers.
On Wednesday, de Blasio announced a transition committee that includes a staggering 60 members — a number of whom were prominent campaign donors and supporters.
The list includes “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon; former Clinton White House Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes; Bertha Lewis of the old ACORN grass-roots organization; and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, partner of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
“It is a group of people who share a progressive vision for the future of the city, who are known in their fields of endeavor as being effective and strong leaders, and who share a clear commitment to diversity in leadership for the future of the city,” said de Blasio, who announced the committee at a transition-ideas center in lower Manhattan.
Leaders in the social-justice, nonprofit and activism sectors made up a disproportionate share of those appointed to help the mayor-elect choose top administrative officials, advise on policy ideas and even help guide his approach to the budget.
There are 20 committee members in those fields, compared with just two in real estate, four in education, three in health and one in environment.
Those in the cultural and arts fields outnumbered financial and business leaders eight to seven, while there were five religious leaders.
The head of Local 1199 SEIU, George Gresham — the only major union to back de Blasio early on — and the president of Forest City Ratner Companies, MaryAnne Gilmartin, both made the cut.
The company’s chairman, Bruce Ratner, raised at least $73,000 for de Blasio’s campaign.
Asked if committee members could themselves be appointed to top posts, de Blasio spokeswoman Lis Smith would not rule out that possibility.
“The members of the transition committee are not looking for or seeking jobs in the administration,” she said.
De Blasio also said he had met with at least three candidates vying for the police commissioner’s job: former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, Chief of Department Philip Banks III and First Deputy Police Commissioner Rafael Pineiro.
The mayor-elect said he has a preference — but not a requirement — for a New Yorker or someone with city experience.
Despite having just six weeks before he takes office on Jan. 1, de Blasio said he was comfortable with the pace of the transition and with the caliber of talent available for top spots.
“We feel great about where we stand and the time line,” he said. “We think that the committee we’ve announced today will, in fact, speed that process further.”
When Michael Bloomberg was making his transition in late 2001, he waited until Dec. 20 to name seven commissioners and until Dec. 28 to name a handful of other agency heads.
On Wednesday, de Blasio announced a transition committee that includes a staggering 60 members — a number of whom were prominent campaign donors and supporters.
The list includes “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon; former Clinton White House Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes; Bertha Lewis of the old ACORN grass-roots organization; and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, partner of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
“It is a group of people who share a progressive vision for the future of the city, who are known in their fields of endeavor as being effective and strong leaders, and who share a clear commitment to diversity in leadership for the future of the city,” said de Blasio, who announced the committee at a transition-ideas center in lower Manhattan.
Leaders in the social-justice, nonprofit and activism sectors made up a disproportionate share of those appointed to help the mayor-elect choose top administrative officials, advise on policy ideas and even help guide his approach to the budget.
There are 20 committee members in those fields, compared with just two in real estate, four in education, three in health and one in environment.
Those in the cultural and arts fields outnumbered financial and business leaders eight to seven, while there were five religious leaders.
The head of Local 1199 SEIU, George Gresham — the only major union to back de Blasio early on — and the president of Forest City Ratner Companies, MaryAnne Gilmartin, both made the cut.
The company’s chairman, Bruce Ratner, raised at least $73,000 for de Blasio’s campaign.
Asked if committee members could themselves be appointed to top posts, de Blasio spokeswoman Lis Smith would not rule out that possibility.
“The members of the transition committee are not looking for or seeking jobs in the administration,” she said.
De Blasio also said he had met with at least three candidates vying for the police commissioner’s job: former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, Chief of Department Philip Banks III and First Deputy Police Commissioner Rafael Pineiro.
The mayor-elect said he has a preference — but not a requirement — for a New Yorker or someone with city experience.
Despite having just six weeks before he takes office on Jan. 1, de Blasio said he was comfortable with the pace of the transition and with the caliber of talent available for top spots.
“We feel great about where we stand and the time line,” he said. “We think that the committee we’ve announced today will, in fact, speed that process further.”
When Michael Bloomberg was making his transition in late 2001, he waited until Dec. 20 to name seven commissioners and until Dec. 28 to name a handful of other agency heads.
