In a groundbreaking move, Mayor Mamdani revealed on Saturday afternoon his selection of five new commissioners to lead various city agencies. Among these appointments, the standout is Stanley Richards, a former inmate, who will now head the Department of Correction—a first in the city’s history.
Richards, once incarcerated at Rikers Island, brings a unique perspective to his new role. As a former executive vice president at The Fortune Society, he is well-equipped to lead the charge in reforming New York City’s jails with a focus on safety and rehabilitation.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the significance of Richards’ appointment, stating, “This achievement goes beyond symbolism. It underscores the profound insight and leadership he will offer to the Correction staff and those incarcerated in New York.”
Richards’ journey from serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence for robbery in the late 1980s to becoming a reform advocate is remarkable. At The Fortune Society, he dedicated his efforts to preparing individuals for life after prison, facilitating their reintegration into society.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Richards expressed, “My life story is proof that with support and a focus on hope, rather than fear, we can transcend our past mistakes. When we recognize our shared humanity over our differences, incredible achievements become possible.”
Richards also praised Mayor Mamdani’s vision, noting, “His administration has articulated that the future of Rikers Island is not about perpetual confinement or vilification. Instead, it’s centered on safety, transparency, and rehabilitation. This vision aligns perfectly with my own—creating safer jails and borough-based facilities that emphasize dignity, opportunity, and humanity.”
In a statement, Benny Boscio, the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association union, said of Richard’s appointment, “Despite the many false narratives that have portrayed COBA as an ‘obstacle to reform,’ we have been ready, willing and able to meet and work with anyone, as long as they respect the rights of our Correction Officers and understand that their safety and security matter. … It is our hope that Mr. Richards understands that dynamic as he takes on this new role and demonstrates a commitment to putting safety and security before any political ideology.”
Mamdani also named Dr. Alister Martin as commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Martin is an emergency physician and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, having previously served as an adviser in the Office of the Vice President under Kamala Harris and a White House Fellow in the White House Office of Public Engagement.
“A city is only as vibrant as it is healthy, and in Dr. Martin, an emergency room physician with extensive experience on the front lines of public health, as well as at the highest levels of government, New Yorkers will be well looked after,” Mamdani said.
Sandra Escamilla-Davies will serve as the new commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development after serving as the executive vice president of Children’s Aid.
“As commissioner of DYCD, she will do more to build after-school programs and expanding the summer youth employment program,” Mamdani said. “She will work every day to ensure that every child in this city can imagine a future of health, joy and a possibility in a place that they call home.”
Yesenia Mata, a former military police sergeant in the U.S. Army and executive director for La Colmena NYC, will serve as the new commissioner of the Department of Veterans’ Services.
“Yesenia will continue that work fighting for the 135,000 veterans who call this city home and ensuring they are able to access the housing, the health care, the supportive services that they sacrificed so much for,” Mamdani said.
Former commissioner of the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Vilda Vera Mayuga will serve as the new head of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, or OATH.
“In addition to having served in state government in a number of roles where she advanced civil rights and advocated for workers, as OATH commissioner she will oversee our city’s independent administrative law court and make justice the expectation for every New Yorker,” Mamdani said of Mayuga.
