Maria Torres-Springer, Mayor Eric Adams’ deputy mayor for economic and workforce development, will soon oversee the city’s housing agencies in a new expanded role following the impending resignation of his current housing chief, amNewYork Metro has exclusively learned.
Torres-Springer will be the deputy mayor of housing, economic development, Workforce starting in July, after Jessica Katz — Adams’ chief housing officer — announced she’d be stepping down from her post last week, according to City Hall. Katz notably was never given a deputy mayor title even though she oversaw the city’s housing agencies.
The shakeup comes as the city continues to struggle with finding shelter for tens of thousands of migrants who’ve come here in the past year and pre-existing affordable housing and homelessness crisis.
With the appointment, Torres-Springer will now oversee agencies including the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the Housing Development Corporation and Housing Recovery Office. She’ll also lead the implementation of the mayor’s housing plan — “Housing Our Neighbors” — and help achieve his “moonshot goal” of building 500,000 new units of housing over the next decade, part of his “Get Stuff Built” plan she helped craft.
The chief housing officer title will be eliminated, as Torres-Springer will be taking on that role’s responsibilities, according to a City Hall spokesperson.
Adams, in a statement, said Torres-Springer is the “right person” for the role as she has a “proven record” of creating affordable housing.
“In a year and half with this administration and throughout her career in public service, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer has shown clearly that she is ready to take bold action to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis,” Adams said. “She has a proven record of creating affordable housing and economic opportunity for New Yorkers, and her leadership of our economic recovery efforts has delivered real results. She is the right person at the right time to create and preserve the safe, high-quality, affordable housing New Yorkers so desperately need.”
In her expanded role, Torres-Springer will still report directly to First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.
According to one published report, Katz not having a deputy mayor title created confusion over who was actually leading the administration’s housing agenda, herself or Torres-Springer, which is part of why she’s stepping down. That’s because Torres-Springer already oversaw two agencies charged with housing production — the Department of City Planning and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Katz was also reportedly incensed by the mayor’s opposition to a package of bills to expand the CityFHEPS rental assistance voucher program that passed the City Council by a veto-proof majority last week.
Torres-Springer started her tenure in the administration in January 2022, taking the lead on the city’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. She has a long background in city government, having led three agencies, including HPD, with over 3,000 employees and operating with $2 billion annual budgets. As HPD commissioner, she oversaw financing for 60,000 affordable homes in just two years — the most over the agency’s history in that time span, according to Adams’ office.
Torres-Springer was also the first woman to serve as president of the EDC, where she implemented the NYC Ferry service and oversaw investments in crucial areas within the city’s economy and led neighborhood revitalization plans.
Torres-Springer lived in Section 8 housing as a child — an experience she says she hopes to tap into in her new post.
“Having grown up in Section 8 housing, I know firsthand that safe and affordable housing is about more than mere brick and mortar — it’s about creating opportunity and improving lives,” Torres-Springer said, in statement. “Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we came in with a bold agenda to change the paradigm for how we grow equitably as a city. I am incredibly humbled to further serve New Yorkers as we strive to provide stable housing for our neighbors, protect our existing affordable and public housing, and identify new ways to make housing affordable for all New Yorkers at this critical moment in our city’s history.”
Several local leaders have applauded Mayor Adams’ decision to place Torres-Springer into the role, highlighting her passion and dedication fighting for racial equity, along with her ability to provide intelligent solutions to ongoing housing issues.
“I had the pleasure of working with Maria for many years and saw firsthand what an effective and passionate leader she is,” said Alicia Glen, who previously held the role under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. “And with housing issues more front and center in New York City than ever, I commend Mayor Adams for recognizing the importance of having someone who has a deep understanding of the relationship between affordability and economic development be charged with delivering practical solutions and moving forward a pro-growth agenda.”
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