Incoming Brooklyn Boro Prez Antonio Reynoso Announces Transition Committee

Antonio Reynoso, a south side Williamsburg native and the current City Council member for the 34^th District, will be taking over as Brooklyn Borough President in January and has today announced his transition committee to help prepare him for the new role.

Reynoso, who will being taking over from current BP and Mayor-elect Eric Adams, said the transition committee represented the diversity and talent of the borough, with leaders from labor unions, cultural institutions and community organizations, as well as everyday Brooklynites, being included in the more than 40-strong team.

The three co-chairs of the committee are former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former Councilmember Una Clarke and Arlenis Morel, co-executive director of Make the Road New York.

Other members include Brooklyn Movement Center Deputy Director Anthonine Pierre, BedStuy Restoration President and CEO Colvin Grannum, United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg Executive Director Rabbi David Niederman, Hotel Trades Council Political Director Bhav Tibrewal, Woodhull Medical Center Midwife Helena Grant, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Executive Director Michelle Neugebauer, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Peers, RiseBoro Community Partnership CEO Scott Short, New York State Alliance for Quality Education Advocacy Director Zakiyah Shaakir and Antonio’s 4th grade teacher Ms. Lorraine DeAngelis.

Reynoso said he was proud to have brought together an experienced group of leaders from all walks of life “to ensure that we’re ready on day one to implement our vision of a Brooklyn that works for all of us.”

“I look forward to working with them over the coming weeks to prepare for a smooth transition, get input from our communities, and recruit the best and brightest for our team at Borough Hall,” he said.

Reynoso, who started his career as a community organizer for ACORN, started his political career in 2009 working for New York City Councilmember Diana Reyna as her chief of staff. He was then elected to the seat when Reyna was term limited and has served two terms as council member to Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood’s 34^th District.

Former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said that he was confident Reynoso had the energy and the passion to be Brooklyn’s strongest advocate and greatest cheerleader.

“I know Antonio shares my belief that Brooklyn is the center of the world, with the best food, the best parks, and the most diverse and unique characters in the world,” Markowitz said. “I know he has pledged his all to lead to our City of Brooklyn’s economic and community recovery from this pandemic and usher our borough into an even brighter future.”

Transition committee co-chair Arlenis Morel, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, added that with Reynoso growing up in Brooklyn, he had experienced first-hand some of the greatest challenges facing Brooklyn’s communities communities â€" from food insecurity to police brutality. “I’m excited to be working alongside Antonio to support his progressive vision for Brooklyn and fight for a fairer, more just future here,” Morel said.

“I know he will continue to be a powerful advocate for justice in Borough Hall.

Una Clarke added that Reynoso had brought together a diverse, experienced group of people from across Brooklyn to set the borough on the best path possible in the coming year.

“I’m honored to help lead the effort to ensure that Antonio gets started on the right foot in January and has all the resources he needs to get to work for the people of Brooklyn.”