New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that Maria Torres-Springer, the deputy mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce, is now first deputy mayor, replacing Sheena Wright, who resigned.
Torres-Springer will assume oversight of the first deputy mayor portfolio and provide strategic direction and operational and budgetary oversight, according to a press release. She will continue to manage her housing and economic development portfolio given its significance to the administration’s agenda.
Torres-Springer will assume the role, effective today, following the planned departure of Wright, according to the press release.
“First Deputy Mayor Wright has served New Yorkers well over the course of our administration in helping to expand access to child care, deliver free internet access to public housing residents, and battle the scourge of gun violence in our city," Adams said about his top City Hall aide, whose home was raided by federal agents in September. "We wish her well in all her future endeavors and know she will continue to do great things.”
Through the first half of the administration, a highlight of Torres-Springer's work include regaining the nearly 1 million jobs the city lost during the course of the pandemic more than a year ahead of schedule; launching a blueprint to create accessible career pathways and a more inclusive economy; driving down Black and Latino unemployment by nearly 30 percent; developing the “Get Stuff Built” plan to accelerate the pace of housing production; driving back-to-back record-breaking years for producing and connecting New Yorkers to new, affordable homes; advancing the Public Housing Preservation Trust to unlock billions of dollars for comprehensive renovations for thousands of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents; and advancing the administration’s historic three “City of Yes” initiatives to modernize the city’s zoning code to promote sustainability, support small businesses and build more housing.
"The first deputy mayor serves a critical role in our administration, providing the connective tissue across city government to advance priorities and ensure we are working together to deliver for New Yorkers. We are thrilled to elevate Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, whose more than two decades of experience leading multiple city agencies and executing on one of the most successful housing and economic development agendas in the city’s history will serve as a solid foundation for our administration and best position us for the future," the mayor said.
