![\"Mayor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mamdani-hpd-dina-levy-ed-reed-mayoral-photography-unit.jpg\" "\\"MAMDANI\u2019S")
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduces his newly appointed Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy in the Bronx on Jan. 4, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ed Reed\/Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3-4, marked the third and fourth days of Zohran Mamdani\u2019s term as mayor. amNewYork is following Mamdani around his first 100 days in office as we closely track his progress on fulfilling campaign promises, appointing key leaders to government posts, and managing the city\u2019s finances. Here\u2019s a summary of what the mayor did today.<\/p>\n
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Sunday morning that Dina Levy, a longtime state housing official, will be the Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.<\/p>\n
During the same announcement, he announced the formation of city-run \u201cRental Ripoff hearings\u201d to allow residents to speak about their concerns with renting in the city.<\/p>\n
Levy comes to City Hall from the Homeownership and Community Development division of the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal. Before that, Levy worked for the State Attorney General and spent more than a decade and a half as a housing advocate and organizer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud to welcome Dina Levy as our next Housing Commissioner. Levy is an experienced and fearless housing leader, and I know that she will fight to protect tenants and tackle our housing crisis head-on,\u201d Mamdani said at Sunday\u2019s press conference, which took place at 1520 Community Center in the Bronx.<\/p>\n
Levy touted her experience as a housing advocate and said she was \u201chonored\u201d to join Mamdani\u2019s administration.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMy experience as a community organizer has shaped my work in public service and will continue to be my inspiration in the work ahead at HPD,\u201d Levy said. \u201cIt is my honor to join forces with tenants, homeowners, and dedicated public servants at HPD as we work to usher in a new era of quality and affordability for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani jointly announced that he had signed an executive order directing city agencies to hold \u201cRental Ripoff hearings\u201d throughout the administration\u2019s first 100 days allowing renters to share the challenges they face in the housing market, \u201cfrom poor building conditions to hidden fees on rent payments.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the hearings conclude, the administration plans to compile and publish a report on what it has learned. The \u201ctestimony shared at these hearings will directly inform policy interventions to take on these ripoff tactics,\u201d according to the administration\u2019s webpage<\/a> on the hearings.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the Rental Ripoff hearings, City Hall will not only be listening, we will take action to ensure that the law is followed without exception and that New Yorkers know their rights when it comes to the often hidden or deceptive fees associated with the hunt for housing,\u201d Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su said in a news release.<\/p>\n The Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Buildings, the Mayor\u2019s Office to Protect Tenants, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Office of Mass Engagement \u2014 established on Friday<\/a> to propel citywide organizing efforts from within City Hall \u2014 will together be in charge of the hearings.<\/p>\n Transportation: Mamdani to finish McGuinness Blvd. rebuild On Saturday, Mayor Mamdani came to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to announce that the Department of Transportation will finish the reconstruction of McGuinness Boulevard, which runs between Brooklyn and Queens.\u00a0<\/p>\n The boulevard has long been in the middle of a controversy over community safety, as demands for protected bike lanes in the school-laden area have been delayed amid a bribery scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n The DOT, now helmed by Mamdani pick Mike Flynn<\/a>, will install parking-protected bike lanes along the boulevard to \u201censure traffic calming measures throughout the entire corridor, extending the existing parking-protected lanes running between Meeker Avenue and Calyer Street northbound up to the Pulaski Bridge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUpon completion, McGuinness Boulevard will feature one travel lane in each direction, one parking-protected bike lane in each direction, and one vehicular parking and loading lane in each direction,\u201d the mayor\u2019s webpage on the project <\/a>reads.<\/p>\n After the announcement, advocates for McGuinness redesign cheered the administration\u2019s focus on safety in the area.\n<\/p>\n \u201cToday, families across Greenpoint can breathe again,\u201d said Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives Ben Furnas. \u201cEver since McGuinness Boulevard was built, parents have held their children\u2019s hands a little tighter as they crossed the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n![\"Mayor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mamdani-flynn-mcguinness-michael-appleton-mayoral-photogarphy.jpg\" "\\"MAMDANI\u2019S")
On Saturday, Mayor Mamdani came to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to announce that the Department of Transportation finish the reconstruction of McGuinness Boulevard, which runs between Brooklyn and Queens.\u00a0Michael Appleton\/Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n