The mayor of New York City may appoint several deputy mayors to help oversee major offices within the executive branch of the city government. The powers and duties, and even the number of deputy mayors, are not defined by the City Charter.
The post was created by Fiorello La Guardia (who appointed Grover Whalen as deputy mayor) to handle ceremonial events that the mayor was too busy to attend. Since then, deputy mayors have been appointed with their areas of responsibility defined by the appointing mayor. There are currently nine deputy mayors, all of whom report directly to the mayor. The majority of agency commissioners and department heads report to one of the deputy mayors, giving the role a great deal of power within a mayoral administration.
Deputy mayors do not have any right to succeed to the mayoralty in the case of vacancy or incapacity of the mayor.
Current deputy mayors
Advises the mayor on citywide administrative, operational, and policy matters. Oversees and coordinates operations of the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Policy Planning and Delivery, the Department of Finance, the Office for Economic Opportunity, the Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, the chief efficiency officer, the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Office of Housing Recovery Operations, the Office to Protect Tenants, the Department of Small Business Services, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the Department of City Planning, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Office of Media and Entertainment, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Office of Talent and Workforce Development, the Public Design Commission, and New York City Tourism + Conventions.
- Julie Su, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice
Oversees and coordinates the operations of the Human Resources Administration, Department of Homeless Services, the Administration for Children's Services, New York City Health and Hospitals, and related agencies.
- Julia Kerson, Deputy Mayor for Operations
Oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Design and Construction, School Construction Authority, Department of Buildings, Taxi and Limousine Commission, and related agencies.
- Renita Francois, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety
Oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Community Safety.
Notable former deputy mayors
Previous administrations
- Joe Lhota 1998âÂÂ2001, under Rudy Giuliani
- William Lynch 1990âÂÂ1992, under David Dinkins
- Randy Daniels 1992, under David Dinkins
- Barry F. Sullivan 1992âÂÂ1994, under David Dinkins
- Kenneth Lipper 1983, under Ed Koch
- Robert F. Wagner Jr. 1979âÂÂ1983, under Ed Koch
- Basil Paterson 1978âÂÂ1979, under Ed Koch
- Robert J. Milano 1978, under Ed Koch
- Herman Badillo 1977âÂÂ1979, under Ed Koch
- Osborn Elliott 1976âÂÂ1977, under Abraham Beame
- Robert W. Sweet 1966âÂÂ1969, under John Lindsay
- Charles Henry Tenney 1962âÂÂ1965, under Robert F. Wagner Jr.
References