Mayor of New York City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mayor of New York City is the head of the executive branch of the Government of New York City. The office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within the city. The Mayor is directly elected by popular vote for a four year term, and faces a two-term limit.
The budget overseen by the Mayor's office is the largest municipal budget in the United States. The city government spends about $50 billion a year, employs 250,000 people, spends about $15 billion to educate more than 1.1 million children, levies $27 billion in taxes, and receives $14 billion from federal and state governments.
The Mayor's office is located in New York City Hall and has jurisdiction over all five boroughs of New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. The Mayor appoints a large number of officials, including commissioners who head city departments, and his or her deputy mayors.
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[edit] Current mayor
The current mayor is Michael Bloomberg, a former Democrat elected as a Republican in 2001 and re-elected in 2005 with 59% of the vote. He is known for taking control of the city's education system from the state, rezoning and economic development, sound fiscal management, and aggressive public health policy. In his second term he has made school reform and strict gun control central priorities of his administration.
[edit] History of the office
In 1665, Governor Richard Nicolls appointed Thomas Willett as the first "mayor of New York." For the next 156 years, the mayor would be appointed and have limited power. In 1821, the Common Council, which included elected members, gained the authority to choose the mayor. Previously, the state government appointed the mayor.
An amendment to the New York State constitution in 1834 provided for the direct popular election of the mayor. Cornelius W. Lawrence, a Democrat, was elected that year.
Gracie Mansion has been the official residence of the Mayor since Fiorello LaGuardia's administration in 1942. Its main floor is open to the public and serves as a small museum.
In 2000 direct control of the city's public school system was transferred to the Mayor's Office. In 2003 the reorganization established the New York City Department of Education.
[edit] Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, which evolved from an organization of craftsmen into a Democratic political machine, gained control of Democratic Party nominations in the state and city in 1861. It played a major role in New York City politics into the 1960s, and was a dominant player from the mayoral victory of Fernando Wood in 1854 through the era of Fiorello LaGuardia.
[edit] Deputy Mayors
The Mayor of New York City appoints several Deputy Mayors to assist him or her and to oversee major offices within the executive branch of the city government. Deputy Mayors report directly to the Mayor. They are:
- First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris
- The First Deputy Mayor advises the Mayor on Citywide administrative, operational and policy matters. The First Deputy Mayor oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Cultural Affairs, Department of Design and Construction, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol, as well as all aspects of the Mayor’s Office, including the Offices of Appointments, Correspondence, Citywide Services, and Fiscal and Administrative Management. The First Deputy Mayor also organizes and monitors City-sponsored events, and serves as liaison with the Art Commission, Gracie Mansion Conservancy, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, Mayor’s Volunteer Center, Commission on Women’s Issues, libraries, museums, performing arts organizations, gardens and zoos. In the Mayor’s absence, the First Deputy Mayor is delegated the authority to act on the Mayor’s behalf.
- Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff
- The Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Buildings, Department of City Planning, the Economic Development Corporation, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting, Department of Finance, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Office of Operations, Department of Small Business Services, and the Department of Transportation. The Deputy Mayor also serves as a liaison with city, state and federal agencies responsible for the City’s economic development and infrastructure including the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Deputy Mayor also serves as Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Construction Opportunity.
- Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs
- The Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department for the Aging, Administration for Children’s Services, Commission for Economic Opportunity, Family Services Coordinator, Health Insurance Access Program, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources Administration/ Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Correction and Department of Probation. The Deputy Mayor maintains liaison with the Health and Hospitals Corporations and the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council.
- Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol A. Robles-Roman
- The Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs oversees and coordinates the operations of the Coordinator of Administrative Justice, Office to Combat Domestic Violence, Commission on Human Rights, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Office for People with Disabilities, and the Office of Veterans Affairs. The Deputy Mayor serves as the liaison with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Civilian Complaint Review Board, Commission to Combat Police Corruption, Conflicts of Interest Board, Equal Employment Practices Commission, and Voter Assistance Commission. The Counsel to the Mayor serves as the Mayor’s legal advisor on matters involving the City of New York. The Counsel advises on legal and policy issues affecting the implementation of Mayoral initiatives, programs and operations and serves as the liaison with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. (Serves as Records Access Appeals Officer.)
- Deputy Mayor for Governmental Affairs Kevin Sheekey
- The Deputy Mayor for Government Affairs directs the City’s relations with federal, state and local governing entities and serves as the Mayor’s chief liaison with elected officials. The Deputy Mayor oversees and coordinates the operations of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of City Legislative Affairs, Office of Federal Affairs, Office of State Legislative Affairs, and the Department of Records and Information Services. The Deputy Mayor is also the liaison to the Board of Elections, Campaign Finance Board, and Election Modernization Task Force.
- Deputy Mayor for Administration Edward Skyler
- The Deputy Mayor for Administration assists the Mayor in managing the Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Labor Relations and the Law Department. The Deputy Mayor oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Sanitation, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Business Integrity Commission, Office of Contract Services, Criminal Justice Coordinator, Office of Midtown Enforcement, the Communications Director and Press Office, including the Speechwriting, Photography and Research Units. The Deputy Mayor serves as the liaison with the City’s five pension systems and governmental bodies dealing with public finance, procurement, and franchises and concessions.
- Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott
- The Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Education and the Department of Youth and Community Development, as well as maintains liaison with and reviews the activities of the New York City School Construction Authority, City University of New York, City University Construction Fund and the New York City Housing Authority. The Deputy Mayor is also responsible for maintaining liaison with community-based organizations citywide and coordinating policies concerning youth programs and adult education. The Deputy Mayor serves as Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Commission for Construction Opportunity.
[edit] See also
- List of mayors of New York City
- History of New York City
- New York City Council
- New York City Civil Court
- New York City Criminal Court
