NEW YORK CITY—Department of City Planning director and chair of the City Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod has revealed he will step down from these roles next month to become chair of the Trust for Governors Island. To take his place, Mayor Bill de Blasio has tapped Marisa Lago, who is currently the assistant secretary for international markets and developments at the US Department of the Treasury.

Lago brings nearly 30 years of public service to City Planning, where she began her career in city government in 1983 as an aide to chairman Herb Sturz. She has served as president and CEO of the New York Empire State Development Corp., commissioner of the NYS Dept. of Economic Development and the director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which is the city's chief planning and economic development agency.

Lago also served as the general counsel to then NYC Economic Development Corp. president Carl Weisbrod. She has worked in the private sector too, serving as an attorney with Citigroup. At DCP, Lago will be charged with expanding the city's efforts to secure more affordable housing in changing neighborhoods, to plan for growth responsibly and equitably, and to use the land use process to strengthen industries, businesses and communities.

As the new chair of the Trust for Governors Island, Weisbrod will be a steward of the island's open spaces and historic assets, and foster its development into a dynamic 24-7-365 community that includes education and innovation hubs.

During his long tenure in government, Weisbrod's achievements have included the revitalization of Times Square, the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and the negotiation of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, regarded by many as the best sports complex deal ever secured by a municipal government.

He co-chaired Mayor-elect de Blasio's 2013 transition and departs City Planning after having secured passage of what is said to be the nation's strongest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program and the most sweeping overhaul of the zoning text since 1961, which lowered the cost of building affordable housing and will foster a new generation of homes for seniors.

The rezoning of East New York, approved in April 2016, represents a new template for comprehensive neighborhood planning. Earlier this week, the City Planning Commission certified the rezoning of East Midtown as part of a plan to keep New York City competitive and invest in the area's public transit and open spaces.

“This is a bittersweet moment,” notes Mayor de Blasio. “Carl helped to build our administration and has been part of its bedrock. His contributions have earned him a place as one of our city's great civic leaders, and we are honored that he has agreed to take on the task of continuing Governors Island's incredible transformation.”

He continues, “Marisa comes to our administration with unmatched experience building neighborhoods and planning for the future. She worked side-by-side with Carl helping spur the city's revitalization twenty-five years ago, and has a record of bringing communities together. We look forward to her taking up the reins as we build more affordable homes and foster the good jobs New Yorkers need.”

Adds Lago, “It's a great honor to come home to the city I love and be given the chance to make it ever stronger and more equitable. Change is the one constant in New York, and it is never easy. I've had the privilege of learning how to make change work for people and businesses by watching leaders like Carl Weisbrod, and I have spent my entire career finding smart solutions to the tough problems that come with a growing, changing world.”

She asserts, “We can—and we will—keep our neighborhoods affordable, our economy competitive, our businesses thriving and our communities strong.”

“I am so proud of what we've achieve these past three years,” declares Weisbrod. “From East New York to East Midtown, we are laying a foundation for truly affordable neighborhoods, world-class business districts and smart transit-oriented growth.”

He adds, “It has been an incredible run, and I couldn't be more thankful to the mayor and to my talented colleagues at City Planning. I've spent my career fighting for New York City, and it's fitting that my next chapter will take me to the new frontier on Governor's Island. I am excited to shape it into an iconic space of which all New Yorkers can be proud.”

NEW YORK CITY—Department of City Planning director and chair of the City Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod has revealed he will step down from these roles next month to become chair of the Trust for Governors Island. To take his place, Mayor Bill de Blasio has tapped Marisa Lago, who is currently the assistant secretary for international markets and developments at the US Department of the Treasury.

Lago brings nearly 30 years of public service to City Planning, where she began her career in city government in 1983 as an aide to chairman Herb Sturz. She has served as president and CEO of the New York Empire State Development Corp., commissioner of the NYS Dept. of Economic Development and the director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which is the city's chief planning and economic development agency.

Lago also served as the general counsel to then NYC Economic Development Corp. president Carl Weisbrod. She has worked in the private sector too, serving as an attorney with Citigroup. At DCP, Lago will be charged with expanding the city's efforts to secure more affordable housing in changing neighborhoods, to plan for growth responsibly and equitably, and to use the land use process to strengthen industries, businesses and communities.

As the new chair of the Trust for Governors Island, Weisbrod will be a steward of the island's open spaces and historic assets, and foster its development into a dynamic 24-7-365 community that includes education and innovation hubs.

During his long tenure in government, Weisbrod's achievements have included the revitalization of Times Square, the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and the negotiation of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, regarded by many as the best sports complex deal ever secured by a municipal government.

He co-chaired Mayor-elect de Blasio's 2013 transition and departs City Planning after having secured passage of what is said to be the nation's strongest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program and the most sweeping overhaul of the zoning text since 1961, which lowered the cost of building affordable housing and will foster a new generation of homes for seniors.

The rezoning of East New York, approved in April 2016, represents a new template for comprehensive neighborhood planning. Earlier this week, the City Planning Commission certified the rezoning of East Midtown as part of a plan to keep New York City competitive and invest in the area's public transit and open spaces.

“This is a bittersweet moment,” notes Mayor de Blasio. “Carl helped to build our administration and has been part of its bedrock. His contributions have earned him a place as one of our city's great civic leaders, and we are honored that he has agreed to take on the task of continuing Governors Island's incredible transformation.”

He continues, “Marisa comes to our administration with unmatched experience building neighborhoods and planning for the future. She worked side-by-side with Carl helping spur the city's revitalization twenty-five years ago, and has a record of bringing communities together. We look forward to her taking up the reins as we build more affordable homes and foster the good jobs New Yorkers need.”

Adds Lago, “It's a great honor to come home to the city I love and be given the chance to make it ever stronger and more equitable. Change is the one constant in New York, and it is never easy. I've had the privilege of learning how to make change work for people and businesses by watching leaders like Carl Weisbrod, and I have spent my entire career finding smart solutions to the tough problems that come with a growing, changing world.”

She asserts, “We can—and we will—keep our neighborhoods affordable, our economy competitive, our businesses thriving and our communities strong.”

“I am so proud of what we've achieve these past three years,” declares Weisbrod. “From East New York to East Midtown, we are laying a foundation for truly affordable neighborhoods, world-class business districts and smart transit-oriented growth.”

He adds, “It has been an incredible run, and I couldn't be more thankful to the mayor and to my talented colleagues at City Planning. I've spent my career fighting for New York City, and it's fitting that my next chapter will take me to the new frontier on Governor's Island. I am excited to shape it into an iconic space of which all New Yorkers can be proud.”