On Friday, May 26th, Mayor Eric Adams appointed Ana Almanzar as Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, making history as the first Dominican American woman to be appointed to this prestigious role. Mayor Adams, alongside United States Representative Adriano Espaillat, expressed enthusiastic support for Almanzar, heralding her for her previous work under the Andrew Cuomo administration, as well as being a beacon of diverse representation.
Mayor Adams extolled Almanzar’s multifaceted skill set, illustrating her resilience, strength, and intelligence. Mayor Adams said, “Ana is the epitome of the American dream,” highlighting her immigration journey from the Dominican Republic to New York City and her tireless efforts to excel academically and professionally.
Almanzar, a CUNY graduate, worked with the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. She was the Chief of Staff in former Governor Cuomo’s New York State Interagency Coordinator for Nonprofits from 2014 to 2020. She was also the Director of Community Relations at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
Adams also emphasized the importance of a diverse and inclusive administration, demonstrating his commitment to a representative government. The appointment of Almanzar followed a series of other high-profile appointments of women, particularly women of color, to his administration. In the same breath, Mayor Adams expressed admiration for the work of Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, acknowledging her pivotal role in navigating the city’s social services.
At the announcement of Almanzar’s appointment as Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, Mayor Adams said, “Ana continues this administration’s tradition of leadership by strong women — especially strong women of color — and I am thrilled to have her as our new deputy mayor for strategic initiatives.”
U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat echoed these sentiments, lauding Mayor Adams for his unwavering commitment to tackling crime and his pledge for a diverse administration. Espaillat lauded the city’s efforts to become a “beacon of hope” and an “incubator of opportunities” for immigrants.
In a jovial yet meaningful remark, Espaillat quipped about wishing Almanzar was from Washington Heights, a Dominican-majority neighborhood, rather than Brooklyn. But he quickly turned this lighthearted sentiment into a powerful reminder of Almanzar’s important role in a “historic moment” for the city.
Almanzar took the podium, saying, “I bring with me many years of experience in the private, public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, which have prepared me to take on the role of deputy mayor for strategic initiatives with great excitement.”
She continued, “My journey from Las Palmas-Santo Domingo to City Hall has been filled with great challenges and opportunities that made me who I am and fuel my desire to help others reach their goals and dreams.”
In her closing remarks, Almanzar said, “I want to express my excitement to Mayor Adams, my excitement to continue my New York City story to Mayor Adams and the amazing group of women leading this administration, from our first deputy mayor to our chief advisor, to my fellow deputy, deputy mayors, as well as our chief of staff….I want to express that excitement because I cannot wait along you to get stuff done.”
