The incoming New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, announced on the 19th the appointment of Julie Su, the former Acting Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration, to the newly created position of Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice. This makes Su the first Deputy Mayor in the history of New York City to specifically focus on economic justice affairs, a move that has sparked interest among labor groups.
Julie Su is a Taiwanese-American, with her father hailing from Hsinchu, Taiwan, and her mother from mainland China. Born in Wisconsin, she moved with her family to Los Angeles at a young age. She holds degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree, and is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.
During her tenure in the federal government, Su was nominated by President Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor. Following Secretary Marty Walsh’s departure in 2023, she briefly served as Acting Secretary of Labor. However, she was not formally confirmed by the Senate thereafter.
Mamdani stated that he is familiar with Su’s track record and recognizes her extensive experience advocating for labor rights nationwide. He believes that her joining the team will help advance reforms in the city’s economic and labor policies.
Labor groups have welcomed Mamdani’s decision. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) stated in a release that Su’s position on labor rights issues will assist in promoting protections for grassroots workers, including Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers.
Before entering government service, Su worked as a civil rights lawyer for over 15 years at the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, representing low-wage and immigrant workers in numerous landmark cases. This includes securing approximately $4 million in compensation for exploited Thai laborers in a sweatshop in El Monte, Southern California.