NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is in the process of recruiting Jamie Torres-Springer, a top executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to serve as one of the most influential positions in the city government – Deputy Mayor for Operations.
This news was first disclosed by the New York Daily News. Informed sources indicated that Mamdani’s team has been actively evaluating the possibility of poaching this experienced infrastructure and transportation professional from MTA.
Jamie Torres-Springer has been serving as the head of the Engineering and Development Department at MTA since 2021, overseeing a large capital budget. He has also previously served as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC), an agency that falls under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Mayor for Operations.
However, his wife Maria Torres-Springer, a former Deputy Mayor and current member of the transition team, raises concerns about the potential appointment, leading to worries about the perception of nepotism. Regarding whether his wife played a role in the recommendation process, Mamdani’s spokesperson only stated, “If there is any personnel news, we will announce it collectively.”
Nevertheless, many believe that Jamie’s qualifications and professional background in public transportation align with Mamdani’s policy direction.
Multiple sources close to the transition team revealed to the New York Daily News that Jamie Torres-Springer possesses high-level expertise and extensive administrative experience. If appointed, he would be seen as a “sound choice based on merit.”
The Deputy Mayor for Operations is responsible for overseeing various city agencies, including the Department of Transportation (DOT), Buildings Department, Parks Department, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others. As Mamdani has pledged to promote a “fast and free bus” policy, the Department of Transportation is expected to be one of his key focus areas. Although buses are operated by the state-controlled MTA, the city’s DOT is crucial for road planning and bus lane construction, playing a vital role in implementing related policies.