New York, NY – On Thursday July 22, 2026 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani held a press conference at New York City Hall regarding the appointed Anthony Shorris as President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
The Mayors goal is to have NYCEDC use city-owned land, financing and investment to build affordable housing, create jobs, and support small businesses.
As First Deputy Mayor under Mayor Bill de Blasio, Shorris served as chief operating officer of a city government of roughly 350,000 employees, a $100 billion annual budget and more than three dozen agencies. Earlier, as a senior budget official under Mayor Edward I. Koch, Shorris helped architect the Ten-Year Housing Plan, the largest municipal housing initiative in the country at the time, dedicating more than $4 billion in city capital to the construction and rehabilitation of nearly 200,000 units of affordable housing in neighborhoods that had been devastated by disinvestment and arson. As Finance Commissioner, he led the fourth-largest tax agency in the nation, cracked down on tax fraud in some of the largest investigations in city history and created the city’s first Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
“To achieve real economic justice in our city, we need to continue to grow our economy, attract new businesses to the five boroughs and create more job opportunities so New Yorkers can stay New Yorkers. Tony is a proven leader with decades of experience proving that economic development can and must include the working class. Building a fairer, more resilient economy has always been at the heart of his work and I look forward to working closely with him to advance that mission at EDC,” said Mayor Mamdani.
“I congratulate Tony Shorris on his appointment to lead NYCEDC. I had the opportunity to work with Tony during my time in the de Blasio Administration, and I know him to be a thoughtful leader who cares deeply about New York City and the people who call it home,” said Speaker Julie Menin.
“Tony Shorris is a longtime civil servant who will bring decades of leadership experience and a deep understanding of New York City’s forward trajectory to the helm of the Economic Development Corporation,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “This role requires integrity, versatility and a clear vision for our business community and the hardworking people who keep our economy running, and Mr. Shorris brings just that. The Building Trades looks forward to collaborating with him closely to redefine a vision for NYC EDC that centers economic justice and will create more opportunities for our members and all middle-class New Yorkers working to support their families and maintain roots in their communities.”
