Launching an effort to build an effective and diverse city government that will deliver on a mandate for progressive change, New York City Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio today announced the appointment of distinguished chairs and senior staff of his transition team and launched an online effort to solicit talent and ideas from New Yorkers and people across the country.

One day after winning a landslide victory in Tuesday’s general election, de Blasio named Jennifer Jones Austin and Carl Weisbrod – two seasoned civic leaders with extensive public sector experience – as co-chairs of the transition, leading the work of assembling a progressive, effective and diverse city government made up of outstanding professionals and public servants.

“We’re building a team that’s devoted to building one great city where everyone shares in our prosperity,” said de Blasio. “Above all, I want to create a government with the competence to safeguard the health and security of all New Yorkers.”

“Our greatest source of wealth is the diversity of our people,” de Blasio continued. “We’re going to create a government that reflects the face of our city- the greatest on earth.

De Blasio also announced the launch of a web site – www.transition2013.com – for the transition. “We are encouraging New Yorkers – and people from all across America – from all walks of life to consider joining our city’s government,” he said. New Yorkers can also follow news about the transition on Twitter at @nyctransition.

Austin and Weisbrod, collectively, have more than six decades of experience at the highest levels of city government and leading institutions that are essential the social fabric of New York City. Austin currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and has held senior leadership positions in city and state government where she has focused on issues including early childhood education, economic empowerment and civil rights. Weisbrod has led top city agencies and public/private partnerships in three Mayoral administrations that have been integral to the economic development of the region including the successful redevelopment of Times Square and the founding of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

“As a lifelong advocate for children and families, I know how important it is to implement policies like universal pre-k,” said Austin. “I’m proud to be helping Mayor Elect de Blasio build for a better future for our families.”

“In the critical areas of public safety and public health, in the essential work of delivering municipal services and in the overarching charge of addressing economic inequality, we will help the Mayor-Elect identify the most effective leaders to build one city where every New Yorker can share in our prosperity,” said Carl Weisbrod.

In addition to naming Weisbrod and Austin as co-chairs, the De Blasio transition also announced the staff leadership of the transition: Laura Santucci will serve as executive director; and Ursulina Ramirez will serve as deputy executive director. Santucci worked most recently as acting executive director of the Democratic National Committee and Ramirez served as Deputy Public Advocate and senior policy adviser to de Blasio in the Public Advocate’s office.

(YWN Newsdesk – NYC)