Response and Discussion about Equitable Development with NYC Agency and Elected Officials
3:15 – 4:00 pm (panel)
4:00 – 4:30 pm (facilitated discussion with audience participation)
This panel with city officials and the following discussion with the audience is intended to move toward concrete recommendations and actionable steps for equitable development in New York City.
Alyssa Katz, Author and New York Daily News Editorial Board Member (Moderator)
Alyssa Katz is a member of the New York Daily News editorial board. She is the author of Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us and The Influence Machine: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Capture of American Life. Previously, Katz was editor of The New York World, an accountability news project at Columbia Journalism School covering city and state government. Katz has also worked with the Pratt Center for Community Development and was editor of City Limits, an award-winning magazine investigating the institutions and policies at work in New York City’s neighborhoods.
Dr. Mary Bassett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH was appointed Commissioner of Health of New York City in January 2014. Her focus is on ensuring that every New York City neighborhood supports the health of its residents, with the goal of closing gaps in population health across the diverse city. Originally from New York City, Dr. Bassett lived for nearly 20 years in Zimbabwe. Previously, she was a Program Director for the African Health Initiative and the Child Well-being Program at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. She completed her medical residency at Harlem Hospital Center, her medical degree at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, and her bachelor’s degree at Harvard University.
Vicki Been, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Vicki Been is Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the nation's largest municipal housing agency. She is charged with creating and implementing Mayor Bill de Blasio's Five-Borough, Ten-Year Plan, a bold initiative to create or preserve 200,000 affordable homes and apartments over 10 years. Prior to her appointment as HPD Commissioner, she was Director of NYU's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. She also served as the Boxer Family Professor of Law at NYU School of Law and Affiliated Professor of Public Policy of the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Purnima Kapur, Executive Director of New York City Department of City Planning
Purnima Kapur is the Executive Director of New York City Department of City Planning (DCP). Working closely with the Chairman of the City Planning Commission, she is a key advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development on planning, housing and economic development issues. Currently she is overseeing DCP’s housing initiatives, a key part of the Mayor’s Housing Plan. Prior to assuming this position she was Director of the Brooklyn Office of City Planning and Director of the Bronx Office before that. In these roles she led high priority and transformative projects including development in Greenpoint-Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, Coney Island, Yankee Stadium and Port Morris.
Brad Lander, New York City Council Member Representing Brooklyn’s 39th District
Brad Lander is a New York City Council Member representing Brooklyn’s 39th District, which includes the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, and Kensington. He was first elected in 2009, and reelected in 2013. Prior to serving on the City Council, he directed the Pratt Center for Community Development for six years; before that, he served as Executive Director of the community-based organization Fifth Avenue Committee for ten years. Brad holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute, a Master of Social Anthropology from University College London, and a Bachelor’s Degree with honors from the University of Chicago.
Patricia Swann, Senior Program Officer, The New York Community Trust (facilitator of discussion with audience participation)
Patricia Swann is a Senior Program Officer at The New York Community Trust. Her grantmaking responsibilities cover the areas of Community Development, Civic Affairs, and Technical Assistance. She is a board member of Philanthropy New York, and serves as an advisory board member of Brooklyn Workforce Innovations and LISC NYC. Prior to joining The Trust, she directed economic development programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and worked for the Office of then-Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Pratt Institute’s Graduate School of Architecture and Planning. She is also a recipient of a Revson fellowship at Columbia University.