20
COURIER LIFE, APRIL 22-28, 2022
BY BEN BRACHFELD
She’s got a heap of work
ahead of her.
The Department of Sanitation
officially has a new
commissioner, Jessica
Tisch, following the retirement
of incumbent Edward
Grayson, who had led the
department since December
2020 and was a holdover
from the de Blasio administration.
Mayor Eric Adams formally
appointed Tisch to
her new role as chief of the
city’s trash on April 18,
more than a week after her
impending confirmation
was reported by multiple
news outlets.
“Clean, safe neighborhoods
will power New York
City’s recovery, and innovations
in composting, recycling,
and collection will
secure our future,” Tisch
said in a statement. “The
Department of Sanitation
is essential to building the
comeback New Yorkers deserve,
and I thank Mayor
Adams and Deputy Mayor
Joshi for entrusting me to
helm New York’s Strongest.
I’m honored to help
the mayor realize his vision
for a safer and more
welcoming city.”
Tisch comes to the Sanitation
Department (DSNY)
by way of the Department
of Information Technology
and Telecommunications,
where she served
as commissioner for two
years under Mayor Bill de
Blasio; before that, she was
the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner
for Information
Technology. Tisch oversaw
the development and rollout
of several crucial tech
platforms during the COVID
19 pandemic, including
the Vax4NYC appointment
scheduler, the NYC
COVID Safe vaccine passport
app, and the distribution
of iPads for remote
learning.
She has a dump truck’s
worth of work in store as
the new commish: DSNY
touts itself as the world’s
largest municipal sanitation
department, collecting
more than 10,500 tons
of garbage and 1,760 tons of
recyclables each day, while
also sweeping streets,
clearing snow, and performing
other tasks to keep
New York sanitary. Mayor
Adams, however, believes
she is up for the job.
“Jessica’s knowledge, experience,
and unwavering
commitment to New York
City cannot be overstated.
Put plainly, Jessica is a ‘Get
Stuff Done’ leader, who has
delivered continuous results
on behalf of all New
Yorkers throughout her
career,” Hizzoner said in a
statement. “From revolutionizing
policing technology
in the NYPD, to overseeing
critical pandemic
programs to support New
Yorkers in need, Jessica’s
work has touched millions.
All New Yorkers deserve
clean, safe, and welcoming
streets, and I know Jessica
will bring the same energy
and deliver results leading
the sanitation department
as we continue building a
just and prosperous recovery
for all.”
Sanitation workers’
union head Harry Nespoli
had previously expressed
reservations about replacing
Grayson, a career
DSNY employee, with the
comparably-inexperienced
Tisch, but on April 18 said
that he’s looking forward
to working with the new
New Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch tours the 91st St Marine
Transfer Station on April 18, 2022. NYC Dept of Sanitation
commish.
“We wish Commissioner
Grayson nothing
but the best and are grateful
for his years of service
to the city,” said Nespoli,
the president of Uniformed
Sanitationmen’s Association
Local 831. “I look forward
to working together
with Commissioner Tisch
to support our members
who keep the city moving
every day and to build a
cleaner, safer New York
City for all.”
Tisch talking!
Mayor names Jessica Tisch as new sanitation commish
Initial visit with coupon only. Must mention at time of appointment. Excludes house calls. Expires 04/30/2022
Walk-Ins Welcome Brooklyn: Mon. 9am-2pm, Wed. 9am-12pm & 4pm-7pm, Fri. 1pm-6pm
2075 Flatbush Avenue
Avenue P / Near Library
B ESTOFBK. C OM
2022
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