Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of Lina Khan as chair of the city’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and Tony Shorris as leader of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), representing significant leadership changes at one of New York’s most prominent agencies.
Khan previously served as chair of the Federal Trade Commission during the Biden administration, where she focused on antitrust and antimonopoly enforcement. She holds a law degree from Yale Law School and currently works as an associate professor at Columbia Law School. At a Wednesday press conference, Khan characterized her appointment as a “deep honor” and stated her intention to ensure the EDC delivers “an economy for our city that is affordable, efficient, and resilient.”
Shorris joined New York City government in 1979 and has since worked as a partner at McKinsey & Co. He is returning to public service following his initial meeting with Mamdani in the fall of 2025, describing himself as inspired by the mayor’s vision for the city and the values reflected in his campaign platform.
The EDC operates as New York City’s official economic development agency and oversees more than 60 million square feet of property in its role as the city’s largest landlord. The agency’s capital division manages approximately 100 active projects representing roughly $6 billion in construction investment. The board has approved major developments including Hudson Yards, the High Line, the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, and the city’s ferry system. The appointments follow Mamdani’s establishment of the city’s first deputy mayor for economic justice position, signaling what the administration characterizes as a distinct approach to economic development policy.
The announcements occurred during a Wednesday press conference at which Mamdani also provided an update on a legionnaires’ disease outbreak affecting Manhattan’s Upper East Side, reporting 82 total cases with five fatalities and stating that no new cases had been identified in over a week.
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