New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has revealed his top administrative picks, signaling a strong focus on his affordability agenda. At a press conference held at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute in Manhattan, Mamdani announced Dean Fuleihan as his first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as his chief of staff. Fuleihan, a seasoned civil servant with 47 years of experience in New York City government, is expected to bring fiscal expertise and operational stability to Mamdani’s administration. Bisgaard-Church, who has served as Mamdani’s chief of staff in the New York State Assembly and his campaign manager, will transition into her first city government role. Both appointments aim to address concerns about Mamdani’s relative inexperience and bolster his ambitious policy proposals. Fuleihan’s background includes roles in the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget and as chief fiscal advisor to the New York State Assembly, while Bisgaard-Church is credited with shaping the Democratic Socialists of America’s legislative strategy. Despite early challenges, including pushback from state leaders like Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani’s team remains optimistic about advancing his vision for affordable public services and universal childcare.