Longtime government official Maria Torres-Springer will replace First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright after she officially resigned Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams said.
“Maria has more than two decades of experiences leading multiple city agencies and executed on one of the most successful housing and economic development agendas in the city,” Adams told reporters.
“I’m just really proud to have her in this critical role and provided the connective tissues across city government to advance priorities and ensure we are working together to deliver for New Yorkers.”
Torres-Springer previously reported to Wright as deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce, a position she took on in May 2023.
A veteran of both the Mayors Bill de Blasio and Mike Bloomberg administrations, she started her tenure in the Adams admin in January 2022 taking the lead on the city’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Torres-Springer has had a long background in city government having previously led over 3,000 employees and operating with a $2 billion annual budget as the Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner.
In this role she oversaw financing for 60,000 affordable homes in just two years — the most in the agency’s history.
Torres-Springer was also the first woman to serve as president of the Economic Development Corporation where she implemented the NYC Ferry service and oversaw neighborhood revitalization plans.
As a child Torres-Springer lived in Section 8 housing which she said gave her “firsthand” knowledge about affordable housing — an experience she brought to her current role.
News of Wright’s imminent resignation broke last Friday, with one source saying “she’s leaving because she’s being shown the door.”
Wrights is the latest departure rocking city hall, as the administration navigate a sweeping federal corruption case.