This morning President Obama announced Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión as director of the new White House Office on Urban Policy.
Carrión’s new job will entail coordinating federal programs dealing with housing, transportation and other related issues to help effectively target federal money to the nation’s most struggling cities. He will report directly to President Obama, who said the following in a White House statement regarding this newly-created office: “Vibrant cities spawn innovation, economic growth, and cultural enrichment; the Urban Affairs office will focus on wise investments and development in our urban areas that will create employment and housing opportunities and make our country more competitive, prosperous, and strong.”
Carrión has served one term as the president of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), and his appointment is seen as an acknowledgement to the large Hispanic vote that helped put Obama in office. As Bronx Borough President, Carrión oversaw the creation of 40,000 new units of housing in seven years, 50 new schools, $7 billion in capital and infrastructure expenditures, and over $400 million in new parks and parkland renovation. Carrión has represented the 14th City Council District on the New York City Council and served as an urban planner at the NYC Department of City Planning. He was also a teacher for New York City Public Schools.
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