New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a series of senior appointments across critical city agencies on February 10, aimed at improving service coordination and delivery across government departments. Among the new leaders, Nisha Agarwal was named Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities, where she will oversee efforts to ensure city programs, infrastructure, and services are accessible and inclusive for all residents.
Mayor Mamdani highlighted Agarwal’s extensive background in government, law, and advocacy as key to her ability to collaborate with city agencies and the disability community. He emphasized the importance of accessibility, stating that New York City must be not only affordable but also fully accessible. Agarwal’s mandate includes addressing barriers in housing, healthcare, education, and other essential services to improve the lives of disabled New Yorkers.
Agarwal is a public interest attorney and veteran public servant with a career dedicated to equity, inclusion, and serving vulnerable populations. She previously served as executive director for policy and communications at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Division of Mental Hygiene, and as deputy executive director for impact and senior adviser at the International Refugee Assistance Project, a global legal aid and advocacy organization. During the de Blasio administration, she also led the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, shaping policies to support marginalized communities.
In her statement, Agarwal reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Mayor Mamdani’s priorities, including affordable housing, food access, healthcare, transportation, education, and employment for people with disabilities. She stressed that accessibility would be central to the city’s approach, ensuring that all services are designed to meet the needs of disabled residents.
These appointments form part of the administration’s broader strategy to strengthen city governance, improve service delivery, and foster a more inclusive and equitable New York City for all communities.
