Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Joann Ariola

Joann Ariola

  • Mayor Adams Yet to Name a Fire Commissioner

    Acting FDNY Commissioner Kavanagh with Mayor Adams (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Over nine months into his tenure, Mayor Eric Adams has yet to appoint a permanent commissioner for the New York City Fire Department, leaving Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh in the high-profile role dealing with some of the city’s most pressing emergencies and emergency services. 

    It is highly unusual for a mayor to take this long to name a commissioner for any city agency, much less a uniformed department with an established chain

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  • GOP County Chair vs Progressive Educator as Republicans Try to Hold Lone City Council Seat in Queens

    Gotham Gazette: Felicia Singh and Joann Ariola

    l-r: Felicia Singh and Joann Ariola


    This fall, residents of City Council District 32 in Queens will vote to choose their next City Council member in one of the few competitive general election races across the city. District 32 is the only remaining district in Queens currently represented by a Republican, but long-time Council Member Eric Ulrich is term-limited out of office, creating a wide open race to replace him. Ulrich is currently one of only three Republican members in the 51-seat City Council, and the

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