Mamdani to appoint antitrust crusader Lina Khan as chair of NYC economic development agency
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is planning to announce Wednesday that Lina Khan, a progressive antitrust regulator, will serve as the chair of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, according to two people with knowledge of the news.
The appointment of Khan amounts to a shakeup for the agency, which has been criticized over the years for being too cozy with business interests. The board must approve the EDC’s projects and deals — which have included Hudson Yards, High Line, the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island and the city’s ferry system.
Business leaders have been closely watching how the mayor manages the EDC. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has sought to change City Hall’s relationship to economic development. Rather than tapping a deputy mayor for economic development, he created the first-ever deputy mayor for economic justice.
At the same event, Mamdani is expected to announce Anthony Shorris, a former first deputy mayor under Bill de Blasio, to the role of EDC president. The appointment of the former McKinsey partner was seen by some as a nod to the business community.
The mayor’s office and EDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Khan served as the chair for the Federal Trade Commission under the Biden administration. She has been a close advisor to the mayor. Early on, she helped vet candidates for the EDC’s president.
The mayor appoints most of the EDC board members. While the president handles the day-to-day operations, the board helps guide the agency’s strategic mission.
