Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointments of Michelle L. Goldstein as Director of the Office of State Legislative Affairs and Eddie Bautista as Director of the Office of City Legislative Affairs. The State Office advocates on behalf of the City and the Mayor and is responsible for reviewing all state legislation. The City Office represents the Mayor and City agencies before the City Council and serves as liaison between the Administration and the Comptroller, Public Advocate and Borough Presidents. Goldstein replaces Anthony "Skip" Piscitelli, who served as Director since 1998; Bautista replaces Karen Meara, who served as Director since 2004.

"With their extensive backgrounds in government relations, Michelle Goldstein and Eddie Bautista are perfect fits to lead the Office of State and City Legislative Affairs," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Michelle has advocated for the interests of New York City for more than a decade, and I look forward to working with her in fighting to get New York City's fair share from Albany. Eddie has been a trusted representative and skilled negotiator, as evidenced by the recent agreement with the City Council on our landmark Solid Waste Management Plan. I am confident they will both serve the City's interests well in their new roles."

"I am thrilled to work with Mayor Bloomberg and the entire Intergovernmental Affairs team in advancing the City's agenda in Albany," Director Goldstein said. "I hope to build upon the successes of the Bloomberg Administration, and especially look forward to continuing the fight for more state education funding."

"I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg for this appointment," Director Bautista said. "It has been a tremendous honor to serve in this Administration, and I am excited to work with the Mayor and the City Council in continuing to pass laws that improve the lives of all 8.1 million New Yorkers."

Prior to her appointment, Michelle Goldstein served as Director of Government Affairs for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Before joining the MTA, Goldstein held a variety of government relations positions within City government: Director of Local Government Relations for the Department of Education, Director of the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Deputy Director of the Office of State Legislative Affairs. Director Goldstein holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Public Administration from the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. Born and raised in New York City, Goldstein graduated from Susan Wagner High School in Staten Island and lives in Brooklyn Heights.

Prior to his appointment, Eddie Bautista served as Special Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Government Affairs and Deputy Director for the Office of City Legislative Affairs. Previously, Bautista has held community organization and planning positions within the environmental justice movement. He served as Director of Community Planning for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) and organizer for the Organization of Waterfront Neighborhoods (OWN) and Communities United for Responsible Energy (CURE). A life-long Brooklynite, Bautista graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School before receiving a B.A. from New York University and a M.S. in City and Regional Planning from the Pratt Institute. Bautista currently lives in Clinton Hill with his wife, Elizabeth Yeampierre, and their son Rico.