Printer Friendly Format
View Press Conference
56k | 300k
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2002
PR-042-02
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES FIVE APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed Zachary W. Carter as Chair of the Mayor's Committee on the Judiciary, Robert G.M. Keating as its Vice Chair, Patricia J. Lancaster as Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, and Christopher O. Ward as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, and nominated Charles A. Brass as President of the Housing Development Corporation.

The Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary submits recommendations to the Mayor for appointments to the Family Court and the Criminal Court, and interim appointments to the Civil Court. The Committee will be comprised of 19 members.

"New Yorkers deserve judges committed to the fair administration of justice for all," Mayor Bloomberg said. "I am committed to selecting judges based on merit and creating a fair and open process, which seeks out New York City's best and brightest attorneys. New York City has one of the largest and most complex justice systems in this country, and therefore must have the most knowledgeable, qualified, and ethical legal minds at its service. Zachary Carter and Robert Keating possess the acumen, integrity, and experience to lead the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary."

Carter is currently a partner in the Trial, Regulatory, and Technology Group at Dorsey and Whitney, LLP, where he is Co-chair of the White Collar Crime and Civil Fraud practice group. He is also the new Chairman of the Board of the Hale House, which is reforming the organization. From 1993 to 1999, Carter served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where he prosecuted several prominent cases, including the torture case of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima and the civil rights case for the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum. In addition, he has held a series of positions in public service, including United States Magistrate Judge, Criminal Court Judge in New York City, and court administrator. Carter received a JD from the New York University School of Law and a BA from Cornell University.

Keating is currently the Director of the Center for Judicial Studies and a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the Pace University School of Law. He is also Chairman and CEO of Management Techniques Inc., where he has served since 2000. Prior to that, he was a partner at Keating & Klein, PC, and Senior Executive Vice President at Complete Management Inc. He is also a former Judge of the New York State Court of Claims, Administrative Judge of the Criminal Court and Supreme Court in Kings County, Criminal Justice Coordinator for the City of New York under Mayor Koch, and Chief Assistant District Attorney in Kings County. Keating received an LLB from Duke University and an AB from Georgetown University.

The Department of Buildings enforces the Building Code, Zoning Resolution, State Multiple Dwelling Law, Electrical Code, and other energy, labor, and local laws related to building construction in the City. The Department also issues licenses to workers engaged in construction-related trades, such as plumbers, electricians, welders, boiler operators, riggers, and hoisting machine operators.

"The Department of Buildings will play a prominent role in the process of rebuilding New York City," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Consequently, the Commissioner of Buildings must be a leader, innovator, and an individual capable of achieving results. Patricia Lancaster fits that description and I am confident that she will serve her fellow New Yorkers with the utmost skill and professionalism as Commissioner of Buildings."

Lancaster, the first female Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, is currently the President of the Lancaster Group, where she began in August 2001. Prior to that, she was Vice President of LCOR, Inc., Assistant Vice President at Columbia University in the Department of Planning, Design and Construction, Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of General Services in the Division of Design and Construction, and Senior Engineer at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In addition, she has served as an Adjunct Professor at the New York University Real Estate Institute, Associate Professor of Architectural Design at the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Associate Professor of Art at Linfield College. Lancaster, a registered architect in New York State, received a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a BA from Linfield College.

The Department of Environmental Protection protects the environmental health, welfare, and natural resources of the City and its residents. The Department manages the City water supply and wastewater system, carries out the Federal Clean Water Act regulations, and conducts Citywide water and energy conservation programs.

"We are committed to ensuring that New York City maintains a clean and ample water supply," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Christopher Ward understands the importance of protecting the environment and its relation to helping New York City thrive, as evidenced by his precedent-setting plan to protect harbor estuaries and preserve wetlands and his spearheading of the 'Clean Fuels, Natural Gas' emission reduction initiative. His record indicates that he is extremely capable of leading this important agency and I look forward to working with him."

Ward is currently Chief of Planning and External Affairs at the Port Authority of New York And New Jersey, where he has also served as Director of Port Development. Prior to that, he was Director of Business Development at American Stevedoring, Inc., Senior Vice President for Transportation and Commerce at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Telecommunications and Energy, and Director of Research at the Department of Consumer Affairs. Ward received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a BA from Macalester College.

The Housing Development Corporation is a corporate governmental agency constituted as a public benefit corporation and established in 1971 under Article XII, Private Housing Finance Law. The agency encourages the investment of private capital through low-finance mortgage loans, provides safe and sanitary dwellings for families and persons who whose housing needs cannot be met by unassisted private enterprise, and provides construction and/or permanent financing for multi-family residential housing through the issuance of bonds and notes.

"The availability of affordable housing is a priority for this Administration," Mayor Bloomberg said. "Charles Brass has proven that he is committed to providing housing for all New Yorkers during his years of service at HDC. I am confident that he will continue working tirelessly on behalf of the City and look forward to continue working with him in the provision of affordable housing."

Brass is currently Executive Vice President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation, where he has served and held several top-level posts since 1984. Prior to joining the Housing Development Corporation, Brass was a policy analyst and RFP Coordinator at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. He completed his coursework for a Masters of Regional Planning and received a Master of Arts at the University of NorthCarolina and a BA at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jerry Russo
(212) 788-2958