MAYOR GIULIANI SWEARS IN ANTONIO PAGAN AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today administered the oath of office to Antonio Pagán as Commissioner of the Department of Employment. Commissioner Pagán who was appointed to the post on December 30, 1997 had previously represented the Manhattan neighborhoods of the Lower East Side, East Village, Union Square, Gramercy Park, portions of Greenwich Village, Murray Hill and Rose Hill as a New York City Councilmember for the Second District since 1991.
"It's my pleasure and honor to administer the oath to Antonio Pagán as he formally begins his tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Employment," said the Mayor. "The City is very lucky to have a leader like Antonio, with such distinguished record of achievement."
"During his time in the City Council, he proved himself to be an effective leader and a skillful legislator whose "roll-up-your-sleeves" and "get-things-done" approach became a dynamic and powerful force in the City. Antonio has dedicated his life to serving the best interest of the people of New York. His record is proof that he is willing to fight for what he believes regardless of the popular mood of the times. I cannot think of a man better suited to head up a City agency that is vested with the crucial responsibility of developing the future workforce of our City," the Mayor added.
The Department of Employment works in partnership with the Private Industry Council and is responsible for advancing the City's human services and economic development goals by providing employment services to economically disadvantaged, unemployed adults and young people.
"I am honored to be on the Mayor's team and elated that he has deposited great confidence in me," said Commissioner Pagán.
In the City Council, Mr. Pagán served on four Council committees including Government Operations and Contracts, and chaired the Sub-committee on Abandonment, Foreclosure and Disinvestment. He successfully addressed issues such as the improvement of public parks and facilities and the rehabilitation of housing into decent and affordable units. He also achieved the establishment of first housing ownership development program for the Lower East Side.
Prior to his election to the Council, Commissioner Pagán was the Executive Director of the Lower East Side Coalition Housing Development, Inc. a not-for-profit agency that develops permanent affordable housing. He was also a founding member of the Hispanic AIDS Forum; the Director of Press, Information and Public Relations for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the U.S.; Chairman of the Hidden Homeless Task Force, and co-coordinator of the Charter Revision Clearinghouse of the City of New York.
Commissioner Pagán was also an Adjunct Professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Fellow at the Urban Legal Studies Program.
Commissioner Pagán graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, where he also received his J.D. in law. Additionally, he holds a Masters of Arts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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