Charter Commission Members

Patrick Gaspard, Chair

Chair Patrick Gaspard is a former American diplomat and long-time New Yorker who previously served as president of the Center for American Progress. Gaspard has served as executive director of the Democratic National Committee, United States Ambassador to South Africa, President of the Open Society Foundation, and Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU Healthcare workers East. A close aide to former President Barack Obama, Gaspard worked as Associate Personnel Director of President-elect Obama's transition team and Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs for the Obama administration. Gaspard's career in New York City included working on David Dinkins' Mayoral campaign and serving as special assistant in the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, special assistant in Dinkins' mayoral office, and chief of staff in the New York City Council.

Emma Wolfe, Vice Chair

Vice Chair Emma Wolfe serves as Senior Vice President for Operations and Chief of Staff to the President of New York University. Before working in higher education, she spent two decades working in city and state government and on local, state, and federal political and advocacy campaigns. Emma was previously the Vice President for Government and Community Relations at Dartmouth. Prior to that inaugural role, she was the first Senior Advisor to the President for External Relations and Leadership Development at Barnard College. Before working in higher education, she spent two decades working in city and state government and on local, state, and federal political and advocacy campaigns.  During Bill de Blasio’s New York City Mayoral administration, Emma served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and then as Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Administration. 

Susan Kang, Secretary

Secretary Susan Kang is an Associate Professor of Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her research and areas of expertise include international relations, international political economy, labor and human rights and international law. She currently serves as an editor of research journal Global Constitutionalism, and is the former co-chair of the Labor Project, an American Political Science Association Related Group. She is the author of Human Rights and Labor Solidarity: Trade Unions in the Global Economy, and a member of the NYC chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. She is the co-author of a book on policing of protest forthcoming with Stanford University Press and is a member of the executive council of the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY.

Marco A. Carrión, Commissioner

Marco A. Carrión is the President of the Consortium for Worker Education and former Commissioner of Community Affairs for New York City. Prior to joining the Consortium, Carrión served as Executive Director of El Puente, a human rights organization operating in New York City and Puerto Rico. Carrión has also worked as political director for Central Labor Council, representing 1.5 million members across 300 local unions, as Chief of Staff for State Senator Gustavo Rivera and served in senior roles for two governors. He is a Bronx native and currently resides in Brooklyn.

Henry A. Garrido, Commissioner

Henry A. Garrido is the executive director of District Council 37, New York City’s largest public employee union, representing 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees. On Nov. 26, 2024, Garrido was reelected to a fourth term effective January 2025. Since becoming executive director in 2015, Garrido has focused on encouraging greater member participation, initiating the DC 37 Union Strong organizing campaign. The campaign has led to the highest union membership in DC 37’s 80 year history. Garrido previously served as the union’s associate director. In that position, he helped establish the Municipal Employees Housing Program, which coordinates grants for first-time homebuyers and provides foreclosure prevention services, financial education and counseling. He also directed the union’s white paper project that addressed government waste by investigating the privatization of City services and identifying additional revenue sources. Garrido was also involved in a sustainability initiative focused on increasing green jobs in New York State. Garrido is an international vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), co-chair of the Municipal Labor Committee, a trustee on the City of New York’s Workforce Investment Board, an advisory board member of the New York City Independent Budget Office, and serves on the board of the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS). Garrido has also served as chair to two Charter Revision Commissions as co-chair of the Racial Justice and the co-chair of Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy. Garrido oversaw the redevelopment of the union’s headquarters at 125 Barclay, which reopened as a state-of-the-art member service center during the union’s 80th anniversary in 2024. A native of the Dominican Republic, he is the first Latino to head DC 37 since it was formed in 1944.

Kapil Longani, Commissioner

Kapil Longani is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the State University of New York. Longani has extensive experience in federal, state and local government and governance. His career includes serving as Chief Counsel to the Mayor of New York City, and Senior Counsel to Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as the Democratic staff's lead investigator in several high profile investigations including the Flint water crisis and the federal government’s response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Prior to his work in Congress, Longani served as an Assistant US Attorney for the District of Columbia, a litigator with Skadden in New York City, and helped implement South Africa’s post-Apartheid Constitution. Longani also serves as a Commissioner on the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and on the boards of Good Shepherd Services, the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, and the National Endowment for Financial Education.

Ruth Messinger, Commissioner

Ruth Messinger is a longtime civic leader, Jewish social justice activist and former Manhattan Borough President (1989-1997). Messinger served as a City Councilmember, representing Manhattan's West Side (1977-1989), and was the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor in 1997 after 20 years in elected office. She led the American Jewish World Service, an international human rights organization, as president and CEO for nearly two decades and is now the organization’s Global Ambassador. A third generation New Yorker, Messinger worked as a social worker, community school teacher, neighborhood organizer, college administrator and global human rights activist. She has taught at various NYC colleges and is currently teaching policy and politics at Hunter College. Messinger has been an advisor to the Center for Social Responsibility at the Meyerson JCC and is now part time faculty at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; a consultant and teacher for Elluminate, a program for social justice entrepreneurs; an immigration advocate and activist; and the co-chair of the Board of the Interfaith Center for NY.

Theodore Moore, Commissioner

Theodore Moore is the Executive Director of ALIGN, setting the organization’s strategic vision for worker power and climate justice, leading engagement with campaigns and movement partners, and supervising a team of 10 staff members. Moore brings close to 20 years of movement and political advocacy experience to the position, most recently serving as New York Immigration Coalition’s (NYIC) Vice President of Policy & Programs. Previously, he was a Senior Policy Analyst for NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, with The Working Families Party (WFP), and was among the original staff of ALIGN in 2012. Moore serves on several boards including Riders Alliance, New Yorkers United for Child Care and PowerSwitch Action. A lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Moore was born and raised in East Flatbush and now calls Bed-Stuy home.

Ana Oliveira, Commissioner

Ana Oliveira is the President & CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation. Oliveira has worked in health and human services for over two decades, including as the Executive Director of Gay Men’s Health Crisis and leading innovative community-based programs at Samaritan Village, the Osborne Association, Kings County and Lincoln Hospitals. Oliveira has also served as a member of the New York City HIV Planning Council, in the New York City Commission on AIDS, chaired the NYC Commission for LGBTQ Runaway and Homeless Youth, and Co-Chaired Mayor Bloomberg’s Young Men’s Initiative.

Dawn Pinnock, Commissioner

Dawn Pinnock is the President and CEO of the Center for Urban Community Services, one of New York City's leading social service organizations. Prior to joining CUCS, Pinnock served as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services and has over three decades of experience working to modernize government operations across New York City. Pinnock co-chaired the City’s first Pay Equity Cabinet, helped lead the City’s Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, served on the Board of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and oversaw initiatives that reduced carbon emissions and created safer, more sustainable city operations. Pinnock also serves on the NYC Public Schools’ Pathways Industry Commission, and as a Board Trustee for Metropolitan College of New York.

Carlina Rivera, Commissioner

Carlina Rivera is a former New York City elected official and current President and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), where she leads the largest statewide coalition of affordable housing stakeholders in the country to drive faster development and long-term preservation across the five boroughs. As a New York City Council Member, Rivera helped secure millions of dollars in funding for housing preservation and production over her eight years in office. Rivera began her career in after-school programming for high-needs schools and served as Director of Programs and Services at the nonprofit Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES). Rivera also served as an officer of Manhattan Community Board 3 and as Legislative Director for Council Member Rosie Mendez.

Esther Rosario, Commissioner

Esther Rosario is Executive Director of Climate Jobs New York, a coalition of labor unions leading the fight for an equitable, resilient, and unionized clean energy economy. CJNY’s mission is to educate, organize, and advocate for a clean energy future at the scale that climate science demands and one that creates and protects good union jobs, centers working people, and builds stronger, more resilient communities across New York State. Ms. Rosario also serves as the Policy Director for the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. Prior to joining CJNY, Esther served as Chief of Staff to the New York State Senate Labor Chair, where she helped lead successful campaigns to raise the minimum wage, expand access to child care, strengthen prevailing wage standards in renewable energy, and advance critical worker protections statewide. Her earlier roles include Press Secretary for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Policy Analyst in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. Esther also served in the Peace Corps in Colombia, where she collaborated with local leaders and international partners to develop sustainable community programs.

Marc V. Shaw, Commissioner

Marc V. Shaw is a longtime New York State and City government official who has served as New York City First Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Operations to Mayor Bloomberg, NYC Budget Director, NYC Finance Commissioner, and Finance Director for the NYC Council. Shaw is currently Chair of the Advisory Board and Senior Advisor at the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance. At CUNY, his experience includes serving as Senior Advisor to the CUNY Chancellor and Senior Vice Chancellor for Budget, Finance and Financial Policy. Shaw also served as a Senior Advisor to the Governor on MTA finances, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the MTA from 1996 to 2001, and earlier in his career served on the New York State Senate Finance Committee.

Barika X. Williams, Commissioner

Barika X. Williams is a New York City housing expert and Executive Director of the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD), where her work focuses on advancing equitable community development strategies that empower marginalized communities. Prior to joining ANHD, she served as Assistant Secretary for Housing for the State of New York, worked in real estate development in Washington, DC, and published at the Urban Institute. Williams served on the inaugural US Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity (TARCE), and has presented nationally and internationally on neighborhood and economic justice.

Kathryn Wylde, Commissioner

Kathryn Wylde is an urban policy expert and widely recognized New York civic and business leader. For fifty years, Wylde has played a central role in building and maintaining New York’s thriving economy, as well as the revitalization of the city’s neighborhoods, development of affordable housing, reform of the public education system, modernization of the public transit system, and advancing public health and safety. Wylde recently stepped down after 25 years as President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, the city’s preeminent business organization. She is a Senior Strategic Advisor to Invariant, a top Washington D.C.-based public affairs firm, a member of the Advisory Board of the NYC Independent Budget Office, and a member of the NYS Financial Control Board. She serves on the boards of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, the New York State NYC Regional Economic Development Council, the Fund for Public Schools, the Manhattan Institute, Invest Puerto Rico, and the Partnership Fund for New York City. She writes a regular column for Crain’s New York Business and is a frequent spokesperson on issues that impact the city and state.