Press Release

April 15, 2026

#10-26

                                            

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT’S LATEST ‘PREP TALK’ PODCAST EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS NEW YORK CITY HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT’S ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY

 

‘PREP TALK’ {Click to listen to episode 99} 

 

NEW YORK — New York City Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) ensures New Yorkers have quality homes by maintaining building and resident safety, preserving affordable housing, and engaging New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength. On this episode of “Prep Talk,” we are joined by HPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services AnnMarie Santiago and Associate Commissioner for Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement Grace DeFina to discuss how housing and public safety intersect during an emergency response. They also discuss the importance of earning New Yorkers' trust and offer advice to anyone seeking to become a civil servant. 

 

“It’s a team effort for us. We have inspectors, we emergency repair technical staff, we have demolition, a field staff, and everyone in the office who supports all of those efforts,” said NYC Housing Preservation & Development’s Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services AnnMarie Santiago. “For every event, there is something to learn. We have After-Actions meetings… and there is always room to do better for the next event.”

“We’re always looking for ways to evolve,” said NYC Housing Preservation & Development’s Associate Commissioner for Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement Grace DeFina. “Our programs have evolved by either changing policy or supporting different policies, like the Alternative Enforcement Program, which deals with some of the most distressed buildings in the city.”

You can listen to the latest ‘Prep Talk’ episode on SoundCloud.

Profile 

AnnMarie Santiago has served as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (ENS) at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) since 2018. AnnMarie oversees a staff of approximately 1,000 employees responsible for assuring compliance with the New York City Housing Maintenance Code and the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law to promote quality housing for New Yorkers. Her Office conducts inspections and emergency repairs, initiates litigation in Housing Court related to housing maintenance code violations, and provides outreach and information to property owners and tenants regarding rights and responsibilities related to housing maintenance issues. AnnMarie received her bachelor’s degree from New York University and her master’s degree in management and urban policy from the New School. She started her career in City government in 1994 as an Urban Fellow working for the Mayor's Office. She joined HPD in 1996 and has served in a variety of capacities related to housing code enforcement. She was promoted to Associate Commissioner in 2012 and to Assistant Deputy Commissioner in 2015, and received the Sloan Public Service Award in 2017.

 

Grace DeFina has served as Associate Commissioner for the Division of Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement since 2024. Grace oversees a staff of approximately 250 employees responsible for the enforcement of specialized housing laws. She also oversees the procurement and monitoring of construction work necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. Grace’s Division includes the Emergency Repair Program, Environmental Hazards Unit, Alternative Enforcement Program, 7A Program, and the Demolition Unit. Grace graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Politics. Grace earned her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s School of Law. In 2002, Grace began her career at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development as an attorney in the Special Enforcement Unit. After creating, implementing, and managing new programs related to improved Housing Code Enforcement, she was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2011.

 

 

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