New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of the full slate of 13 members of the Charter Revision Commission (CRC) announced yesterday.
The CRC will be chaired by Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, and will be tasked with reviewing the charter and determining how to make New York City’s municipal government more responsive and transparent to the city’s residents. Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York State Conference, will serve as vice chair, and Kenny Ngai, a 20-year veteran of New York City law enforcement, will serve as secretary of the CRC.
The 13-member CRC will review the entire city charter to ensure that the city’s municipal government works efficiently and remains responsive to all New Yorkers. More specifically, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can contribute to public safety and provide opportunities for greater community input and transparency when legislation is proposed that would impact public safety. Additionally, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can better promote fiscal responsibility and support working-class New Yorkers. The CRC will have the ability to evaluate processes for determining the financial impact of proposed legislation on current and future fiscal years, whether the financial impact is funded, and making that information more transparent to the public.
“Today marks a significant step forward towards enhancing transparency, responsiveness in city government, and further civic engagement as we appoint all 13 dedicated members of the Charter Revision Commission,” said Mayor Adams. “Their mission to explore innovative ways for the public to contribute to our city’s governance will be critical in moving our city forward. Together, we will work to make New York City safer and more inclusive for all its residents.”
“I am honored and grateful to be named chair of the New York City Charter Revision Commission by Mayor Eric Adams,” said Carlo Scissura, chair, CRC. “As a lifelong New Yorker, it is truly remarkable to get to continue to serve the city I love. Having served on two previous charter commissions, I am excited to work with my fellow commissioners and to listen to the voices of New Yorkers across the five boroughs.”
“As someone who has spent their entire career working to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, I am honored to join the Charter Revision Commission to help identify ways that we can make city government more efficient and transparent,” said Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, vice chair, CRC. “Together, we will work to ensure that our city’s charter reflects the values and needs of every resident, especially those who too often find themselves without a seat at the table.”
“I am proud to accept this responsibility to serve on the Charter Revision Commission and look forward to working with my colleagues to identify ways that we can further the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and, above all, the safety of every New Yorker,” said Ken Ngai, secretary, CRC. “Our top priority is pursuing policies that create pathways to prosperity for all, and I look forward to engaging with stakeholders across the city to achieve that mission.”
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The members of the CRC are:
Carlo Scissura (Chair)
Carlo Scissura has participated in two Charter Revision Commissions in the past. Scissura currently serves as president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017. Previously, Scissura was president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Brooklyn Chamber, Scissura served as both chief of staff and general counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for nearly five years.
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes (Vice Chair)
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes is president of the NAACP New York State Conference. She is also a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, a member of the NAACP Executive Committee, and an active member of various NAACP board sub-committees. Dr. Dukes is a woman of great strength and courage whose dedication to human rights and equality is exemplified by her role linking business, government, and social causes. Additionally, Dr. Dukes serves as the president of the Hazel N. Dukes & Associates Consultant Firm, specializing in the areas of public policy, health, and diversity.
Ken Ngai (Secretary)
Ken Ngai is a well-respected law enforcement professional with more than 20 years of experience protecting public safety in New York City. He has an extensive background in high-risk global financial crimes, undercover narcotics investigations, counter terrorist financing, and cyber environments. Ngai is an expert in identifying financial crime patterns, risk assessment, and enterprise risk management, as well as identifying trends and emerging threats to address and mitigate risks.
Kyle Bragg
Kyle Bragg served for four decades at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 32BJ, and retired as president after serving in that position since 2019. He now serves as a trustee of several 32BJ funds and as chair of the union’s social and economic justice committee. He is also a member of the executive board of the National African American Caucus of SEIU and serves on the international union’s first Racial Justice Task Force.
Reverend Herbert Daughtry, Sr.
Reverend Herbert Daughtry Sr. is a civil rights activist who hails from a family that has produced five generations of church leaders. He serves as the national presiding minister of the House of the Lord Churches, headquartered in Brooklyn. With more than 60 years of involvement in church and community service, Reverend Daughtry Sr. has earned the title of “The People’s Pastor.”
Ruben Díaz Jr.
Ruben Díaz. Jr. represented his hometown and the people of the Bronx for more than two decades, serving in the state Legislature for seven terms and serving as Bronx borough president for three terms. During his career in public service, Díaz Jr. championed a “New Bronx” agenda on economic development, housing, education, and public safety.
Lorraine Grillo
Lorraine Grillo began her public service career as a community relations specialist at the New York City School Construction Authority, serving in several senior roles in the authority before being appointed as CEO and president in 2014. Grillo served as senior advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio for COVID-19 recovery and as commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction from July 2018 until December 2021. She most recently served as first deputy mayor to Mayor Adams.
Christopher B. Lynch
Christopher B. Lynch is a lifelong public servant. For the last decade, he has worked as a substitute teacher with the New York City Department of Education. Previously, he served over 20 years with the New York City Department of Correction’s Health Management Division, retiring as a captain.
Stephanie McGraw
Stephanie McGraw is the founder and CEO of We All Really Matter (WARM), a domestic violence organization founded in 2010 out of her own vicious cycle of abuse. Through her journey, McGraw yearned to see service providers working through an inclusive, culturally competent lens. By establishing WARM, she became the first Black woman to create a domestic violence agency in Harlem. The organization now operates citywide and has expanded to provide economic empowerment services in Ghana and throughout Africa.
Max Rose
Max Rose is the vice chairman of The Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security consultancy, and chairman and CEO of Pontis Partners, a strategic advisory firm for private companies and nonprofits. A former congressman from New York’s 11th District, Rose proudly represented Staten Island and South Brooklyn in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019-2020. Rose was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 2010 as an infantry officer and still serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as a major.
Jackie Rowe-Adams
Jackie Rowe-Adams worked tirelessly with youth and seniors as a music specialist with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation from 1986 until her retirement in late 2021. After losing two sons to gun violence, Rowe-Adams co-founded Harlem Mothers Stop Another Violent End, an organization instituted to end the dreaded scourge of violence in the Harlem community. She has received numerous awards and citations for her social activism, and her efforts have inspired love and respect from all who have had the opportunity to meet her. She is a life-long resident of Harlem.
Bishop Gerald G. Seabrooks
Bishop Gerald G. Seabrooks is the pastor of the Rehoboth Cathedral, a purpose-driven ministry located in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Bishop Seabrooks has actualized “the holistic approach” by servicing humanity both spiritually and socially. He is also currently employed as a licensed guidance counselor and pedagogue by the New York City Department of Education. He previously served as the executive vice president of a prestigious community multi-service corporation for over 25 years.
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz is the senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York. A much sought-after speaker and teacher with over three decades of experience in the rabbinate, Rabbi Steinmetz has mastered the art of presenting the timeless wisdom of ancient texts in a contemporary way.
