Enthusiasm sparked within the disabled community when New York City’s then Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani gave Able News staff writer Christopher Alvarez an exclusive interview before taking office.
The December conversation on housing, employment and transportation was seen as a first-of-its-kind opportunity where people with disabilities were given a seat at the table in political conversations.
Since then, disability activists and advocacy groups have been eagerly awaiting the youngest mayor’s choice for who will work across city government and with the disability community to make sure that every New Yorker can access the city’s spaces, services, and resources.
The wait is over…
Later today, Mamdani is expected to announce Nisha Agarwal as the new Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), the mayor’s office exclusively told Able News in a statement that highlighted her long “career dedicated to empowering vulnerable New Yorkers.”
A child of Indian immigrants, Agarwal served as the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives under the Bill de Blasio administration, where she worked to boost civic engagement among New Yorkers and build DemocracyNYC’s efforts on immigration, people with disabilities, and justice-involved communities.
“I am honored to be the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities. All of the priorities that Mayor Mamdani supports are critical for people with disabilities: affordable housing and food, access to health and mental health, free transportation, education equity, and employment opportunities,” MOPD Commissioner Agarwal said in a statement. “I will work with and [on] behalf of disabled New Yorkers to tackle these issues and ensure that people with disabilities are at the forefront for creating this city more livable for all.”
She also led the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs under de Blasio, building landmark initiatives like IDNYC, the city’s municipal identification card, and Cities for Action, a national advocacy coalition of local elected officials.
In announcing the appointment, Mayor Mamdani’s office called Agarwal “an accomplished public interest attorney as well as public servant.”
“It’s not enough for New York City to be affordable for everyone — it must be accessible to everyone, too. With decades of experience in public service, Commissioner Agarwal will help our administration deliver on that mission and build a city where every New Yorker can succeed,” Mayor Mamdani said. “From housing to health care to education, Commissioner Agarwal will work across government to break down barriers and ensure that our administration delivers for New Yorkers with disabilities.”
Most recently, the Executive Director for Policy and Communications at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Mental Hygiene, Agarwal’s resume also includes her as a prior Deputy Executive Director for Impact and Senior Advisor at International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a global legal aid and advocacy organization.
Agarwal will be replacing Commissioner Christina Curry, a partially blind and deaf disabled woman of color, who held the position for four years under Mayor Eric Adams.