Diverse senior members will oversee the operations and functions of
Borough Hall and his agenda
BROOKLYN, NY (March XX, 2022) Today, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso announced senior members of his team who will oversee the operations and functions of Borough Hall and his agenda. Deputy Borough President Diana Richardson will support the Borough President in furthering his policy agenda with a focus on Community Boards, gun violence, and food access. The diverse Borough Hall team will be overseen by Chief of Staff Asher Freeman.
“Having built out the senior members of my administration is an exciting milestone of our transition, being able to collectively begin to fulfill our promises of making Brooklyn and more equitable and sustainable place to live for all,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Our senior team not only has the expertise and experience to carry out their duties, but they’re also passionate about Brooklyn’s future with strong ties to the best borough in New York City.”
DRAFT – “Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso and I have big plans for Brooklyn, and this team of directors is just what we need to get the work done, build a stronger Brooklyn, and give future generations of Brooklynites a chance at the life they envisioned for themselves,” said Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Richardson.
“Everyone who has joined the Reynoso administration has two things in common: their experience in public service and their unwavering commitment to delivering on behalf of all of Brooklyn’s communities with a focus on the most vulnerable among us,” said Chief of Staff Asher Freeman.
The Brooklyn Borough President’s senior team members include:
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Appointments Daniel Abramson, who will oversee the Borough President’s engagement with city, state, and federal elected officials and agency partners, the Borough President’s appointees to boards and committees, and other key stakeholders. A third generation Brooklynite, and avid Nets fan, Abramson most recently served as Senior Advisor to the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and previously was Brooklyn Borough Director in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit.
Director of Capital Budget Astrid Cuas, who will oversee the preparation of budget proposals and make city expense and capital budget recommendations to the Mayor and Council. Cuas was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in East New York Brooklyn. She has an extensive background in accounting, more recently working in construction accounting for private companies.
Director of Community Boards Carol-Ann Church will help the Borough President with his community board powers and duties, including but not limited to the appointment process, coordinating training of board members, and addressing any challenges that boards may encounter as they carry out their work. Church is Trinidadian and has worked alongside her Brooklyn neighbors in community engagement at a non-profit, and most recently worked as Assistant District Manager at Brooklyn Community Board 2. She is an active volunteer with Brooklyn Metropolis Lions Club and the Von King Park Conservancy.
Director of Land Use and Topography John Douglas will oversee the office’s responsibilities in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process, maintaining the City Map, technical assistance to community boards, and planning policy related to transportation, resiliency infrastructure, and economic development. In 2009, Douglas moved to Brooklyn and never looked back. John graduated from Pratt Institute’s M.S. program in City and Regional Planning. He is joining us after working for five years as a Senior Planner in the Land Use Division at the New York City Council. John has been a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2017.
Director of Constituent Services Deanna Foote will be the point of contact for the numerous types of constituent issues facing Brooklynites across the borough, responding to, and resolving inquiries and complaints from the public. A long time native New Yorker, and former Deputy Chief of Staff at the New York State Senate, Deanna has dedicated her career to public service.
Director of Communications Stephanie M. Guzmán will oversee all external communications related to the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, including press correspondence, newsletters, social media, websites, and more. A Dominican-American Brooklynite, Guzmán most recently served as First Deputy Press Secretary at NYC Health + Hospitals and Communications Lead for the City’s Vaccine Command Center.
Director of Human Resources and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (EEO) Tameisha Honeygan will oversee all human resources and EEO matters for the Brooklyn Borough President’s office and 18 Brooklyn Community Boards. Honeygan previously worked under Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
General Counsel Gregory Louis heads the Brooklyn Borough President Office of Counsel, which is responsible for every legal aspect of the office’s operations, including compliance and responses to FOIL requests. A Haitian-American and Brooklyn-native, Gregory has served Brooklyn and the City as a law professor, co-founder and initial general counsel of a community lawyering nonprofit in north Brooklyn, community attorney also in north Brooklyn, and tutor for Harlemites.
Director of Operations Yamilka Mena will manage all of historic Brooklyn Borough Hall operations, including managing the executive support staff. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn and Queens, Yamilka has worked in both the public and nonprofit sectors mainly in support of immigrant communities in New York City and beyond.
Director of Programs Eileen Mullaney-Newman will help organize, execute, and run all the Borough President-sponsored public events across Brooklyn. An Irish-American Brooklynite, Eileen is entering her 20th year of public service at Brooklyn Borough Hall in Programs having enjoyed serving constituents through fun and informative events and programs all across the borough.
Director of Partnerships Glenda Silva will be responsible for developing partnerships between the Borough President’s Office and external actors to further the office’s mission and work. Silva previously served as Deputy Director of Programs and Strategic Alliances for Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Silva proudly calls Brooklyn her home away from home.
Director of Policy Mon Yuck Yu will help the Borough President exercise the power to introduce legislation and to hold public hearings on matters of public importance.