Fil-Am appointed New York City deputy mayor

A Filipino-American has been appointed as one of the deputy mayors of New York City, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

Maria Torres-Springer, 44, began assuming her post as deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding of New York City on Monday, January 3.

This is the first time a Filipino-American held such post, the DFA said.

Torres-Springer was appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Her task is to oversee the recovery of New York City from the economic fallout due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adams also appointed four other deputy mayors, among them Meera Joshi of South Asian descent, as deputy mayor for operations.

Consul General Elmer Cato welcomed the appointment of Torres-Springer.

"We join the Filipino Community in New York in congratulating one of our own on her assumption as deputy mayor of one of the more important cities in the world," Cato said.

"We thank Mayor Eric Adams for giving the Filipino- and Asian-American Community an important role in his administration," he said.

Torres-Springer's parents previously migrated to the US.

The new deputy mayor previously was the commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, and commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, during the term of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, the DFA said.

Torres-Springer was also executive vice president and chief of staff of the New York City Economic Development Corporation during the term of Michael Bloomberg as New York City mayor. —KG, GMA News