De Blasio taps Goldman exec as deputy mayor for housing

UPDATED, 4:55 p.m., Dec. 23: Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has selected Alicia Glen, head of urban investment for Goldman Sachs, to serve as his deputy mayor for housing and economic development.

Glen, who is also an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University’s business school, has been at the head of the bank’s urban investment group since 2002. More than $5 billion in development of residential, mixed-use and commercial projects across the country have been created during her time in the post, including $41 million in financing for New York’s Citi Bike program.

Glen was also previously New York’s assistant commissioner for finance in the Housing, Preservation and Development department between 1998 and 2002, where she worked on revamping and building new affordable housing units, according to a release cited by Bloomberg News.

“We commend Mayor-elect de Blasio on his selection of Alicia Glen as the incoming deputy mayor for housing and economic development,” Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, said in a statement regarding Glen’s appointment. “It continues a string of exceptionally talented and knowledgeable individuals who will work with the new Mayor to steer our City moving forward.  We look forward to working with Ms. Glen and other City officials towards creating more affordable housing and an environment that will result in more good jobs.” [Bloomberg News] — Julie Strickland