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Mayor-elect Eric Adams has picked City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez to be New York City’s next Transportation Commissioner — and Rodriguez has accepted, sources said.
Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) has served on the council since 2010, and as the chair of its Transportation Committee for eight years.
The Inwood politician was among the mayor-elect’s closest backers during this year’s mayoral primary, often appearing at his side on the campaign trail. Rodriguez was widely expected to be offered a job in the Adams administration.
“He was basically offered [Taxi and Limousine Commissioner chair] and turned it down,” one source said. “After he turned down TLC, they offered him DOT or a position that would’ve been a transportation advisor for a mayor.”
Rodriguez has been a staunch advocate of current Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Vision Zero” initiative to reduce traffic deaths, as well as the city’s for-hire vehicle industry. He has also pushed the city to install more bike lanes, bus lanes and pedestrian improvements, and launched the city’s “Car-Free Earth Day.”
A spokesman for Adams’ transition team declined to comment.
Rodriguez did not respond to multiple text messages.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
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