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Carl Weisbrod steps down as director of Department of City Planning

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Carl Weisbrod steps down as director of Department of City Planning

Carl Weisbrod has stepped down as the director of Department of City Planning and Chair of City Planning Commission to become the Chair of the Trust for Governor’s Island. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Marisa Lago will replace him.

Weisbrod, 72, who lives on Roosevelt Island and has been in public service for over 40 years, is best-known as the guy who helped clean up Times Square and rid it of its sex industry. He also oversaw the rebuilding of the World Trade Center after September 11 and oversaw the comprehensive citywide rezoning that passed last year.

Lago, 61, is currently an assistant secretary for international markets and development at the Treasury. According to The New York Times, she worked with Weisbrod during the administration of Mayor David N. Dinkins. She will take over as chairwoman of the planning department in March.

Lago has been described as “tireless champion for the world’s poorest,” by Jacob J. Lew, the secretary of the Treasury, and says that she will focus on neighborhood development and “inclusionary,” or affordable, housing.

“This has been a great run for me,” Mr. Weisbrod told the Times. “I sometimes can’t really even contemplate how lucky I’ve been to be part of the city’s history.”

His last big achievement might be his work on the Midtown East rezoning proposal that is being devised as of last month. Weisbrod calls it a “gem,” and it has the support of Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer and councilman Daniel R. Garodnick.

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