Commission to focus on strengthening local democracy and advancing government transparency and accountability

City Hall, NY – Today, the New York City Council announced commissioner appointments of the Charter Revision Commission initiated by its enactment of Local Law 121 of 2024. The commission – NYC Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy (The Commission) – will be co-chaired by District Council 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido and New York Urban League President & CEO Arva Rice. Through a comprehensive review of the City Charter, it will focus on improving and restoring public confidence in city government by strengthening local democracy and enhancing government accountability and transparency.

The Commission is composed of 17 commissioners and includes representation for every New York City elected official. Nine of the commissioners are appointed by the Council Speaker and the remaining commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, and five Borough Presidents. The Commission will undertake an open, inclusive process that prioritizes robust public engagement to utilize the input of New Yorkers and analysis from policy experts in the development of proposals that improve city government. It will not be considering any proposals that weaken local democracy or New Yorkers’ rights.

“The NYC Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy will improve city government by reinforcing democracy, transparency, and accountability. Its mission is to pave the way towards restoration of public confidence and ensure our city works for all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I’m excited the Commission will be led by Henry Garrido and Arva Rice and include commissioners that represent every city elected official. Co-chairs Garrido and Rice are dedicated and fierce champions of New York City, who have focused on improving the lives of the people of New York and achieving equity in our city. I thank the Co-chairs and the entire Commission for their dedicated service on behalf of all New Yorkers.”

“I am honored to co-chair the NYC Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy as we take on the critical and necessary work of reviewing the city’s charter,” said Henry Garrido. “This commission has an immense responsibility to ensure our municipal government is prepared to address the challenges facing working families today, tomorrow, and in the future. Thank you to Speaker Adams for this appointment.”

“The NYC Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy represents an important step toward building a more accountable and effective government that reflects the values of our diverse communities,” said Arva Rice. “Throughout my career, I have been committed to advocating for equity, accountability, and justice, and I look forward to bringing that experience to this important work. I am honored to be appointed co-chair and look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and- the larger community- to advance solutions that will restore New Yorkers’ faith in government and strengthen local democracy.”

The Commissioners:

Henry Garrido, Co-Chair

Henry A. Garrido is the executive director of District Council 37, New York City’s largest public employee union, representing 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees. On Nov. 26, 2024, Garrido was reelected to a fourth term effective January 2025.

Since becoming executive director in 2014, Garrido has focused on encouraging greater member participation, initiating the DC 37 Union Strong organizing campaign. The campaign continues to broaden membership outreach and services through one-on-one conversations with members. More than 95 percent of DC 37 locals have 100 percent member participation.

Garrido previously served as the union’s associate director. In that position, he helped establish the Municipal Employees Housing Program, which coordinates grants for first-time homebuyers and provides foreclosure prevention services, financial education and counseling. He also directed the union’s white paper project that addressed government waste by investigating the privatization of City services and identifying additional revenue sources. Garrido was also involved in a sustainability initiative focused on increasing green jobs in New York State.

Garrido is an international vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), co-chair of the Municipal Labor Committee, a trustee on the City of New York’s Workforce Investment Board, an advisory board member of the New York City Independent Budget Office, and serves on the board of the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS).

Garrido oversaw the redevelopment of the union’s headquarters at 125 Barclay, which reopened as a state-of-the-art member service center during the union’s 80th anniversary in 2024. A native of the Dominican Republic, he is the first Latino to head DC 37 since it was formed in 1944.

Arva Rice, Co-Chair

Arva Rice is a passionate community leader who has dedicated herself to creating pathways to success for young people with a focus on girls and women. Arva currently serves as President & CEO of the New York Urban League. The New York Urban League leads the way underserved African Americans are educated, employed, and empowered across the five boroughs. For over 100 years, we’ve inspired, influenced, and ignited over 1 million black people to achieve their highest aspirations. Arva is former Interim Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, a member of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services Nonprofit Advisory Council, Women’s Forum, Greater New York Chapter of The Links Incorporated, and Trustee at First Corinthians Baptist Church. Arva is a 2013-2014 Annie Casey Fellow, a national fellowship for government and nonprofit leaders focused on supporting innovation solutions for children. Arva graduated from Northwestern University. She currently lives in Harlem.

Roderick L. Jones

A New York native, Roderick L. Jones, Ed.D MPA, has worked in nonprofits for 30 years—20 of them as an agency leader. He has helmed Goddard Riverside since February 2017; in September 2021, Goddard announced a strategic partnership that placed him at the head of the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center as well. Previously, he spent nine years as president and CEO of Grace Hill Settlement House in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was named Not-for-Profit Leader of the Year by the Regional Chamber of Commerce and The St. Louis American. In 2021 he was named a Whole Health Hero by Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Crain’s New York Business. He has a Doctorate in Education from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York and a Master’s in Public Administration from SUNY-Brockport.

Andrea Salwen Kopel

Originally from Newton, MA, Andrea came to New York City in 1987 to attend Barnard College and has made her home here ever since, spending more than 25 years working in New York City’s non-profit sector. After college, Andrea began her career at the national office of Planned Parenthood. She has since served as Director of Program Services for Citymeals-on-Wheels, serving homebound elderly New Yorkers; V.P. of Community Programs at the non-profit Big Apple Circus; and as Executive Director of Room to Grow. Along the way she earned a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. For the last ten years, Andrea has served as Executive Director of National Council of Jewish Women New York (NCJW NY), allowing her to bring her Jewish identity and values to the work of social justice.

Serena Longley

Serena M. Longley currently serves as Barnard College’s Vice President and General Counsel. In her previous role as Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the New York State Attorney General she served as an advisor to executive leadership on high-profile legal matters, including prominent investigations into former elected officials. Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Longley served as the Deputy General Counsel for the Council of the City of New York. She also served as Counsel to the Committee on Standards and Ethics. Prior to working for the Council of the City of New York, Longley served as Assistant Corporation Counsel at the New York City Law Department. Longley is a graduate of Barnard College, the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and was a visiting student at New York University School of Law.

Nivardo Lopez

Nivardo Lopez was appointed as Principal Deputy Chief Program Officer for the Gateway Development Commission (GDC), which is the public entity responsible for delivering the New Hudson Tunnel Project, in July of 2024. At GDC Nivardo oversees the Planning, Policy, Contracts, and Grants divisions within the Program Office. Prior to his role at GDC, Nivardo was the Deputy Secretary for Transportation to Governor Kathy Hochul from November of 2021 until June of 2024. Before serving as Deputy Secretary, Nivardo served as Bronx Borough Commissioner for the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). Mr. Lopez joined NYC DOT in 2014, starting as Director ofLegislative Affairs and then becoming Deputy Bronx Borough Commissioner. Nivardo began his career in government working at the New York City Council, first for Council Member James Vacca in the Bronx, and then as a Legislative Policy Analyst for the City Council’s Committee on Transportation. Nivardo is a resident and native of the Bronx. He holds a B.A. in History from Saint Joseph’s University and a M.A. in History from The City College of New York (CUNY).

Manny Pastriech

Before becoming President, Manny was 32BJ’s director of bargaining and Secretary Treasurer. In this role, as number two to former President Kyle Bragg, he participated in bargaining every major agreement within the union, helping to win wage increases, shoring up members’ benefits and expanding protections for the 185,000 SEIU 32BJ members from NYC, D.C., Boston, New Jersey, and beyond. Manny cut his teeth helping to bring thousands of members into SEIU and 32BJ. This included his work leading research (1992-1996) for the Justice for Janitors campaign in D.C. – that saw janitors and allies blocking bridges and major arteries – and as an executive supporting 32BJ’s successful new organizing of tens of thousands of security officers and airport workers in the 2000s. In the 1990s, he also worked as a researcher supporting SEIU’s organizing and bargaining across the country before doing a three-year stint as a research director for AFL-CIO on the United Farm Workers’ strawberry worker organizing campaign. He then completed another three years with the AFL-CIO, coordinating multi-union campaigns in the airline and airport sectors. Manny joined 32BJ SEIU as a research director from 2002-2004, after which he became director of Collective Bargaining Benefits Fund and a Taft-Hartley Benefit Fund trustee covering several pension, health benefit, training and legal funds. Manny previously served as a board member at the Latin American Youth Center and his son’s little league board.

Bishop Calvin Rice

Pastor Calvin Rice has served as the Senior Pastor of the New Jerusalem Worship Center in

Jamaica, New York since January 2005. In April 2018, he was elevated to the Episcopal office of Bishop in the Berean Fellowship of Churches head quartered in Columbus, Ohio where Bishop

Timothy J. Clarke is the presiding prelate. Before going to New Jerusalem, Bishop Rice served for 20 years as Senior Pastor of the First Central Baptist Church (FCBC) of Staten Island. Bishop Rice also founded and serves as the CEO of the Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School, a Pre-K- Grade 8 publicly funded education institution housed in the lower level and administration wing of the New Jerusalem Worship Center complex. He previously served as a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s Economic Development Task Force and\ Staten Island Borough Presidents Economic and Anti-Bias Task Forces. Bishop Rice’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from the College of Staten Island and a Master of Professional Studies from the New York Theological Seminary. He completed graduate studies at the National Theological Seminary of Baltimore, MDand The Postgraduate Center for Mental Health of NYC in conjunction with Hebrew Union Seminary. He has also attended The Catawba Bible College of Rock Hill, SC and holds a certificate of study from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel.

Jo-Ann Yoo

Jo-Ann Yoo was formerly the executive director of the Asian American Federation (AAF). AAF is the strongest leadership organization in New York that collaborates with nearly 70 member and partner organizations to raise the influence and well-being of the 1.5 million-strong Asian community. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor for AAF. Under Jo-Ann’s leadership, AAF has emerged as a powerful advocate for a community centered response to the anti-Asian hate crisis. Her guidance has shaped AAF’s endeavors to support the pan-Asian economic empowerment, mental health advocacy, and to combat anti-Asian violence in New York starting in 2020, particularly through the Hope Against Hate campaign, AAF’s signature effort to provide safety to Asian New Yorkers. In 2023, Ms. Yoo testified at a public briefing held by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C on the Federal response to anti-Asian racism in the United States. Jo-Ann was appointed to the New York City’s Racial Justice Commission and the Racial Justice Advisory Board, Mayor Adams’ Covid Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force. She co-leads the AAPI mental health task force for the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Rahul Agarwal (appointed by Mayor Eric L. Adams)

Rahul Agarwal is a practicing lawyer specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation.  He is currently a partner at Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins.  He previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel to Mayor Eric Adams and City Hall.  Prior to joining the Mayor’s office, Rahul served for 10 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Jersey, ending his tenure as the second in command.  He received his B.A. from Brown University and his Juris Doctorate from Columbia University.

Rachel Goodman (appointed by Comptroller Brad Lander)

Rachel Goodman is the chief of staff in the New York City Comptroller’s office where she manages the day-to-day functions and responsibilities of the office, and oversees the Bureaus of Public Affairs, Policy & Communications. Ms. Goodman previously served as chief of staff to Comptroller Lander when he was in the City Council, a role she held from the start of Mr. Lander’s tenure in the Council in 2010. Before joining Comptroller Lander’s team, Ms. Goodman worked as at the Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and as staff on a variety of city, state and federal campaigns. Ms. Goodman is a graduate of NYU and lives in Bay Ridge with her husband and 12-year-old son.

Mark Winston-Griffith (appointed by Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams)

Mark Winston Griffith is the co-Director of Free Speech TV and is the former co-founding Executive Director of the Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC). Mark currently teaches community economic development at Pratt Institute. He also taught community organizing at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and urban reporting at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. In the 90s, Mark co-founded the Central Brooklyn Partnership and the Central Brooklyn Federal Credit Union. In the early 2000s, he helped lead the New Economy Project and the public policy think tank, the Drum Major Institute. Mark has served on the leadership boards of the Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union, the Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City, the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, the Leadership Council for the NY Food Policy Alliance, Communities United for Police Reform, City Limits Magazine and The City news site.

Robert P. Miraglia (appointed by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson)

Robert P. Miraglia is an attorney and New York City native who currently serves the community as General Counsel to the Office of the Bronx Borough President. As General Counsel, Mr. Miraglia oversees legal operations and compliance programming, and advises on governance, policy, and development matters. He also sits on the Board of Trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and on the NYC Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC). Mr. Miraglia previously managed a plaintiffs’ firm specializing in traumatic injuries and employment discrimination. He has also served as an adjudicator in NYC’s administrative court and in several roles with the New York City Council. Mr. Miraglia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from CUNY Queens College, with honors, and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

Mike Racioppo (appointed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso)

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mike Racioppo currently serves as District Manager for Brooklyn Community Board 6. He brings more than a decade of experience in government and public policy, having previously served as Chief of Staff at the New York City Council and New York State Assembly and taught Political Science at Brooklyn College. In his current role as District Manager, he has been widely recognized for his commitment to transparency and community collaboration on neighborhood-specific and city-wide planning initiatives. His focus on outreach has facilitated increased community feedback and participation in projects like the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning and City of Yes, both of which Brooklyn CB6 supported.

Matt Gewolb (appointed by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine)

Matt Gewolb is Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Institutional Strategy and Professor of Law at New York Law School. He is also the Law School’s General Counsel and works on significant institutional policy, legal, and strategic matters. He serves as Secretary to the Board of Trustees and directs the Externship program. He was Executive Director and Counsel for the 2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission. Gewolb previously served as the Legislative Director of the New York City Council. He also served as the Director of Government Programs and Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, where he co-taught the Externship on the Federal Government in Washington, D.C. and directed Social Justice Initiatives programming relating to public service. Gewolb is a graduate of Cornell University and Emory Law School.

Allan Swisher (appointed by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards)

Allan Swisher is an attorney and public servant who currently is the general counsel and senior policy advisor for the Office of the Queens Borough President. In this role, Mr. Swisher has spearheaded the administration’s community board reform agenda, including efforts to diversify community board membership and promote transparency and good governance in the borough’s community boards. Since 2018, he has been a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and the Queens Public Library, as well as a member of the New York City Franchise and Concession Review Committee. Previously, Mr. Swisher prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases in Queens as an attorney for the Administration for Children’s Services and was a litigation associate for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. He received a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.

Dr. Ramanathan Raju (appointed by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fosella)

Dr. Ram Raju joined Northwell Health in January of 2017. In his role, Raju is to set the strategic vision to improve the population health by finding ways to meet the needs of Northwell’s most vulnerable communities, by examining the existing programs aimed at improving the health system’s response to the community’s needs and working with local organizations to address them. Prior to joining Northwell Dr. Raju was the President and CEO of NYC health and Hospital Corporation, the largest Public Health System in the country. Dr. Raju also served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) in Chicago, Illinois, from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Raju attended Madras Medical College to earn his medical diploma and his Master of Surgery degree.

Proposed staff:

Danielle Castaldi-Micca, Executive Director

Danielle Castaldi-Micca brings more than 20 years of local government and advocacy experience to the Charter Revision Commission.  Before joining the Commission, she held the title of Deputy Chief of Staff for Speaker Adrienne Adams, where she oversaw priorities such as maternal mortality reduction and major public events.  Prior to this, she served as Director of Governmental and Political Affairs at the National Institute for Reproductive Health, where she developed and implemented legislative strategies to advance reproductive rights at the state and local level.  She also served as the Director of Women’s Community Affairs for Speaker Christine Quinn and worked on constituent and community affairs for Speaker Gifford Miller.  She is a graduate of Smith College and resides in Astoria with her husband Mark.

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