Mamdani Nominates Srinivasan to City Planning Commission

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has named Meenakshi Srinivasan among five nominees to the New York City Planning Commission, pending City Council approval.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People

Isometric editorial illustration of a dense block grid in flat oxblood, teal, mustard and cream forms, with one tall cream tower as the single anchor. — New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani nominated Meenakshi Srinivasan and four others to the City Planning Commission on Oct. 21, pending City Council approval. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani nominated Meenakshi Srinivasan to the New York City Planning Commission, announcing the nomination on Oct. 21. He also nominated Margaret Anadu and Julie Stein and proposed reappointing Kenneth Knuckles and Anthony Crowell.

Why it matters

The 13-member commission shapes land use and zoning decisions across the city, and Mamdani cited Srinivasan's experience in urban planning, land use and zoning in choosing her. The nominations require New York City Council approval before taking effect.

Mamdani's slate covers five of the commission's 13 seats, and Srinivasan brings more than 28 years of city government service. Council confirmation of the nominees has not yet occurred.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

Mamdani is the Mayor of New York City who announced the nominations to the City Planning Commission.

Meenakshi Srinivasan

Srinivasan is a longtime city planning official who previously chaired the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Board of Standards and Appeals.

New York City Planning Commission

The New York City Planning Commission is a 13-member city body that reviews and decides land use and zoning matters.

The details

Srinivasan spent more than 28 years in city government, including deputy director of the Department of City Planning's Manhattan office from 1990 to 2003 and chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals from 2004 to 2014. She later chaired the Landmarks Preservation Commission from 2014 to 2018 before serving as a senior land-use and zoning adviser at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.

1990 to 2003: Srinivasan serves as deputy director of the Manhattan planning office.
January 2004 to July 2014: Srinivasan chairs the Board of Standards and Appeals.
July 2014 to June 2018: Srinivasan chairs the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
September 2018 to December 2023: Srinivasan works as a senior land-use and zoning adviser at Kramer Levin.
Oct. 21: Mamdani announces the nominations.

Roadmap

Mayoral appointments to the City Planning Commission follow a charter-defined process in which the mayor nominates members and the City Council confirms them. Mamdani's slate continues that pattern while bringing forward a nominee whose career centers on the same land use and zoning work the commission oversees.

The nominations determine who sits on the body that reviews land use and zoning proposals affecting neighborhoods across the city. Residents will see practical effects only if the City Council confirms the nominees and the commission acts on specific projects.

The takeaway

Appointments to the City Planning Commission shape zoning decisions long after the announcement, so the Council's vote on these nominees is the step to watch. Readers tracking neighborhood development can follow those confirmation votes as they occur.