Mayor’s office adds housing adviser and keeps community-safety advisors as FY26 staffing focus

Erin Jacobson, chief of staff, presented the mayor’s office FY26 budget on May 28, describing a compact office that will add an adviser focused on housing policy while maintaining several specialized policy adviser roles on community safety and OPC implementation.

Key elements: The mayor’s office plans to bring Sarah Russell, the city’s special assistant to end homelessness, into the mayor’s office and to hire a senior policy adviser on housing; that housing adviser position is intended to be incubated in the mayor’s office for FY26 and then potentially move to the City’s economic development office (SEDO) after the role is established. The office will also maintain Ingrid Jonas as senior policy adviser on community safety at reduced hours and continues to fund Teresa Vicina (special assistant on OPC implementation) with opioid settlement funds until related state OPC funding is available.

Why it matters: The administration framed these moves as coordination measures intended to centralize cross-departmental approaches to community safety, homelessness and housing policy. Jacobson said the mayor’s office used goal-setting and 360 evaluations across departments to identify where specialized policy advising could accelerate implementation and improve coordination.

Budgetary context: The mayor’s office budget shows minimal non‑personnel spending; most increases are personnel related (part‑time and adviser hours) and FICA adjustments. Jacobson said the office remains lean and that several previously identified cuts from FY25 carry into FY26.

Discussion vs. decision: Councilors acknowledged the need for a sustained housing expert but asked for clarity on whether the adviser is intended as a long-term, professional position; the mayor’s office said the housing adviser will be developed deliberately and in consultation with Planning and SEDO so the role and placement align with long‑term city strategy.