Borough cabinet roundup: mayoral outreach on rent testimony, DOT fair, DDC appointment and comptroller outreach

Mohammed Alharbi, deputy bureau director in the mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, told the cabinet his team launched a campaign encouraging New Yorkers to testify at Rent Guidelines Board hearings and is canvassing boroughs. He said sign‑ups and canvass schedules would be shared by email and that a Queens canvass was scheduled in Jackson Heights that evening.

The Department of Transportation announced an Independence Transportation Resource Fair on Sunday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Union Square Park to showcase accessible transit options and technology; DOT also highlighted a bike‑month portal for public feedback on bike parking locations. In response to public comment, community board members urged more helmet giveaways in Queens and asked DOT to expand locally based distribution.

The Department of Design and Construction announced the mayor’s appointment of Paul Ochoa as the agency’s new commissioner; DDC said Ochoa had previously worked at DOT and the mayor’s office and will be making site visits and attending community events.

Representatives from the mayor’s office introduced Darren Orderedin as the Queens lead for Northeast Queens and said the office is hiring additional district and Spanish‑speaking liaisons. James Marjaluzo, Queensborough director for the comptroller’s office, asked community boards to send audit ideas and invited boards to an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month event on May 15 at Flushing Town Hall.

Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about perceived per‑capita resource disparities for Queens compared with Manhattan; a resident said Queens "gets the less money per capita" and asked what agencies and the borough president could do to correct that. City representatives said they heard the concern and offered to follow up.

The cabinet closed with thanks to DOHMH and a reminder of the next borough cabinet meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at 09:30.