BOROUGH PRESIDENT KATZ ANNOUNCES SENIOR STAFF APPOINTMENTS

(February 22, 2019)

QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz today announced appointments to her senior leadership team: Shurn Anderson as Director of Economic Development, Brent Weitzberg as Director of Health & Human Services and Seniors, and Anayeli Gomez-Brittain as Policy Advisor to the Borough President.

“Shurn, Brent and Anayeli have long demonstrated themselves to be exceedingly capable in serving the people of Queens with integrity, experience and professionalism,” said Borough President KATZ. “Their commitment to the empowerment of the growing families and communities across Queens is second to none. I have full confidence in their abilities to execute my vision and priorities for this great borough of 2.35 million people.”

As Director of Economic Development, Anderson is charged with executing Borough President Katz’s economic development initiatives and priorities, including but not limited to the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, the Governor’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Willets Point Redevelopment, the Western Queens Tech Zone Strategic Plan, Sunnyside Yard, and more. Anderson also directs and oversees the operations of the Borough President’s Economic Development team, which provides assistance to the borough’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, Chambers of Commerce, Local Development Corporations and its thirteen Business Improvement Districts. In addition, Anderson will continue to serve as the Borough President’s primary liaison to Queens Community Boards 12 and 13, and lead the Borough President’s African American Heritage Committee.

As Director of Health & Human Services and Seniors, Weitzberg is charged with executing Borough President Katz’s priority services relating but not limited to health, mental health, aging and seniors, homeless services, children’s services, disabilities, food insecurity and animal welfare. With nearly 354,000 seniors and over 620,000 children and youth residing in Queens, Weitzberg will monitor the fruition of Borough President Katz’s $33 million in capital investments across over 18 hospitals and health care facilities, as well as Borough President Katz’s $10 million in investments across 84 senior centers and service providers. Weitzberg will also oversee programmatic initiatives with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Safe Horizon and Barrier Free Living under the $900,000 three-year federal grant from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

As Policy Advisor to the Borough President, Gomez-Brittain will be charged with advancing the top priorities of Borough President Katz’s policy agenda and managing outreach strategies on matters including but not limited to labor, prevailing wage, immigration, human trafficking, domestic violence, hate- and bias-related crimes, community relations and more.

About SHURN ANDERSON

Anderson is a 17-year veteran of the Borough President’s Office. Anderson was previously Borough President Katz’s Deputy Director of Economic Development. Under the prior administration, Anderson served as Special Assistant to former Borough President Helen Marshall from 2002-2013. Previously, Anderson served as Chief of Staff from 1992-2001 to then-City Councilmember Helen Marshall, and as Executive Assistant from 1988-1991 to then-State Assemblymember Helen Marshall.

Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY.

About BRENT G. WEITZBERG, ESQ.

Weitzberg is a barred attorney in New York State, and the Federal Courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Prior to Borough Hall, Weitzberg served as Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi from 2015-2018.Previously, Weitzberg worked in private practice in Westbury, Long Island on cases involving all aspects of family and matrimonial law.

Weitzberg is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, Queens County Bar Association and the Brandeis Association; he is a former member of Queens Community Board 6.

Weitzberg holds a J.D. degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hofstra University.

About ANAYELI GOMEZ-BRITTAIN

Prior to Borough Hall, Gomez-Brittain worked in the Public Affairs Bureau for New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer from 2016-2019, organizing outreach, town halls, roundtables and stakeholder meetings in various neighborhoods. Previously, Gomez-Brittain specialized in membership, capacity building and advocacy initiatives for the New York Immigration Coalition, La Fuente, Inc., and the New York DREAM Act Coalition. Working with grassroots organizations, Gomez-Brittain brings a wealth of expertise in civic engagement, community organizing, issue-based campaigns and program management.

Gomez-Brittain was named in New York State Hispanic Coalition’s “40 Under 40 Latino Rising Stars” in 2018, and serves on the Board of Directors of Mixteca Organization, Inc.

Gomez-Brittain is an MPA candidate from Baruch College, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education from Brooklyn College and an associate’s degree in Educational Studies from Kingsborough Community College.

Follow Borough President Katz via @QueensBPKatz on Twitter and Facebook

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