New York City Mayor Signs Order To “Demystify” Government Engagement For Families And Working New Yorkers

New York, NY — New York City is creating a new City Hall office meant to make it easier for everyday New Yorkers, including parents and caregivers, to weigh in on decisions and navigate help when they need it.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed an executive order Friday establishing the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, or OME, and tapped longtime organizer Tascha Van Auken to lead it as commissioner, City Hall said. 

The new office is intended to coordinate how City agencies listen to residents, run outreach campaigns, and turn public input into policy and service changes. City Hall said OME will focus on reaching communities historically left out of decision-making and on building “transparent feedback loops” so residents can see how comments shape programs. 

Van Auken previously worked on campaigns for state Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest and held a senior role with the Working Families Party, according to the mayor’s office. City Hall also credited her with leading the campaign field operation that mobilized more than 100,000 volunteers and, it said, helped drive record turnout. 

Under the order, OME will oversee and coordinate key engagement entities, including the Public Engagement Unit, the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, and NYC Service. The order takes effect immediately. 

For families, the most immediate impact may be a clearer front door to city information, especially around housing help, benefits, or care resources, plus more structured opportunities to weigh in on neighborhood concerns that affect school and after-school routines. City Hall said more details on channels and events are expected as the office ramps up.  

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.

Source: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani-establishes-office-of-mass-engagement-to-transform