Zohran Mamdani’s bold new team: Lina Khan and Anthony Shorris to reshape NYC’s economy

Standing in the marble‑lined rotunda of City Hall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a move that many are already calling a “game‑changer.” He announced that former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan will serve as the board chair of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Right beside her, McKinsey‑trained public‑service veteran Anthony Shorris will take the reins as the corporation’s president and chief executive officer.

“Today’s appointees share a vision for the future of this office and a commitment to actually get things done,” Mamdani said, his voice echoing off the high ceiling. “Economic development and economic justice must go hand in hand.” He called the duo a “dream team,” a phrase that felt both hopeful and a little bit theatrical, but the sentiment was clear: the city wants growth that lifts everyone, not just the privileged few.

The EDC isn’t just another bureaucracy. It’s a powerful nonprofit that acts as the city’s financial engine – handling municipal real estate, steering large‑scale infrastructure projects, doling out tax incentives, and courting private investment across all five boroughs. In other words, it’s the backstage crew that makes the city’s big productions possible.

Lina Khan, who earned a national reputation for taking on tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google during her stint at the FTC, brings a fierce reputation for holding the powerful accountable. She also helped run Mamdani’s mayoral campaign as a co‑chair, so the partnership isn’t just bureaucratic; there’s a personal trust underlying the appointment.

When asked what she hoped to achieve, Khan was refreshingly direct. “The EDC has the tools to drive projects that grow our economy, create good jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and make life more affordable for New Yorkers,” she said. She added, almost as an after‑thought, that she wanted to see “real, tangible benefits for working families,” a nod to the city’s ongoing cost‑of‑living challenges.

Anthony Shorris, meanwhile, brings a different kind of résumé: years of experience at McKinsey, plus decades in public service, including stints as chief of staff to former New York governors. His task will be to translate Khan’s regulatory firepower into day‑to‑day decisions that keep developers interested while ensuring projects don’t trample on community needs.

New York City has long been a testing ground for bold policies, from the citywide smoking ban to the recent push for green building standards. Installing a former federal regulator at the helm of local development could be the next big experiment: can progressive economic oversight coexist with the kind of private investment that keeps the skyline growing?

Only time will tell whether the “dream team” can balance the competing pressures of affordable housing, climate resilience, and a tech‑driven economy. For now, the city’s leaders are betting that a little antitrust rigor, paired with seasoned operational know‑how, will produce a more equitable and vibrant New York.