New Housing Commissioner Named

We've just learned from Enterprise Community Partners that Rafael Cestero has been named as the new Commissioner for the City's Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). Cestero currently serves as the senior vice president, regional executive of the eastern region for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., a national nonprofit that has worked extensively with local groups building and renovating affordable housing in the Bronx over the past two decades. Enterprise was recently named Fast Company magazine's Social Enterprise of the Year and you can read about it on Amazon.

Cestero has worked for Enterprise since 1993, except for a stint from 2004 to 2007 as an assistant commissioner HPD under new HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. Enterprise is obviously happy about the appointment:

"New York City is fortunate to have someone with Rafael’s expertise in the housing and community development field and his passion for affordable housing to lead HPD. Enterprise looks forward to continuing its partnership with the city of New York and to work along side our longtime colleague and friend."

The west Bronx will hopefully benefit as well, as Cestero has a history of working closely with a number of Bronx housing nonprofits.

The New York Observer is also confirming the appointment.

Update: Here is the official press release from HPD regarding the appointment.

Carrion misses out on HUD post

So Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion won't serve as Barack Obama's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Instead, the president-elect chose Shaun Donovan, New York City's housing commissioner.

The Associated Press calls the appointment "something of a surprise." (One of the few to call it was the West Bronx Blog's very own Nick Napolitano. See comments at this end of this post.)

Carrion could still be in the running for other high-level positions.