Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen — the city’s economic development czar, who played a big role in luring Amazon to New York — is stepping down, officials confirmed Wednesday night.
Glen, who also oversaw Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to build or preserve 300,000 units of affordable housing, is expected to stay on a few months until Hizzoner taps her replacement sometime in early 2019.
Glen was previously a top honcho at Goldman Sachs before joining de Blasio’s administration in 2014. She has not decided what she’ll do next and the decision to leave was hers, city officials said.
In the past month, Glen has come under fire from many activists and pols for helping cut a deal for Amazon to open a new headquarters in Long Island City — one that includes $2.8 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies and grants for the online retail giant.
As deputy mayor for economic development, Glen also oversaw the city’s embattled Housing Authority, where she routinely drew criticism from residents who claimed she didn’t understand the needs of New York’s poor.
De Blasio issued a statement thanking his longest-tenured deputy mayor for her work at City Hall.
“Deputy Mayor Glen has been a crucial member of our administration since the very beginning, “ he said. “She has made this city stronger and more fair.”