BROOKLYN January 12, 2026 – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Rafael Espinal as the new Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), commonly known as “Made in NY,” during a press event at Samson Stages in Brooklyn.
The appointment underscores the administration’s focus on addressing the city’s cost-of-living crisis and its impact on artists and creative professionals.
Espinal, a former New York City Council member (2014–2020) who represented districts including Bushwick and East New York, previously served in the New York State Assembly and has spent the past five years as executive director of the Freelancers Union. He succeeds the previous commissioner and will report to Deputy Mayor Julie Su.
Speaking at the event alongside local officials and labor advocates, Mayor Mamdani emphasized the vital role of creatives in New York’s identity.
“You cannot tell the story of New York City without the artists who have shaped it,” Mamdani said. “Yet, the cost-of-living crisis is driving creatives out of our city. That is a loss we cannot afford. As commissioner, Rafael Espinal will support our creatives and help ensure New York remains a place where every artist can call home.”
Espinal expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating: “I look forward to supporting our creative industries, expanding opportunities, and ensuring that the city remains a home for artists.”
The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment oversees film and TV permitting, incentives, press credentials, and programs supporting the city’s creative sector, which historically employs hundreds of thousands and generates billions in economic activity. The office also coordinates closely with labor unions in the industry.
The announcement aligns with Mamdani’s broader agenda to make New York more affordable for working people, including artists, amid ongoing challenges in housing and living costs.
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