Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed 74-year-old Dean Fuleihan, a former high-ranking official in the Bill de Blasio administration, as his top City Hall adviser and first deputy mayor. This marks the first major staffing decision for the incoming Mamdani administration, signaling a reliance on seasoned bureaucratic experience to manage an ambitious agenda.  

Fuleihan, a longtime budget expert, served previously as de Blasio’s first deputy mayor and played a central role in managing New York City’s complex finances. During Mamdani’s campaign, he also acted as a trusted adviser, offering strategic guidance on fiscal matters.  

The appointment comes as Mamdani, 34, prepares to pursue a lofty socialist policy agenda with planned expenditures exceeding $10 billion, all while navigating a nearly $5 billion budget shortfall. Analysts note that Fuleihan’s experience may be critical in bridging the gap between ambitious spending plans and fiscal reality.  

Observers have highlighted the contrast in age and experience between the incoming mayor and his top adviser. At 74, Fuleihan brings decades of knowledge of city government, budget management, and policy implementation, which could help the young socialist lawmaker steer his administration through complex financial and operational challenges.  

The selection of Fuleihan underscores Mamdani’s intent to pair youthful progressive vision with seasoned governance expertise, attempting to balance bold policy goals with practical experience in running one of America’s largest municipal governments.