Mayor Eric Adams to Appoint Jimmy Oddo as New Head of Department of Sanitation
The administration of Mayor Eric Adams is set to announce Jimmy Oddo, the current city buildings commissioner, as the new head of the Department of Sanitation, according to multiple sources briefed on the plan.
Background
Oddo will replace Jessica Tisch, who left the agency to become police commissioner late last month. Tisch took over the agency after Thomas Donlon, who was interim commissioner, stepped in briefly following the resignation of Edward Caban amid a corruption probe. However, Donlon was also under FBI scrutiny and could not hold the position full-time.
Career Background
Oddo has been a part of the Adams team since 2022, serving as chief of staff for Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi before moving to the Department of Buildings. As a Republican, Oddo has a long history in New York City politics, having previously served as Staten Island borough president and a member of the City Council from 1999 to 2013.
The "Trash Revolution"
Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the Department of Sanitation has embarked on an ambitious plan to fully containerize curbside trash pickup and other initiatives to make the city cleaner. The "trash revolution" aims to clear the city’s streets of piles of garbage bags that attract rats and create new set-out times to reduce the "rat buffet."
New Initiatives
Some of the recent initiatives launched by the Department of Sanitation include:
- Containerized Trash Pickup: All residential properties with nine units or fewer are now required to set out their trash in containers 55 gallons or smaller. Larger buildings do not have to use the bins, with a plan to eventually install built-in, on-street containers in parts of Manhattan starting in the spring.
- NYC Bin: The DSNY unveiled the new official NYC Bin, which will eventually be required for all properties.
- Expanded Sanitation Services: Following the passage of a ballot proposal last month, the Department of Sanitation will now oversee cleaning in more areas of New York City, including parks and other city-owned parcels of land.
Conclusion
The appointment of Jimmy Oddo as the new head of the Department of Sanitation is a significant development in the city’s efforts to improve waste management and make the city cleaner. With his experience in city politics and previous roles in the Adams administration, Oddo is well-positioned to lead the department in its mission to transform the city’s waste management system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the "trash revolution"?
A: The "trash revolution" is a plan to fully containerize curbside trash pickup and other initiatives to make the city cleaner.
Q: Who is Jimmy Oddo?
A: Jimmy Oddo is the current city buildings commissioner and will become the new head of the Department of Sanitation.
Q: What are the recent initiatives launched by the Department of Sanitation?
A: Some of the recent initiatives include containerized trash pickup, the NYC Bin, and expanded sanitation services.
