Hope Knight. Image Credit: Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.

Knight, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, fills vacancy on 13-member Commission.  On December 16, 2015 the City Council approved Hope Knight as the newest member of the City Planning Commission.  Ms. Knight was nominated by Mayor Bill de Blasio to fill the seat vacated by Bomee Jung when Ms. Jung resigned to take the position of Vice President of Energy and Sustainability with NYCHA.  Ms. Knight will serve out the remainder of Ms. Jung’s term and be eligible for re-appointment in June 2018.

Ms. Knight is the current president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation in Jamaica, Queens, and will retain that position while serving on the Commission following guidance from the City Conflict of Interests Board.  Prior to joining Greater Jamaica, Ms. Knight was Chief Operating Officer of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone for twelve years. Ms. Knight was born in New York City, and raised in East Harlem.

Prior to the City Council vote, Ms. Knight testified before the Council Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections on December 15th.  Ms. Knight testified that, “the mission of the City Planning Commission is to make comprehensive and thoughtful land use decisions that seek to improve the communities of this city while accommodating future growth.” She went on to add, “I believe that the strength of my background in economic development and the breath of my experience in community building positions me to be able to become an informed, thoughtful and diligent member of the (CPC).”

By: Brian Kaszuba, CityLand Editor, & Michael Twomey, CityLand Fellow.