US EditionNew York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Names Rafael Espinal To Lead Office Of Media And Entertainment
Espinal will lead city efforts to support artists and creatives amid a cost-of-living crisis pushing talent out, advancing policies for affordable living and work, officials said.
- On Monday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani named Rafael Espinal commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and Espinal will report to Julie Su, Deputy Mayor of Economic Justice.
- Espinal brings a background as a former City Council member and Freelancers Union executive director, chosen to advance the Mamdani administration's affordability agenda and support artists in New York City.
- Industry trackers show a mixed picture: TV and movie shoots rose 17 percent year-over-year while production spend fell 32 percent to $849 million, and last week Rafael Espinal invited influencers and social media content producers to his first press briefing.
- Mamadani ordered Espinal to withdraw the last-minute press card rules proposed by former Mayor Eric Adams, which would have required employment by a `media platform` or journalism association and expanded denial grounds.
- Last year the New York state film and TV incentive cap was raised to $800 million, and Rafael Espinal's freelancers-focused background could create friction with industry stakeholders.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Mamdani Appoints Former State Assemblyman to Head NY Office for Media & Entertainment
NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that one-time aspiring filmmaker Rafael Espinal will head the Mayor’s Office for Media & Entertainment (MOME). Espinal, 41, is a former member of the New York City Council and former state assemblyman for the 54th State Assembly district “MOME does incredible, often unseen work,” Mamdani said at the Jan.12 announcement. “I was struck by Rafael’s passion for this specific work and the importance that i…
More TV and Movies in NY
(New York, NY) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is hoping to attract more TV and film production to New York City. Mamdani has named Rafael Espinal as the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, which coordinates with labor unions and studio production in the city. Espinal led the Freelancer’s Union for the last five years and was formerly a member of the State Assembly and a member of the New York City Council. He wi…
Mamdani names new media commissioner, undoes Adams’ 11th hour press access changes
Mayor Mamdani tapped former City Councilman Rafael Espinal to lead his media office on Monday — and made it one of Espinal’s first orders of business to revoke ex-Mayor Eric Adams’ 11th hour effort to place new restrictions on press access in the Big Apple. The new rules, which Adams’ Office of Media and Entertainment rolled out on his final day in office, would’ve put tighter restrictions on who can obtain New York City press cards, including b…
Zohran Mamdani taps ex-councilman Rafael Espinal as NYC’s entertainment boss
Ex-City Councilman Rafael Espinal -- who led the repeal of New York City's antiquated dancing ban at nightlife venues -- was named by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday to lead the Big Apple's entertainment outreach.
Zohran Mamdani Appoints Rafael Espinal to Lead New York City’s Media and Entertainment Office
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has named Rafael Espinal to lead the office of media and entertainment. Espinal, a former New York City Council member and Freelancers Union executive director, will be responsible for advancing the Mamdani administration’s agenda to “ensure New York City remains a place where artists and creatives can afford to live […]
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