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Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker says Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams will lead new ‘clean and green initiatives’ office

Parker said in a statement that members of her cabinet and executive staff “bring an unmatched level of expertise."

In this 2020 file photo, Carlton Williams, commissioner of the Philly Department of Streets, speaks during a press conference in the Mayor's Reception Room. Next to him are former Managing Director Brian Abernathy, center, and then-Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel. Williams will lead a new Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. Thiel will be managing director.
In this 2020 file photo, Carlton Williams, commissioner of the Philly Department of Streets, speaks during a press conference in the Mayor's Reception Room. Next to him are former Managing Director Brian Abernathy, center, and then-Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel. Williams will lead a new Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. Thiel will be managing director.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
    by Anna Orso
    Updated 
    Published 

Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker announced a series of staff appointments Wednesday and said she will retain Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams, albeit in a new role.

Williams, who has held a variety of roles in city government, including leading the beleaguered Department of Licenses and Inspections, will head a new Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. He will report to Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, whose appointment was announced Tuesday.

Parker, who will take office next week, has long said that her agenda is based on making Philadelphia “the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in America, with economic opportunity for all.”

Spokesperson Joe Grace said that some department heads will report directly to Williams, but that the transition committee is “not yet ready to lay out exactly what those are because there is still a lot of organizational work underway.”

“When Mayor-elect Parker said that she was committed to making Philadelphia the cleanest, greenest city in America, to her, the only person that she wanted to lead that effort was Carlton Williams,” he said.

» READ MORE: Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker adds Vanguard exec and top city lawyer to her cabinet

Parker’s transition committee also said Grace will be communications director. Grace most recently led communications for City Council and worked closely with outgoing Council President Darrell L. Clarke. Before that, he oversaw communications and media relations for then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who went on to be elected governor.

Other hires announced Wednesday include:

  1. Jessie D. Lawrence was named associate deputy mayor of planning and strategic initiatives. Lawrence was most recently the director of real estate for the Land Bank of Philadelphia.

  2. Brenda Ríos will serve as associate deputy mayor of intergovernmental and legislative affairs, sustainability and engagement. Ríos is currently a manager of legislative and government affairs at PennDOT.

  3. Christopher Dailey will be a deputy chief of staff. Dailey is currently the deputy director of Parker’s transition team and was most recently a special assistant in Shapiro’s office. He also worked on Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign.