Chair Ung introduces Commissioner Lisa Garcia's professional background
Ung details Garcia's appointment as DEP Commissioner in February 2026, her prior role as EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator, her work at Grist Magazine and Earthjustice, and her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School.
We are joined today by Lisa Garcia, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protections.
Commissioner Garcia was appointed to lead the agency in February 2026.
In this position, she helped protect the city's infrastructure and environment, ensured that the delivery of the high-quality service such as drinking water, such as drinking water,
and storage treatment, and make sure the city is a global leader in the fight against the climate crisis.
Prior to DEP, Commissioner Garcia served the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's regional administrator for Region 2, overseeing the Biden administration's environmental agenda in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands and the eight Indian nations.
She ran the Climate Solutions Lab at Grist Magazine, where she worked to elevate climate justice leaders and have served as a vice president for litigation at the Earth Justice, as well as associate administrator at the EPA.
Commissioner Garcia holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Brooklyn Law School.
I now recognize the committee counsel to administer affirmation.
Please raise your right hand.
Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in your statements before this committee and response to all questions posed by the council members?
Well, please have a seat.