De Blasio Appoints New Deputy Mayor To Oversee Homeless Services
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is appointing a new deputy mayor.
Dr. Herminia Palacio was appointed Tuesday to be the city's new Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. She will oversee several city agencies including the Department of Homeless Services.
The post had been empty since August.
In December, former Homeless Services Agency head Gilbert Taylor stepped down from his post, as de Basio called for a comprehensive review of the relationship between a network of city agencies dealing with resources for the homeless.
Palacio takes the job at a time of increased scrutiny on de Blasio's handling of the city's homelessness crisis.
Nearly 58,000 people are living in the city's homeless shelters. More than 23,000 of them are children.
The city has increased outreach to the street homeless while Governor Andrew Cuomo has said the state will step in to take a bigger role in combatting the crisis.
Nearly 100 homeless people were taken off the streets in the bitter cold Tuesday under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's mandate, which requires the relocation of the homeless off of the streets and into shelters during cold weather conditions.
Palacio had worked in the public health systems in Houston and San Francisco.
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