Lina Khan and Tony Shorris Join Nyc's Economic Leadership Team

WHO:

The Guardian - Lina Khan has been named chair of the Economic Development Board (EDB) in New York City.

The Guardian - Tony Shorris has been appointed as the leader of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in New York City.

The Guardian - Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City.

The Guardian - Khan previously chaired the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) during the Biden administration.

The Guardian - Shorris has a long history in New York City government, first joining in 1979.

WHAT:

Inc - Khan will guide billions of dollars in development projects, public-private partnerships, and business investment initiatives as chair of NYCEDC.

The Guardian - The EDC oversees more than 60 million square feet of property and is responsible for roughly 100 active projects representing about $6 billion in construction investment.

The Guardian - The city is currently facing an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease, with a total of 82 reported cases and five fatalities.

WHERE:

The Guardian - The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is based in New York City.

The Guardian - The legionnaires’ disease outbreak is occurring in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

WHEN:

The Guardian - Khan earned her JD from Yale Law School in 2017.

The Guardian - Shorris reflected on his first meeting with Mamdani in the fall of 2025.

The Guardian - The health department reported a total of 82 cases of legionnaires’ disease, with five fatalities and 56 discharged patients.

WHY:

The Guardian - Khan described her new role as a “deep honor” and emphasized the need for the right people in key roles to effectively serve the public.

The Guardian - Mamdani established the city’s first deputy mayor for economic justice, indicating a shift in approach to economic development.

HOW:

The Guardian - The administration initiated “the most aggressive remediation and enforcement strategy that our city has ever taken to eliminate the source of Legionella bacteria.”

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 19:24 UTC)

Lina Khan has been appointed chair of the Economic Development Board in New York City, where she will oversee billions in development projects and public-private partnerships. Tony Shorris has also been named the leader of the Economic Development Corporation, which manages over 60 million square feet of property and approximately 100 active projects worth around $6 billion. Meanwhile, the city is dealing with an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, reporting 82 cases and five fatalities, prompting the administration to launch an aggressive strategy to eliminate the source of the bacteria.