NEW YORK, NY — Today, in response to a shooting that took the life of a 10-year-old boy in Far Rockaway, former Obama-Biden administration Housing Secretary and New York City Housing Commissioner Shaun Donovan issued the following statement:
“Last night, an innocent child—a ten-year-old boy—was ripped away from his family. As a father, I am utterly heartbroken that any parent must be forced to lose a child, especially under these circumstances. And as a New Yorker, I am outraged that our city and its current leadership has allowed so many guns to flood our streets and for this violence to occur in our communities,” said NYC Mayoral Candidate Shaun Donovan. “As our city recovers from a pandemic that has killed too many of our fellow New Yorkers, we cannot allow a pandemic of gun violence to do the same. This cannot become our new normal.”
To read more about Justin Wallace's murder click the link below:
About Shaun Donovan:
A lifelong New Yorker, Shaun Donovan served in President Obama’s Cabinet for his full eight years in office. From January 2009 to July 2014, Shaun was the 15th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he led the fight against the nation’s unprecedented foreclosure crisis. Under his leadership, HUD helped families rent or buy affordable homes, revitalized distressed communities, fought discrimination, and dramatically reduced homelessness. After Hurricane Sandy hit his hometown, President Obama asked Shaun to lead the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, leaving a stronger, more resilient region than before the storm hit.
In July 2014, he was sworn in as the 40th Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. At OMB, Shaun increased investment in key domestic and national security priorities that grew the economy, protected our country, and increased opportunity. He also oversaw regulations that reduced inequality, expanded health care, improved education, and fought climate change. While OMB Director, Shaun played a pivotal role in managing the nation's response to the Ebola and Zika outbreaks.
Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Shaun served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development under Mayor Mike Bloomberg. He also served in the Clinton administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multi-family Housing at HUD and as acting Commissioner for the U.S. Federal Housing Administration.
Deeply affected by the crisis he saw around him while growing up in New York City, he volunteered in a homeless shelter during college and interned for the National Coalition for the Homeless when he graduated. After studying housing in graduate school, he returned to work for the nonprofit Community Preservation Corporation in the Bronx and across New York City.
Shaun holds a B.A. and Masters degrees in Public Administration and Architecture from Harvard University. Shaun was born and grew up in New York City, and is married to Liza Gilbert, a Landscape Architect who has designed and restored parks in New York City and across the country. Shaun and Liza live in Brooklyn, where they raised their sons Milo and Lucas.
Comments