Andrew Cuomo announced a number of staff appointments this morning, filling out the statehouse with loyalists from his time as attorney general.
Among those making their way across town are Joseph A. D’Amico, a chief investigator at the AG’s office who will be superintendent of police; Alphonso David, who will serve as deputy secretary for civil rights after serving in a similar capacity in the AG’s office; and Richard Bamberger, who will stay on as communications director.
Last week, Cuomo announced his senior staff, which was likewise filled with many vets of Cuomo-land.
A persistent knock on Cuomo has been that he favors loyalty in his core staff, a line that is likely to be reinforced by today’s announcements.
It is also worth noting how significant the position of superintendent of police is in a governor’s administration. Both Eliot Spitzer’s and David Paterson’s top cop had to resign in the wake of scandal.
Team Cuomo spends most of the press release announcing the appointments today with words of praise for D’Amico by NYPD head Ray Kelly, former FBI director Louis Freeh and others.
Cuomo also announced today the appointment of Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez as commissioner of office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. She most recently worked in the Nassau County Department of Mental Health.
