NEW YORK – Greek-American Emma Wolfe, the 36-year-old Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has become the de facto conduit, bridging the communication gap between the mayor and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Wall Street Journal writes.
She is in “regular contact with the governor and his senior staffers, alternately arguing, allaying or negotiating with them. She met with Mayor de Blasio at least 40 times both in April and May, according to schedules from the mayor’s office, more than any other person on his staff,” the Journal noted. She has spent much of the time in “damage-control mode from a range of fights and crises, and the relationship between Messrs. Cuomo and de Blasio—which she is responsible for improving—continues to be strained.”
Emma Wolfe, a longtime key member of Bill de Blasio’s team, now bridges communications between the mayor and Albany.
Fellow Greek-American and New York Democrat politician, NY State Senator Michael Gianaris, told the Journal “I think she has played her wild card as effectively as she can, given what the lay of the land is.”
Wolfe has already began working on de Blasio’s 2017 reelection campaign, trying to build deeper support for the mayor by focusing on all five boroughs, the Journal notes.
She is known for her tempered voice, warning the mayor about avoiding the use of a harsh tone, and serving as the mediator in heated disputes among staff members.
Wolf, who holds a degree in Urban Studies and Sociology from Barnard College at Columbia University, was de Blasio’s Chief of Staff when he was the city’s Public Advocate (prior to becoming mayor), and has played a key role in numerous Democratic campaigns throughout the state.
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