Mayor Adams Elevates Shampa Chanda to BSA Chair, Salvatore Scibetta to Vice Chair

December 30, 2022

New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today designated Shampa Chanda as chair of the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) and Salvatore Scibetta as vice chair. Chanda and Salvatore are both current commissioners on the BSA with extensive experience in land use, planning, and zoning. The BSA is an integral part of the city’s system for regulating land use, development, and construction, and was established as an independent board to grant "relief" from the zoning code.

"In their time as Board of Standards and Appeals commissioners, Shampa and Sal have demonstrated their expertise, their abilities, and their commitment to New Yorkers, and I know they will continue to serve the city faithfully in their new roles," said Mayor Adams. "Our administration is using our land use and zoning tools aggressively to build the housing New Yorkers need and to help our economy recover. We look forward to continuing that work with this team leading BSA."

"The Board of Standards and Appeals has already benefitted from Shampa and Sal’s expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to a more vibrant and inclusive New York City," said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. "I am excited to see Shampa become the new chair and Sal the new vice chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals, bringing their extensive backgrounds and perspective to these roles."

"I am honored and humbled to be named chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals," said Shampa Chanda, incoming chair, BSA. "I thank Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer for having placed their faith in me. I have spent my career in city government service alongside dedicated professionals. It is exciting and a great privilege for me to be able to serve this city that has made me feel at home ever since I arrived here from India during my high school years. I look forward to representing the board, the city, and its diverse neighborhoods in the best possible manner in the coming years."

"It has been a privilege to serve on the Board of Standards and Appeals for the last five years, and I am honored to be designated vice chair," said Sal Scibetta, incoming vice chair, BSA. "I am a firm believer that New York City is the greatest city in the world, and I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to uphold that benchmark of excellence."

"I have known Mr. Scibetta for over 10 years not only as a member and contributor to the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn but also as a practicing attorney," said Steven Bamundo, chair of executive committee, Columbia Lawyers Association of Brooklyn. "I can say without reservation that Sal has displayed integrity and character as a member of our organization and the legal profession as a whole, thus earning a well-deserved nomination to serve as president of our well-regarded specialty bar association. I am confident that he will excel at any position to which he ascends, given his conscientious work ethic and professional demeanor."

"Salvatore Scibetta is a unique, gifted, and talented attorney. The people of New York City are lucky to have Mr. Scibetta serve as vice chair, especially in light of his deep experience and professionalism," said Charles C. DeStefano Esq. "Well known in the private sector, Mr. Scibetta has taken the path of public service, much to the benefit of the citizens of this city. He represents cream of the crop among lawyers, and that translates into good governance."

"Congratulations to Shampa Chanda on her selection as the new chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals," said Frank Dubinsky, chief operating officer, Monadnock Development. "Shampa is a committed public servant and will bring a nuanced perspective to the zoning and land use issues that come before the BSA. Shampa has spent her entire career improving neighborhoods, and, in this position, she will be able to balance good neighborhood planning with New York City’s need to grow and provide desperately needed affordable housing."

"Shampa is an experienced urban planner who works tirelessly for the betterment of New York," said Basha Gerhards, senior vice president of planning, Real Estate Board of New York. "We have no doubt that she’ll draw upon her decades of city government experience in financing, planning, and development to ensure BSA operates in a thoughtful, thorough, and expeditious manner."

"I have known Shampa Chanda for many years. I worked with her during her time at the Department of City Planning and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development," said Mark Ginsberg, partner, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects. "She is a dedicated public servant who has been a strong proponent of affordable housing and excellence in architecture throughout her career. I believe that she is an excellent candidate for the chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals and would bring a thoughtful and fair approach to evaluating applications."

"Mr. Scibetta will serve as a great asset to the city as vice chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals," said Lawrence S. Knipel, administrative judge, civil term, Kings County and Supreme Court justice, Kings County. "His deep academic understanding of the law, combined with his practical approach, has solidified him as one of the finest attorneys this city has to offer."

"Mr. Scibetta has always impressed me with his ability to work through complex legal issues in many areas of the law and especially in the area of real property," said Domenick Napoletano, treasurer, New York State Bar Association. "I find his skill set to be methodical and analytical, and this is why I firmly believe that he will be up to the task for that which now lies before him."

"As the city’s economy continues to recover from the effects of COVID, effective land use policy that fosters equitable development across our communities will be a key component," said Randy Peers, president and CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. "Shampa Chanda as chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals is the right leader to bring a balanced approach that will shape neighborhoods in a way that is fair and reasonable. Her strong record of service to the city and extensive knowledge of land use, zoning, and affordable housing development provides an excellent foundation to lead the BSA over the next several years."

"Mr. Scibetta is an esteemed member of our association who is held in the highest regard," said Joseph Rosato Esq., first vice president, Brooklyn Bar Association. "I know him to be a diligent, knowledgeable, and extremely capable attorney, who I have no doubt will execute his duties as vice chair beyond all expectations."

"The Board of Standards and Appeals is crucial to New York City’s ability to ensure safe, equitable land-use development. Shampa Chanda’s experience on the board, and previously with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, gives her a strong record of service and extensive knowledge on land use, zoning, construction processes, and affordable housing development," said Carlo A. Scissura, president and CEO, New York Building Congress. "To say the Building Congress is thrilled she will continue to bring her balanced approach to help shape our neighborhoods in forward-thinking ways would be an understatement."

"I commend Mayor Adams for his selection of Shampa Chanda as the next chair of BSA," said Scott Short, CEO, RiseBoro Community Partnership. "I have known Shampa for over a decade and have always been impressed by her commitment to using the tools of government to improve the lives of New Yorkers. She is a fierce advocate for affordable housing with a deep knowledge of land use and zoning principles. I am excited for her leadership of this important agency in pursuit of the goals Mayor Adams has established for the city."

"I am pleased to write in support of Shampa Chanda as a candidate for chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals," said William Stein FAIA, senior consulting principal, Dattner Architects. "I have known and worked with Shampa for years. She is a dedicated public servant, who has devoted her career to improving the communities of New York City. Shampa exemplifies professionalism in public policy and administration and has been a steadfast proponent for affordable housing and civic architecture. I believe that Shampa is an excellent candidate for chair of the BSA, who will bring balanced, professional leadership to this important board."

"We applaud Mayor Adams’ appointment of Shampa Chanda to serve as chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals," said Jennifer Sun and Thomas Yu, co-executive directors, Asian Americans for Equality. "Shampa will bring an important combination of technical expertise and sensitivity to how a site-specific development impacts the surrounding neighborhood, in order to guide responsible land use and development. We valued her partnership at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to ensure One Flushing was developed to serve as a model of design quality and environment sustainability in a mixed-use affordable housing and transit-oriented development. And we look forward to her continued leadership at the BSA."

About Shampa Chanda

Shampa Chanda become a commissioner on the BSA in 2015 and vice chair in 2017. She has more than 30 years of experience as a city planner and extensive knowledge in the field of land use, zoning, urban design, affordable housing, public policy, and transportation planning.

Chanda started her city service at the New York City Department of City Planning as an intern in 1988. From there, she held different positions in the agency working on a range of projects from transportation to land use planning, from large-scale developments to neighborhood-based rezonings and citywide zoning texts.

At the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, she held a variety of roles, including as an assistant commissioner helping to steer development projects through the land use process and working with city agencies to identify potential development sites and leverage zoning tools to create affordable housing. She also led a team of architects, in collaboration with affordable housing providers, to develop design guidelines for affordable housing, including supportive housing.

Chanda previously served on Queens Community Board 2.

She was born in India and came to New York during her high school years. Chanda is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the City College of New York.

About Salvatore Scibetta

Salvatore Scibetta has served as a commissioner on the BSA since 2018. He has over 15 years of legal experience, beginning his legal career at the New York City Administration for Children’s Services before ultimately serving as a partner at Lee Anav Chung White Kim Ruger & Richter LLP. An expert in real estate law, he has litigated a wide range of issues in all five boroughs and across New York State.

A first-generation New Yorker, Scibetta serves as president of the Columbia Lawyers Association of Brooklyn and is a member of both the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Richmond County Bar Association. He also serves on the board of the Staten Island Children’s Museum.

Scibetta is a graduate of Fordham University and Brooklyn Law School.