About Public Realm

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Ya-Ting Liu as the city’s first-ever Chief Public Realm Officer, delivering on a key promise from his State of the City address. In this newly created role, Liu will coordinate across city government, community organizations, and the private sector to create extraordinary public spaces across the entire city and continue to drive the city’s economic recovery. Codified in Executive Order 27, the position will ensure that New Yorkers continue to have a one-stop shop for all issues related to public space. She sits under the Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi.

Since Ya-Ting Liu’s appointment, she has advanced major public space policy and project initiatives for the Adams Administration including overseeing the implementation of the country’s largest outdoor dining program and transforming commercial districts throughout the city, including the redesign of Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park. Ya-Ting is also focused on reforms that make it easier for New Yorkers to activate, maintain, and program in public spaces.