IBO is pleased to announce that Ronnie Lowenstein has been named as the new Director of the New York City Independent Budget Office. Ms. Lowenstein has been with IBO since its inception in 1996 and was its Deputy Director and Chief Economist. She has been overseeing IBO's activities since Douglas Criscitello, the former director, left at the end of February of this year.
The selection was the culmination of a search conducted by IBO's Advisory Board, which is composed of ten experts on budget and public policy, chaired by Donald Kummerfeld. Under the New York City Charter, the Advisory Board recommends candidates for the director to a committee made up of four elected officials: Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Public Advocate Mark Green, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields (representing all five borough presidents) and City Council Speaker Peter Vallone (representing the Council). The unique appointment process is designed to maintain IBO's political independence. The elected officials unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Lowenstein, who will serve the remainder of the current term that expires August 1, 2002.
"It is truly an honor to be selected and to serve as IBO's director," said Ms. Lowenstein. "I view the selection as an endorsement to continue IBO's work of serving elected officials and the public by providing non-partisan, independent budget and policy analysis. I am also privileged to work with exceptional colleagues who are dedicated to the highest standards of public service."
Before joining IBO, Ms. Lowenstein was an economist in the Domestic Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and taught economics at Barnard College. Ms. Lowenstein received her Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University and her B.A. from Guilford College. She resides in Manhattan with her husband Kenneth Lowenstein, an attorney, and her two children, Jeff and Marc.
The IBO is an independent city agency whose mission is to provide non-partisan budgetary, economic and policy analysis for the residents of New York City, and to increase New Yorkers' understanding of and participation in the budget process. IBO reports can be downloaded from www.ibo.nyc.ny.us. under Publications.
