In the Economic Development Power 75, two new Empire State Development leaders

City and State New York today issued Economic Development Power 75, an inaugural list of "policymakers who are driving economic development strategies in New York and positioning the state for a post-pandemic recovery."

At the top of the list, unsurprisingly, are Hope Knight & Kevin Law, Acting President and CEO; Chair Nominee, Empire State Development. Here's the squib:

Kevin Law left the Long Island Association in April, but he couldn’t stay away from economic development work for long. While he’s now an executive at the construction firm Tritec, Law was recently appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul as chair of Empire State Development Corp. He brings deep expertise in energy, law and local government and experience on the state’s casino siting commission, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, of which he’s still a member. Hochul also appointed Hope Knight as ESD’s president and CEO, a role she has assumed on an acting basis. Prior to her appointment, Knight made her mark during more than half a decade running the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. in Queens, a post that will be filled for now by Justin Rodgers. Knight, who’s also a member of the New York City Planning Commission, will serve as commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development in her new role.

These executives, with no previous--at least publicly described--experience with Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, will be crucial to ensuring whether the project gets special help to proceed, and/or gets exemption from, extension of, or enforcement of, the $2,000/month fines, due May 2025, for any missing affordable units.