New York City Commissioner Defends the UN’s Presence in Turtle Bay : Shared by Narinder Sharma

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New York City Commissioner Defends the UN's Presence in Turtle Bay 

Damilola Banjo 

PassBlue February 21, 2026 

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Summary

Aissata Camara, outgoing commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, reflects on her decade-long tenure managing the city's relationship with the United Nations as she prepares to hand over the role to incoming commissioner Ana María Archila. 

Camara, 37, born in Guinea, argues that the UN's presence in New York City is economically and symbolically irreplaceable, noting that the diplomatic community contributes an estimated $3.69 billion in total output to the city's economy, while the city spends approximately $54 million annually on security, education of roughly 4,090 UN-affiliated children in public schools, and maintaining the office. 

Despite current US-UN tensions — including funding cuts, withheld contributions, and visa denials to diplomats — Camara dismisses suggestions that the UN should relocate to another city such as Geneva as logistically and financially impractical. 

Under her leadership, the office launched the New York City Junior Ambassadors program, engaging middle and high school students with UN Sustainable Development Goals to rebuild public awareness of the organization. Camara advocates for UN reform including permanent African representation on the Security Council, greater fiscal accountability, increased hiring of young professionals, and stronger focus on gender equity and ending gender-based violence.

Quotes

"There is a reason why our forefathers and foremothers chose the UN to be in New York City. It's the gateway to the world. But more than that, New York City is a promise of a better world."

"Whatever may be happening at the federal level, as a city, we've always been committed to ensuring that we have a positive relationship with the UN."

"The UN and New York City are interlinked, and that link predates all of us, and it will outlast all of us."