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Julie Menin, Former CB1 Chairwoman, to Lead Consumer Affairs Dept.

 Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Julie Menin, right, as the head of the city's Department of Consumer Affairs April 24, 2014. At left is City Councilman Rafael Espinal.
Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Julie Menin, right, as the head of the city's Department of Consumer Affairs April 24, 2014. At left is City Councilman Rafael Espinal.
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DNAinfo/Colby Hamilton

CIVIC CENTER — Julie Menin, the former head of Manhattan’s Community Board 1 and recent candidate for Manhattan borough president, will take over the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.

As commissioner, Menin will lead the city’s efforts to implement and enforce the new paid sick leave law, the mayor said.

“Now, it’s going to be Julie Menin charged with making that [law] a reality, on the ground, in every neighborhood,” de Blasio said during a press conference at City Hall.

Menin will also oversee the city's efforts to reform its enforcement of regulations governing businesses, de Blasio said.

“We want to make sure people are fined [only] when necessary and worthy, and not because there is a de facto quota system,” de Blasio said, claiming that that was the case under the previous administration of Michael Bloomberg.

Menin, who lost last fall's borough president's race to Gale Brewer, agreed with de Blasio's vision.

“We want to make sure enforcement is conducted in a far and equitable manner,” she said.

The new paid sick leave law will begin to be phased in in June. Menin said the city will continue an aggressive education and outreach campaign to inform both workers and employers about the new law, with a particular focus on immigrant communities.

Once the law is fully implemented by the end of June, Menin said she would focus on “technical assistance” for businesses before beginning to take enforcement measures.