New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

Grifa Sworn in as Community Affairs' Commissioner

For Immediate Release:
June 2, 2010
Contact:
Lisa Ryan
,
(609) 292-6055
TRENTON, N.J. – Lori Grifa was sworn in today as the 15th Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs by Governor Chris Christie. The ceremony took place in the DCA Lobby so Department staff could participate.

“I am thrilled that Lori has been willing to step forward and leave private life to return to public life. We are talking about making significant changes with the way state government interacts with local government and about providing efficient and cost effective service to New Jersey residents. I need someone who is committed, focused, bright and tough to deal with these issues and Lori is all of those things,” said Governor Christie. “I can assure you that she is the type of leader who will provide answers to questions, listen as much as she talks, and advance the goals of this administration.”

“I thank Governor Christie for this opportunity and I am humbled and honored to lead the Department of Community Affairs," said Commissioner Grifa. “There is much to accomplish in the areas of affordable housing, local government services and red tape reduction, and I am eager to continue the work I started upon arriving four months ago. It is my goal to see communities thrive and become the best places they can be for the people who live there.”

Grifa was most recently a member of the law firm Wolff & Samson where she focused on the areas of land use, regulation and environmental law. In this capacity, she also represented municipalities on affordable housing issues. From 2002 to 2003, she served as chief of staff to then state Attorney General David Samson.

Earlier in her career, Grifa was a special assistant district attorney in the Homicide Investigation Unit of the New York County District Attorney's Office for two years and was a senior assistant district attorney with the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney from 1989 to 1997, where she specialized in homicide and gang-related prosecutions.

Grifa was born and raised in New Jersey and grew up in Toms River, Ocean County. She is a product of New Jersey public schools and earned her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She is a graduate of Boston College School of Law.

Grifa, who resides in Montclair, had been serving as Acting Commissioner of the Department since February 8th, 2010.

The Department of Community Affairs offers a wide range of programs and services that respond to issues of public concern including fire and building safety, housing production, community planning and development, and local government management and finance. The DCA's programs and services are provided through its divisions of Codes and Standards, Fire Safety, Housing and Community Resources, Local Government Services, and Women, as well as the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development and the Office of Smart Growth. The DCA is also closely affiliated with the Council on Affordable Housing, Government Records Council, New Jersey Historic Trust, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority and the Urban Enterprise Zone.

For more information regarding the DCA, please log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/.