Grifa Confirmed as Community Affairs Commissioner

TRENTON - The New Jersey State Senate today confirmed Lori Grifa as the next Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

"I am honored that the Senate has approved my nomination to lead the Department of Community Affairs," said Acting Commissioner Grifa. "The DCA is a place where I can marry my passion for sound community development and my professional skill set. I hope to serve Governor Christie and the people of this state with the best I have of both."

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.

"My experience as a prosecutor and a private practice attorney confirmed what I learned as a child growing up in Toms River. The strength of our communities is driven by safety and security," Acting Commissioner Grifa said. "Children who are raised in sound and stable communities are better students, businesses thrive in these communities, and crime of all kinds decline. It is essential that the Department of Community Affairs actively partner with municipalities to help make them the best places they can be for the people who live there."

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. She is a graduate of Boston College School of Law.

Grifa has been serving as Acting Commissioner of DCA since February 8th, 2010. An official swearing in date has yet to be set.

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. 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 and New Jersey Redevelopment Authority.

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

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