De Blasio names 7 press aides

Mayor Bill de Blasio Tuesday named Phillip Walzak, who was senior communications adviser to his come-from-behind campaign, to the post of press secretary.

Walzak, 37, also was the Wisconsin communications director for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential bid. He will oversee the press office. Another former Obama campaign aide, Marti Adams, will be chief spokesperson and first deputy press secretary.

Also appointed: Rebecca Kirszner Katz as special adviser, Angela Banks as director of operations, Maibe Ponet and Wiley Norvell as deputy press secretaries, and Mahen Gunaratna as director of research and media analysis.