[6] Her father was the chief labor negotiator for former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and her mother was a Medgar Evers College English professor and executive director of a nonprofit.

She implemented efficiency measures that led to $30 million reduction in the agency's expenses, and helped restore 42 pumping stations and a wastewater treatment plant that was affected by Hurricane Sandy.

[15][16][13][17] Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Garcia as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Sanitation on March 31, 2014.

She pursued an ambitious zero waste to landfills agenda, and built the nation's largest residential curbside food scraps collection and composting program.

[21][22] During her tenure, Garcia also oversaw the construction of marine transfer stations, negotiated major disposal contracts, supported the passage of waste equity legislation, made internal systems paperless, launched a procurement program to support businesses owned by people of color and women, and started the NYC Food Waste Fair.

[4][27] In that role, she focused on further improving lead paint compliance, safety, and quality assurance, as well as long-term financial stability.

On September 1, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Garcia to become director of state operations, succeeding Kelly Cummings.