City Hall Shakeup: Deputy Mayor Banks and Top Officials Exit Amid Adams Administration Turmoil
New York City’s political landscape is in turmoil as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks III becomes the latest high-profile figure to resign from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. This dramatic development comes amid an ongoing corruption scandal that has cast a shadow over City Hall.
Banks, a seasoned law enforcement veteran who previously served as NYPD’s chief of department, stepped down on Monday. Mayor Adams confirmed the resignation, telling NY1, “We spoke yesterday, and we spoke again this morning, and he stated he wants to move on to other things in his life.”
But Banks isn’t the only one heading for the exit. Three other vital staffers are also leaving their posts:
- Winnie Greco, the mayor’s liaison to the Chinese American community, resigned.
- Mohammed Bahi, who worked in the Community Affairs Unit, also stepped down.
- Rana Abbasova, the mayor’s director of protocol for international affairs, was fired.
These departures send shockwaves through the administration, with more high-level exits expected. David Banks, the current school chancellor and Phil Banks’ brother, has announced his upcoming resignation. Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, and David Banks’ wife is reportedly planning her exit.
The mass exodus comes after federal investigations into city contracts and nightlife regulation enforcement. Last month, authorities seized phones from Phil Banks, David Banks, and Sheena Wright as part of their probe.
Mayor Adams is facing his legal troubles. He’s pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment charging him with bribery and fraud. Despite mounting pressure, Adams is resisting calls to step down.
A recent Marist poll paints a grim picture for the embattled mayor. A whopping 69% of NYC residents, including 71% of Democrats, believe Adams should resign. An overwhelming 80% think he shouldn’t run for office again.
Adams, however, remains defiant. He claims the poll numbers reflect people hearing “only one side of the story” and insists he’ll have a chance to present his case.
The mayor’s troubles began earlier this year when federal agents searched the homes of some administration officials, including Winnie Greco. Rana Abbasova, terminated on Monday, has reportedly been cooperating with investigators.
This isn’t the first time Phil Banks has faced scrutiny. In 2014, he resigned from the NYPD amid a separate corruption scandal, where federal prosecutors named him an unindicted co-conspirator.
As the administration hemorrhages top talent, questions arise about Mayor Adams’ ability to govern effectively. Political analyst David Birdsell notes, “Can he put together a team and remain persuasively in charge of that team, arguing a vision for outcomes in the city that he can see through to term, and right now, all of those questions are very much in doubt.”
The fallout from this scandal is far from over. Federal prosecutors have hinted at the possibility of additional charges, saying it’s “quite likely” they will file a superseding indictment. This could mean more trouble for Adams or bring new defendants into the fold.
As New York City grapples with this unprecedented political crisis, residents wonder what’s next for their government. Will more officials jump ship? Can Adams weather this storm? Or will the Big Apple soon be searching for new leadership? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – the drama at City Hall is far from over.