City Council confirms Mamdani's nominee to head Law Department | amNewYork

"Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pick to head the city's Law Department was confirmed by the New York City Council after promising to be a lawyer for the entire city, not just the mayor, at his confirmation hearing last week. Steven Banks, who served as the city's homelessness czar at the city's Department of Homeless Services under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, is set to return to City Hall after being confirmed Thursday via a 42-6 City Council vote, with one abstention."

"I look forward to representing the whole city, Banks said at his confirmation hearing last week. He added that he looked forward to bringing a unique perspective to the department as someone who spent 33 years litigating against it while serving as the attorney in chief of the Legal Aid Society. While Banks' confirmation was met with praise from a handful of council members who said they celebrated him leading the department as they voted yes, Republican Minority Leader David Carr vocally opposed his nomination."

"At his confirmation hearing last week, Banks was questioned by roughly a dozen council members who said they didn't want a repeat of their experience under the Adams administration, where they said they felt like they didn't have enough confidential legal advice. Banks promised he'd be accessible to members and that all advice would be truly confidential offering to give each his phone number so they could call him whenever necessary."

Steven Banks was confirmed by the New York City Council as Corporation Counsel in a 42-6 vote with one abstention. Banks previously served as the city's homelessness czar at the Department of Homeless Services and spent 33 years litigating against the city as attorney in chief of the Legal Aid Society. Banks pledged to represent the whole city, be accessible to council members, and provide truly confidential legal advice, even offering his phone number. Republican Minority Leader David Carr opposed the nomination citing philosophical differences, including disputes over right-to-shelter policies tied to Banks' role in the McCain v. Koch settlement. Banks said he would work to avoid major clashes between Council and the mayor.

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