Sources – NBC New York

New York Metropolis Faculties Chancellor David Banks is anticipated to retire from his place by the tip of the 12 months, he shared in a letter to Mayor Eric Adams.

Banks, who beforehand had run a community of boys’ colleges, was named the faculties chancellor in 2022 by Adams. He knowledgeable the mayor on Tuesday that he could be retiring efficient Dec. 31, 2024.

Banks mentioned he had informed Adams forward of the beginning of the varsity 12 months that he could be retiring, and the letter was submitted Tuesday.

“Throughout our assembly earlier this 12 months, I suggested you that I intend to retire on the finish of this calendar 12 months after making certain the varsity 12 months obtained off to a very good begin,” Banks wrote in his letter to the mayor. “I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve achieved throughout my tenure and the chance to work alongside such devoted professionals to form the way forward for training in our nice metropolis is on that I’ll at all times cherish.”

In a press release after the retirement announcement was made, the United Federation of Lecturers referred to as Banks “an educator who sought to enhance public training for all college students. We thank him for his partnership, ardour, and collaboration and want him effectively.”

Phrase of the retirement got here in direct distinction to what the mayor mentioned earlier within the day, telling reporters that there was no mass exodus of officers from his internal circle.

“I am actually misplaced when folks say ‘the extent of those who have left your administration.’ There isn’t any degree of those who have left my administration,” Adams mentioned, earlier than referencing the departures of Well being Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and now-former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban. “I feel that the pure transition is folks say ‘I wish to do one thing else with my life.’ I haven’t got an issue with that. I inform my staff on a regular basis, it’s a must to do that work till you are able to transition out.”

Banks — alongside along with his brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, and fiancée Sheena Wright, who serves as a deputy mayor as effectively — was amongst Metropolis Corridor officers to have units seized as a part of the a number of investigations swirling round Metropolis Corridor in latest weeks.

The units could have been seized as a part of an investigation into whether or not a 3rd Banks brother obtained metropolis contracts.

Terence Banks, the youngest of the Banks brothers, was previously a mid-level supervisor in NYC’s subway system and later launched a consulting agency that promised to attach companies to key authorities stakeholders. The agency represented corporations in search of work with metropolis businesses, together with the training and police departments.

Previously a mid-level supervisor in New York Metropolis’s subway system, Terence Banks launched a consulting agency that promised to attach companies to key authorities stakeholders. The agency represented corporations in search of work with metropolis businesses, together with the training and police departments.

In accordance with public information, a few of these corporations obtained hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in metropolis contracts — and in a single case obtained a private assembly with the faculties chancellor — after hiring Terrence Banks.

There have been no accusations of wrongdoing in opposition to David Banks, Phil Banks or Mayor Eric Adams, and none have been charged with any crimes. Adams has defended the Banks brothers, noting that his relationship with the household goes again to his time serving below their father within the police division.

When requested about mounting issues that somebody might be charged as quickly as this week, the mayor didn’t dissuade these issues Tuesday.

“I am not going to do that every day reporting, I mentioned that earlier than,” he mentioned at Tuesday’s press convention. “My authorized staff is managing the authorized technique for the investigation. Allow them to deal with their job.”

The feedback got here as there have been six separate federal legal investigations underway involving members of the Adams administration. Included in these investigations have been questions on overseas marketing campaign donations, journey upgrades, contracts awarded to family and friends of senior officers, and attainable shakedowns over nightlife enforcement.

It is a growing story, please examine again for updates.