NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks Resigns During Federal Investigation
Banks' exit follows the seizure of his cell phones by federal agents.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks is resigning amid scrutiny concerning his connections to a federal bribery investigation.
A longtime associate of Mayor Eric Adams, Banks surrendered his phones to federal agents over two weeks ago.
As part of their ongoing investigation, agents also searched the Harlem home that Banks shares with his partner, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, as well as the Queens residence of his brother, Phil Banks, who is the deputy mayor for public safety.
David Banks' exit from Adams' administration occurs against the backdrop of multiple federal inquiries involving the mayor and his senior advisors. The investigation appears to also target his other brother, Terence Banks, whose consulting firm has conducted business with clients that have dealings with the city.
In the wake of the recent federal raids, several prominent officials from Adams' administration have resigned quickly, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, top lawyer Lisa Zornberg, and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. Banks' leaving is a significant blow, considering he leads the largest school system in the nation.
In a letter to the mayor, Banks announced his intention to retire at the year’s end.
"I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure," he stated. "The opportunity to work alongside such dedicated professionals to shape the future of education in our great city is one that I will always cherish."
He did not reference the federal investigations, raids, or the resignations of other administration members in either his letter or the statement he issued through City Hall on Tuesday. Banks had been appointed by Adams two years prior to oversee the city’s vast public school system.
Neither the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York nor the FBI's New York office, which are involved in the investigation, offered comments.
In a written statement, Adams referred to Banks’ departure as a retirement and also did not mention the ongoing investigations.
“I am immensely grateful and proud of the work accomplished in New York City Public Schools under Chancellor David Banks," he remarked.
However, sources familiar with the relationship between Banks and Adams suggest that tensions have been present for several months.
One point of contention arose when the mayor announced budget cuts shortly after the two had introduced a new reading curriculum.
“People were on board and a month later, the mayor and [city budget director] are announcing cuts to [the] Department of Ed,” an official privy to their interactions stated. “You are about to take on the largest literacy initiative in the country….the mayor doing a press conference cheering it on, then a month later he announces budget cuts.”
Further strain developed when Adams halted plans for a citywide cellphone ban in schools, despite Banks’ previously stated intention to implement one.
The recent federal raids compounded the existing issues.
As pressures mount in the wake of the investigations, Adams' political rivals are seizing the opportunity to challenge his leadership.
Shortly after Banks’ resignation announcement was made public, two Democrats signaled their intent to run against Adams in the upcoming election.
State Senator Zellnor Myrie described Banks' departure as reminiscent of "Groundhog Day."
"Pithy slogans can't paper over this concerning pattern of turnover at the highest levels of city government,” he remarked in a statement. “In the face of a housing shortage and a growing affordability crisis, New Yorkers deserve stable leadership from City Hall — not this steady exodus of city commissioners."
Another potential primary challenger, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, echoed the notion of disarray in the administration.
“Literally every day two things are happening," he posted on X. "One, New Yorkers are reading headlines that show the chaos of the Adams administration. And two, Eric Adams himself is doing and saying nothing to reassure New Yorkers he has his hands on the wheel.”
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
A longtime associate of Mayor Eric Adams, Banks surrendered his phones to federal agents over two weeks ago.
As part of their ongoing investigation, agents also searched the Harlem home that Banks shares with his partner, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, as well as the Queens residence of his brother, Phil Banks, who is the deputy mayor for public safety.
David Banks' exit from Adams' administration occurs against the backdrop of multiple federal inquiries involving the mayor and his senior advisors. The investigation appears to also target his other brother, Terence Banks, whose consulting firm has conducted business with clients that have dealings with the city.
In the wake of the recent federal raids, several prominent officials from Adams' administration have resigned quickly, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, top lawyer Lisa Zornberg, and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. Banks' leaving is a significant blow, considering he leads the largest school system in the nation.
In a letter to the mayor, Banks announced his intention to retire at the year’s end.
"I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure," he stated. "The opportunity to work alongside such dedicated professionals to shape the future of education in our great city is one that I will always cherish."
He did not reference the federal investigations, raids, or the resignations of other administration members in either his letter or the statement he issued through City Hall on Tuesday. Banks had been appointed by Adams two years prior to oversee the city’s vast public school system.
Neither the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York nor the FBI's New York office, which are involved in the investigation, offered comments.
In a written statement, Adams referred to Banks’ departure as a retirement and also did not mention the ongoing investigations.
“I am immensely grateful and proud of the work accomplished in New York City Public Schools under Chancellor David Banks," he remarked.
However, sources familiar with the relationship between Banks and Adams suggest that tensions have been present for several months.
One point of contention arose when the mayor announced budget cuts shortly after the two had introduced a new reading curriculum.
“People were on board and a month later, the mayor and [city budget director] are announcing cuts to [the] Department of Ed,” an official privy to their interactions stated. “You are about to take on the largest literacy initiative in the country….the mayor doing a press conference cheering it on, then a month later he announces budget cuts.”
Further strain developed when Adams halted plans for a citywide cellphone ban in schools, despite Banks’ previously stated intention to implement one.
The recent federal raids compounded the existing issues.
As pressures mount in the wake of the investigations, Adams' political rivals are seizing the opportunity to challenge his leadership.
Shortly after Banks’ resignation announcement was made public, two Democrats signaled their intent to run against Adams in the upcoming election.
State Senator Zellnor Myrie described Banks' departure as reminiscent of "Groundhog Day."
"Pithy slogans can't paper over this concerning pattern of turnover at the highest levels of city government,” he remarked in a statement. “In the face of a housing shortage and a growing affordability crisis, New Yorkers deserve stable leadership from City Hall — not this steady exodus of city commissioners."
Another potential primary challenger, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, echoed the notion of disarray in the administration.
“Literally every day two things are happening," he posted on X. "One, New Yorkers are reading headlines that show the chaos of the Adams administration. And two, Eric Adams himself is doing and saying nothing to reassure New Yorkers he has his hands on the wheel.”
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
