A deputy mayor’s growing universe

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams hinted at a recent press conference that Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, a close ally who has been steadily expanding his influence in City Hall, has taken on yet another role.

While it is widely known that Banks holds significant sway over the NYPD, Adams said at the briefing that Banks is also coordinating operations among smaller police forces embedded in several agencies across city government.

“By bringing on Phil Banks to be the deputy mayor of public safety, we knew that we had to have one apparatus that was combined with all of our public safety [arms] that were historically disjointed,” Adams said on March 10. “Our probation department, Department of Correction, FDNY, the hospital police — all of these agencies were disjointed.”

Not all enforcement agencies report to Banks, but he has nonetheless been coordinating enforcement strategy with them, a recurring theme the mayor’s office describes as breaking down governmental silos — which in practice has also boosted Banks’ profile.

In January, Adams created a new office headed by the deputy mayor that will investigate whether city agencies are properly delivering their services to the public. The following month, Banks began hosting a series of staid public safety briefings with a variety of agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

City Hall spokesperson Fabien Levy said that while the enforcement agencies are not directly attached to Banks on the organizational chart, the deputy mayor is still able to communicate with them to hash out solutions. As an example of cross-agency collaboration, Levy cited preparations for J’Ouvert last year, an event that has turned deadly in the past but was free of gun violence in 2022.

The Department of Sanitation, too, boasts its own police force. And on Friday, the Daily News reported that, instead of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the city’s Strongest would begin enforcing regulations against street vendors.

IT’S MONDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @annagronewold

WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City for the launch of a new marketing campaign called “We Love NYC.”

WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City appearing on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” before making public safety and transportation-related announcements and signing a flurry of city bills into law at City Hall. Then he’ll deliver remarks with Gov. Hochul to kick off “We Love NYC” before a closed-door meeting with Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the U.S. Later in the day, he will appear live at a forum hosted by WNYC on housing.

What City Hall's reading

WATCH: In the premiere of her new MSNBC show, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki rode the subway with Eric Adams and spoke with him for an in-depth interview in which they touched on crime, immigration, and his weekend routine.

“NYC Councilman Chris Marte’s aide resigns following accusations of harassing reporter,” by Daily News’ Chris Sommerfeldt and Shant Shahrigian: “Marte, a Manhattan Democrat, initially refused to fire Wong after the staffer left four voicemails with a reporter at Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily, according to a complaint filed with the City Council.”

“‘Adams and Adams Corporation’ partnership is put to the test,” by Spectrum News’ Emily Ngo: “The city’s top leaders have been trying to stay diplomatic this budget season, but relations are increasingly tense.”

“An NYC man fatally overdosed in a Starbucks bathroom. It took his family 53 days to find him.,” by WNYC’s Gwynne Hogan: “Now Williams’ family is suing the city, saying they were robbed of the chance to properly mourn their brother and uncle — and when they finally did have their chance, their grief was compounded by the indifference of city agencies.”

WHAT ALBANY'S READING


“Why Can’t Legal Cannabis Sellers Open Shops? Sometimes NY State Is Their Adversary,” by THE CITY’s Gabriel Poblete: “So far, not a single one of the individuals awarded a “Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary” (CAURD) license who want to open on their own have done so. The fund itself has only managed to get two dispensaries up and running — both of them temporary pop-ups, including one that opened in Ithaca on Thursday.”

“Volunteer firefighters save N.Y. taxpayers billions annually, study finds,” by Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons: “New York’s more than 81,000 volunteer firefighters save taxpayers an estimated $3.8 billion a year in wages and benefits at a time when their ranks are dwindling but recruitment efforts are being ramped up, according to a study released by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.”

“GOP county executive candidate has ‘some regrets’ over social media posts about conspiracy theories,” by Buffalo News’ Charlie Specht: "’As a private citizen, I’m going to take accountability for the things that I have posted on social media in the past,’ Chrissy Casilio said in an interview with The Buffalo News. ‘I have some regrets. I have no problem taking accountability.’”

— The PAC Fight Corporate Monopolies is launching a billboard campaign Monday morning to protest corporate subsidies in the proposed state budget.

#UpstateAmerica: It was Maple Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. If you missed out on the festivities, though, don’t worry — Gov. Hochul signed a proclamation extending the celebration to next weekend.

TRUMP'S NEW YORK

Manhattan DA Bragg privately warns of intimidation after Trump calls for protest, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg offered a private retort to Donald Trump’s message Saturday urging supporters to protest his expected indictment, telling office employees in an email that “we do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York,” according to a copy obtained by POLITICO.

“Trump Grand Jury Could Hear From Critic of Prosecution’s Star Witness,” by The New York Times’ Ben Protess, William K. Rashbaum, Jonah E. Bromwich and Maggie Haberman: “The testimony would come from a lawyer, Robert J. Costello, who would appear at the request of Mr. Trump’s lawyers, the people said. Mr. Costello was once a legal adviser to Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former fixer, who has been a key witness for the Manhattan district attorney’s office.”

“NYC bracing for unrest after Trump calls for protests over possible arrest, indictment,” by New York Post’s Larry Celona, Tina Moore and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon: “The NYPD and US Secret Service are huddling to prep for Donald Trump’s possible indictment in Manhattan after the former president said he expected to be arrested this week and told supporters to protest, sources told The Post.”

AROUND NEW YORK

— New York Community Bankcorp will take over the failed Signature Bank.

— A man was arrested amid clashing protests outside of a drag queen story hour hosted by Attorney General Letitia James in Greenwich Village.

— Gun-free zone signs were installed around Times Square on Sunday.

— New York City, Chicago and Atlanta are all jockeying to become the site of the next Democratic National Convention, in what could become one of the most consequential early decisions in President Joe Biden’s bid for a second term in the White House.

SOCIAL DATA


HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Kevin Hassett … Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin … Jason Lifton … Kalika Farmer … Penta’s Elliott Owensby … Jack Bohrer … (was Sunday): Carla Frank … ABC’s Pierre Thomas, Katie Bosland Kastens and Van Scott … Mary Streett … KPMG’s Ian Hainline … NBC’s Emma Gottlieb … Jill Abramson ... Craig Hatkoff ... Jonathan Rod ... Lincoln Restler … Alexander Trowbridge …

… (was Saturday): Nassau County exec’s Chris Boyle…USTR Katherine Tai … CNN’s Zachary Cohen … Precision’s Stephanie Schriock … former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe … Fox News’ Jessica Curry and Karrah Kaplan … Bloomberg’s Kate Hunter … NBC News PR’s Haylie Reichner … (was Friday): Andrew Weissmann ... Emily Cohen

MAKING MOVES: Tiffany Lankes will be the communications director for the University of Rochester’s College of Arts, Science, & Engineering. She most recently has worked at The Education Trust–New York.

SPOTTED: Ex-City Hall Chief of Staff Frank Carone business lunching with Cuomo’s former top staffer Melissa DeRosa at Avra Beverly Hills.