There stands David Banks, on the time chancellor of the New York Metropolis college system, all mic’d up and bantering with a tech agency’s CEO about the advantages of this system the corporate is selling to highschool methods throughout America.
“What do you think the parents are getting from this experience?” Banks asks Marlon Lindsay, CEO of twenty first Century Schooling, Inc. as a videographer captures the second at a Might 2023 science honest at Yankee Stadium.
Referring to the corporate’ science, know-how, engineering, and math program, Lindsay responds, “The one strategy to elevate and to exhibit what STEM is is to deliver the mother and father in to allow them to additionally take part with the children.
“And so now they don’t force the kids to go get a four-year degree necessarily, when they can do something else and make just as much money if not more, without having to go through all that.”
“Right,” the faculties chancellor nods to Lindsay.
Because the video unspools, three extra Division of Schooling staff present up, touting the advantages of 21StCentEd merchandise as utilized in metropolis college districts. The superintendent answerable for District 9 in The Bronx, Yankee Stadium’s neighborhood, calls the corporate “a world class organization.” A superintendent from Staten Island effuses that working with the corporate “was wonderful.”
The video — posted to Youtube by 21stCentEd — ends with a solicitation: “Give us a call today so we can future-proof your students and educators.”
This gorgeous endorsement of a for-profit agency by the pinnacle of the nation’s largest public college system didn’t come about utterly out of the blue. Because it occurred, twenty first Century Schooling had made a prescient behind-the-scenes funding by hiring a authorities relations guide: David Banks’ brother, Terence.
It seems to have paid off. Apart from the chancellor’s participation within the firm’s promotional video, twenty first Century’s Lindsay received a sit-down with the chancellor on the Division of Schooling’s Tweed Courthouse headquarters. And metropolis data present Edifii US LLC, the Utah firm Lindsay established that does enterprise utilizing the twenty first Century Schooling model, has acquired 138 no-bid contracts for as much as $25,000 every with the Division of Schooling and totaling practically $2 million, beginning shortly after Banks took over the Division of Schooling in early 2022.
Earlier than Banks arrived, twenty first Century had zero enterprise with the town Division of Schooling. Lindsay didn’t reply to THE CITY’s repeated inquiries.
The video shines a lightweight on one of many murkiest relationships in Adams’ scandal-scarred administration, between Terence and his highly effective brothers: David, the faculties chancellor, and Philip, appointed by Adams as deputy commissioner for public security.
The query of whether or not the actions of David and Philip Banks financially benefited Terence — who by no means registered as a lobbyist — is the main target of an ongoing regulation enforcement investigation into potential influence-peddling. Lobbyists are required by regulation to reveal the identities of their purchasers, which metropolis staff they’re focusing on, how a lot they’re being paid, and what favorable remedy they’re in search of, similar to tax breaks, zoning upgrades or profitable municipal contracts. By remaining unregistered, Terence Banks disclosed publicly none of that.
Final fall FBI and metropolis Division of Investigation brokers visited the properties and seized the telephones of Terence, Philip and David Banks, and David’s spouse, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Quickly after that David and Philip Banks resigned, as did Wright. Sources conversant in the matter verify the Banks probes have continued even after Adams’ corruption indictment was dropped on the behest of the Trump administration.
Terence Banks Fb profile image. Credit score: Terry Banks/Fb
The Banks brothers’ inquiry coincides with main upheaval within the high ranges of Adams’ Metropolis Corridor. Two former high aides, chief advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich, have been indicted on bribery costs, whereas Jesse Hamilton, an in depth affiliate the mayor appointed to supervise the town’s multi-billion greenback leases, is below investigation associated to potential influence-peddling.
Edward Caban, one of many 4 police commissioners who’ve served to date throughout Adams time period, can be below investigation over allegations associated to one in all his brother’s allegedly pocketing bribes to maintain the NYPD off the backs of late-night bars and golf equipment.
The mayor himself was indicted on bribery and marketing campaign finance fraud costs, however escaped trial when the Trump Justice Division moved to dismiss his case in trade for his cooperation on the administration’s signature immigration deportation marketing campaign. However, critics noticed this transaction with Trump as compromising Adams independence, a view that impressed 4 high mayoral aides to resign without delay.
Philip acknowledged in an interview with THE CITY that he spoke with Terence about one in all his purchasers, then met with an NYPD official who oversaw a pilot program the consumer was collaborating in to check out its safety-alert app within the New York Metropolis college system.
Deputy Mayor for Public Security Phil Banks walks into Metropolis Corridor, Oct. 1, 2024. Credit score: Alex Krales/THE CITY
At one level, Terence even beneficial to Philip two candidates for appointment as chair of the Civilian Grievance Overview Board (CCRB), the unbiased police misconduct enforcer — a put up of specific curiosity to Philip because the NYPD’s former high uniformed officer.
In his pitch to Philip, Terence wrote, “You will have no problem with either and or both for approval.” Philip proceeded to advocate one of many candidates for the delicate put up.
Terence Banks’ legal professional, Timothy Sini, refused to answer THE CITY’s written questions in search of touch upon his many interactions together with his brothers.
Adams’ workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark from THE CITY.
Faculties Chancellor David Banks with Mayor Eric Adams on the chancellor’s State of Our Faculties tackle, Sept. 20, 2023. Credit score: Ed Reed/Mayoral Pictures Workplace.
‘Strategic Partnerships’
Adams’ ties to the Banks brothers return many years, stemming from his longtime friendship with their father, Philip Banks Jr., who served within the NYPD throughout Adams’ years as a cop. All three brothers sponsored fundraising occasions for his 2021 mayoral marketing campaign, yielding greater than $91,000 within the months main as much as the election, Marketing campaign Finance Board data present.
Quickly after he received the job in November 2021, Adams appointed David Banks to run the varsity system and Philip Banks to function his deputy mayor overseeing public security issues.
From the earliest days of Adams’ tenure, Terence grew to become a participant — assuming the function of go-to man for people and corporations in search of entry to Metropolis Corridor and the varsity system by way of his brothers.
He discovered a strategy to monetize that connection, incorporating a governmental guide agency he dubbed Pearl Alliance in July 2022. Whereas nonetheless employed on the MTA, he launched Pearl Alliance’s web site in March 2023, a month earlier than he retired from the MTA, describing it as a “values driven government and community relations firm forging strategic partnerships between business and government.”
With out mentioning his brothers, the Pearl Alliance web site notes that Terence Banks shall be “leveraging his expertise and network” with the intent of “overcoming challenges and delivering success for The Pearl Alliance’s esteemed clients.” (The location was faraway from the web shortly after regulation enforcement seized the Banks brothers’ telephones final fall).
Terence Banks’ function as a possible gateway to the Adams’ administration started within the nascent months of mayor’s tenure, even earlier than he’d fashioned Pearl Alliance.
“The request is currently on Phil’s desk,” Andrews wrote to Terence. “I believe others have reached out to him and the Mayor about this issue but I’d love to connect with Phil to see if we can get to a positive outcome here.”
Talking with THE CITY, Andrews stated he didn’t wind up talking with Philip concerning the Massive Rappel however that he was informed one other board member did. The occasion didn’t happen that yr, however in 2024 — whereas Philip Banks was nonetheless deputy mayor for public security — the NYPD signed off on it and it was held as deliberate.
“I would appreciate your help introducing to us your brother, Chancellor David Banks to talk about opportunities to help area schools,” he wrote.
Terence additionally promoted pitches by two firms to his brother David and his spouse, First Deputy Mayor Wright.
The wording of Terence’s response implies to the corporate that he’s working in partnership together with his brother, David, and sister-in-law, Wright: “I have included the Deputy Mayor and the Chancellors team on this thread. We are very interested about the opportunity to collaborate on this project. Please suggest a few dates so that we can see what works for all. We have some suggestions to share that may complement your proposal to ensure success.”
THE CITY submitted written inquiries to David Banks’ legal professional, Xavier Donaldson, relating to Terence Banks’ interactions with David about Lockstep, Maurice Expertise and the chancellor’s participation within the twenty first Century Schooling promotional video. Donaldson responded, “We are not commenting on this story at this time. Should anything change, I will gladly let you know.”
‘We Can Police the City With Less Personnel’
One other of Terence Banks’ purchasers, a New Jersey-based agency known as Allstate Gross sales Group (ASG) that gives help for tech and communications firms, praised Banks’ consulting agency, though the corporate didn’t spell out what Terence really did for them and didn’t reply to messages left by THE CITY.
Anthony Tepedino, ASG’s CEO, was quoted on the Pearl Alliance web site as stating, “Your company needs a partner like Pearl Alliance to help you overcome obstacles leading to successful project execution like it did for Allstate Sales Group.”
Tepedino didn’t reply to a number of inquiries by THE CITY. However in current months investigators with the Manhattan U.S. legal professional’s workplace have interviewed witnesses about ASG’s interactions with Terence Banks, a supply conversant in particulars of the continued investigation informed THE CITY.
In late 2022, ASG had employed lobbyist Patricia Lynch to achieve out to unspecified metropolis companies relating to “technology” and “ev [electric vehicle] charging.” However in February 2023, Lynch dropped ASG as a consumer after studying the agency had employed Terence Banks, in accordance with the supply.
Lynch didn’t reply to requests for remark by THE CITY.
Within the first yr of the Adams administration, one other one in all Terence’s purchasers, a tech agency known as Saferwatch, was making an attempt to get face time with each David and Philip Banks to promote a “panic button” app it sought to place into the telephones of college security officers. The app broadcasts alerts about emergencies, similar to lively shooters or fires.
As THE CITY reported final fall, the corporate first employed Corey Johnson, the previous Metropolis Council speaker turned lobbyist, who arrange conferences with each David and Philip to make Saferwatch’s pitch. Then it ditched Johnson for Terence.
Quickly after, Philip Banks met with Kevin Taylor, head of the varsity security unit inside the NYPD — and Saferwatch ended up being examined in a pilot program at 5 metropolis colleges with a plan to broaden its use to all metropolis colleges, Taylor later revealed at a Metropolis Council listening to.
In an interview with THE CITY, Philip Banks confirmed that he had spoken with Terence about Saferwatch, though he declined to enter particulars. He claimed he didn’t know the way Terence got here to snag Saferwatch as a consumer, however stated that as deputy mayor, he had a grander imaginative and prescient for the usage of their “panic button” than even the corporate was pitching.
“This is how we can police the city with less personnel,” he stated. “It was all a master plan. We don’t need 65,000 personnel. We can do it with 50,000. Put it with other law enforcement as well, transit cops, not just in schools. How can we patrol the city with less cops.”
Requested if he’d had conversations with Terence about Saferwatch, Philip Banks replied, “Of course I did. [But] I never had a conversation about starting ways for them to get a contract, what I was building out. I never had a conversation with him about that.”
Saferwatch acquired a subpoena from federal investigators trying into the Banks’ brothers actions, in accordance with a regulation enforcement supply conversant in the matter. The corporate didn’t reply to THE CITY’s requests for remark. Prior to now, Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesperson for Saferwatch, stated it was the corporate’s understanding that they weren’t a goal of the investigation.
In 2023 Philip Banks additionally seems to have pushed to get a candidate Terence had beneficial to him appointed to the CCRB, the unbiased physique that investigates police misconduct complaints made by the general public.
Philip Banks III speaks at One Police Plaza in 2013 after being promoted to chief of division. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Interim chair Arva Rice, appointed by Adams in 2022, had angered police officers by accusing the NYPD of intentionally delaying turning over proof to CCRB investigators trying into the 2019 police taking pictures of Kawaski Trawick. The board in the end beneficial that the 2 officers who shot Trawick be disciplined, however Edward Caban, the NYPD commissioner on the time, rejected the advice, ruling that the officers had acted correctly.
Rice stepped down in July 2024 after months of stress from Metropolis Corridor. For months the board remained leaderless. With 5 of the board’s 15 positions vacant, the CCRB at instances struggled to acquire a quorum to conduct conferences at a time when police misconduct complaints have been on the rise. Adams didn’t appoint an interim chairperson till December 2024, naming a dentist, Dr. Mohammad Khalid. Morrison didn’t make the lower. (Morrison didn’t reply to a request for remark.)
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