Banks Calls for New NYCHA Leadership and Warns Against Public Housing Privatization

The East New York council member said funding alone will not solve NYCHA’s problems and argued that traditional public housing must be preserved.

New York City Council Deputy Leader Chris Banks speaks during the Black Community Media Roundtable at City Hall as Majority Whip Kamillah M. Hanks looks on. Photo by Deric Johnson / East New York Times.

New York City Council Deputy Leader Chris Banks called for new leadership at the New York City Housing Authority and warned that continued public housing privatization could lead to displacement and aggressive evictions.

Banks made the remarks during the Black Community Media Roundtable held Tuesday at City Hall in the Red Room.

Banks represents the 42nd Council District and chairs the Council’s Public Housing Committee. During his remarks, he said the city must remain focused on protecting and preserving traditional Section 9 public housing, which he described as home to a predominantly Black and Brown population.

“We can’t talk about affordable housing or affordability if we leave NYCHA on the back burner,” Banks said.

Banks said traditional public housing provides protections for residents whose income changes.

“There’s no model that exists where if you lose your income, you can still keep your apartment, and then your rent will be zeroed out,” he said.

He argued that preserving public housing is necessary if the city wants to address affordability for Black and Brown New Yorkers.

“If we continue to privatize public housing, which we have seen has a track record of displacement, aggressive evictions across the board, we have to preserve public housing,” Banks said.

Banks acknowledged that the city budget included funding related to vacant NYCHA units. However, he said financial investments alone do not guarantee that problems will be solved.

“Sometimes you can throw money at a problem, but it still doesn’t produce a solution,” he said.

Banks then said NYCHA needs new leadership, though he did not identify a particular official or describe the specific leadership changes he wants.

He also said more work remains despite the Council’s budget investments.

“No budget can solve every challenge facing our city,” Banks said, adding that additional attention is needed to protect and preserve public housing.

Banks framed the issue as part of a larger effort to expand opportunity and strengthen Black and Brown communities.

“When Black and Brown communities thrive, the city thrives,” he said.

The roundtable was hosted by Council Speaker Julie Menin, Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams, Majority Whip Kamillah M. Hanks, Deputy Leader Chris Banks and Council Member Kevin C. Riley. The event brought Council leaders together with representatives of Black and community media outlets for a discussion about housing, homeownership, small businesses, education, youth employment and access to city information.