A tech firm in Florida hired lobbyists to sell a “panic button” app to New York City public schools, including the brothers of top city officials. The firm switched lobbyists and ended up with one of the brothers as a client. Federal authorities are now investigating the Banks brothers and their connections to the mayor’s administration. The investigation involves their role in promoting the app to city officials. The mayor has maintained his stance on following due process amidst the investigations.
In the latter part of 2022, Saferwatch, a tech firm based in Florida, identified a business opportunity in New York City. They aimed to provide “panic button” apps to public schools for emergency situations like fires or active shooter incidents. To navigate the city’s bureaucracy and reach key officials such as Schools Chancellor David Banks and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, the company enlisted the help of Corey Johnson, a former City Council Speaker who had transitioned into lobbying.
However, after a year of minimal progress, Saferwatch decided to part ways with Johnson as their representative, having only secured a pilot program in five schools. They then turned to another firm specializing in “government relations,” the Pearl Alliance, which is owned and operated by Terence Banks, the brother of David and Philip Banks. Despite city ethics rules prohibiting lobbying family members, Terence Banks did not register as a lobbyist with the city clerk, as required for engagements exceeding $5,000. Instead, he operated a consulting firm that bridged the gap between New York’s political landscape and private sector clients.
In a recent turn of events, federal authorities executed search warrants on all three Banks brothers, seizing their electronic devices as part of a new investigation into the Adams administration. The specific focus of the inquiry by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams remains undisclosed, but a connection between Terence’s consultancy work and his brothers’ roles as key advisors to the mayor is coming to light through city and state records.
When Mayor Adams took office in January 2022, he appointed both David and Philip Banks to prominent positions in his team. Philip Banks, a long-time associate of the mayor dating back to their time in the NYPD, played a critical role in leveraging technology to enhance public safety as the deputy mayor. David Banks, on the other hand, assumed the role of schools chancellor following a successful career in public education, notably founding the Eagle Academy network catering to boys of color.
Terence Banks, however, did not join the mayor’s team but continued working as a mid-level supervisor at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Despite lacking experience as a lobbyist, he demonstrated his support for Mayor Adams by organizing fundraisers during the mayoral campaign, raising a substantial amount for the mayor. Subsequently, he established the Pearl Alliance to provide government and community relations services, primarily aiding minority-owned businesses seeking governmental contracts.
The timeline indicates that Saferwatch engaged Terence Banks’ services, although the exact commencement of their collaboration remains unclear. The company had already been seeking opportunities in New York through Johnson’s efforts to pitch their app to the city. Johnson targeted both Banks brothers on behalf of Saferwatch, as evidenced in Chancellor Banks’ meeting with Johnson and lobbying activities involving Phil Banks’ chief of staff.
Despite initial progress, Johnson ceased representing Saferwatch by early 2024, with the company now listed as a client of Terence Banks’ Pearl Alliance. However, Johnson claimed he had not communicated with Terence Banks regarding Saferwatch and only learned about the affiliation after the FBI initiated investigations into the Banks brothers.
While attempts to reach David, Philip, and Terence Banks for comments on the Saferwatch lobbying did not yield responses, statements from the Department of Education and the mayor’s press office emphasized that the Saferwatch pilot program did not meet the city’s requirements and did not incur any expenditure from NYC Public Schools.
The unfolding investigations by federal authorities, including raids on the homes of Philip and David Banks, have brought heightened scrutiny to the activities of the Banks brothers and their connections to the mayor’s administration. With Mayor Adams maintaining that the investigations will not impede his focus on governing, the situation remains under review as due process unfolds.
In conclusion, the intricate web of relationships and interactions between Saferwatch, the Banks brothers, and government officials in New York City underscores the complexities of business dealings in the public sector. The ongoing investigations highlight the importance of transparency and adherence to ethical standards in all interactions between private entities and government representatives.
Source: TheCity.NYC
