Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is tapping a controversial lawyer —who describes himself as a “social justice attorney” — to head up the city’s Law Department.
Steven Banks, who served as Bill de Blasio’s homeless services director, is expected to be named corporation counsel under the new socialist mayor, sources close to the transition say.
Banks notably battled the current administration in court when the Adams admin tried to roll back portions of “right to shelter” rules to deal with the migrant crisis.
The Post first reported back in November that the activist attorney was a top candidate for the spot.
Banks comes with an experienced resume, but Big Apple insiders have raised concerns about him being too much of an activist.
Elmhurst Hospital CEO Helen Arteaga is also expected to be announced Tuesday afternoon as Mamdani’s deputy mayor for health and human services, the sources noted.
Arteaga previously worked as an Assistant Vice President at Urban Health Plan, Inc, for 15 years before joining Elmhurst in 2021.
