| Chris Banks | |
| Office: | Member of the New York City Council from the 43rd district |
| Term Start: | January 1, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Charles Barron |
| Party: | Democratic |
Chris Banks is an American politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 42nd district. He took office in January 2024.[1]
Banks was born in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. His mother was an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, and his father was from Houston, Texas.[1]
In 2012, Banks ran for the 60th district in the New York State Assembly, losing the Democratic primary to incumbent Inez Barron.[2] He subsequently challenged Inez Barron and her husband Charles Barron four more times unsuccessfully in Assembly and district leader races.[2] [3]
In 2023, Banks ran for the 42nd New York City Council district. He defeated incumbent Charles Barron in the primary, and won the general election unopposed.[3] Barron had a history of making controversial statements, including expressions of support for Robert Mugabe and Muammar Gaddafi.[4]
Before his election, Banks was a community activist.[4] His experience includes being a member of Community Board 5, president of the New York Police Department’s 75th Precinct Community Council, and the founder of the East New York Coalition, a group that advocated against additional homeless shelters in East New York.[3]