New York City colleges Chancellor David Banks were given some love from City Council individuals Wednesday for the way he treated closing week’s congressional listening to on antisemitism in public colleges. The reward, which got here from a handful of various individuals, punctuated a long backward and forward between individuals and Education Department officers over subsequent fiscal yr’s funds.
City Council Member Alexa Avilés counseled Banks for the way he controlled “the congressional theater.” “You did us proud. Several of my constituents were actually texting me around how you held firm and particularly noted how we actually take antisemitism and hate very seriously in this city,” she stated. “It’s not theater for us.”
“Good job at the hearing on Capitol Hill with your testimony. I watched,” City Council Member Shekar Krishnan stated.
Both council individuals are a part of the City Council’s modern caucus, which has been at odds with the Adams management over college investment, making their reward the entire extra important. Several different council individuals additionally complimented the colleges chancellor on his performance.
While Banks was once the primary goal of House Republicans all the way through the May 8 House listening to, he looked as if it would emerge a long way higher than the Ivy League college presidents who’d passed through competitive wondering from the committee previous this yr.
Addressing council individuals Wednesday, Banks reiterated that he testified to verify the town was once “clear and honest” in regards to the demanding situations the varsity device is going through whilst additionally making sure “there was no D.C. politician who was going to smear our city or our schools as being a hotbed of hate.”
He prompt council individuals to paintings with the Department of Education to assist the varsity device meet this hard second as he doesn’t have the entire solutions.
“That was part of the reason I responded in the way that I did when I went to Washington. It was a very different tone and tenor than here at the City Council. To me that was all about gotcha and playing for a viral moment. Yes and no questions,” Banks stated. “These are not yes or no questions that we’re dealing with. These are gray areas that have to be addressed by serious leaders, and we look at all of you as serious leaders.”