Former de Blasio officials and progressive activists join new administration
Three Critical Appointments Signal Progressive Governance and Social Justice Direction
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced three major cabinet positions on Tuesday, December 30, just two days before his January 1 inauguration. The selections highlight a governing philosophy that deliberately bridges established city bureaucracy with progressive activism, civil rights advocacy, and direct service to vulnerable populations. Steve Banks will serve as corporation counsel, overseeing the city’s Law Department and making him NYC’s top attorney with authority over approximately 850 attorneys. Helen Arteaga, the internationally recognized CEO of Elmhurst Hospital, will become Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, overseeing the nation’s largest municipal healthcare system. CUNY Law Professor Ramzi Kassem was named chief counsel to the mayor, giving direct advisory access on policy implementation and civil rights issues. These three appointments represent a dramatic departure from previous administrations’ approaches to legal and health governance.
Steve Banks: Legal Aid Lawyer Becomes Corporation Counsel and Champion of Vulnerable Populations
Banks brings three decades of direct experience as a Legal Aid Society attorney before moving to the New York City Department of Social Services under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, where he served with distinction from 2014 to 2021. Most recently, he was employed at prestigious law firm Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison as pro bono chief before departing in April 2025 following the firm’s controversial agreement to provide pro bono services to the Trump administration. “I am honored to be the first legal aid lawyer ever nominated for the corporation counsel position, and I am ready for this leadership role,” Banks stated at Tuesday’s press conference held at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. Banks will require City Council confirmation to assume the position. His selection represents a deliberate and significant departure from typical corporate law backgrounds that have traditionally filled this role, marking a shift in how the city approaches legal matters affecting vulnerable populations.
Banks’ Landmark Advocacy Work Defending Homeless New Yorkers
Throughout his extensive career, Banks has demonstrated unwavering commitment to serving vulnerable populations and advancing justice. At Legal Aid, he helped represent the Coalition for the Homeless in landmark litigation, most notably in a 2024 settlement that preserved New York’s constitutional Right to Shelter law. For more information about housing rights, visit the Legal Aid Society. This groundbreaking legal victory protected the city’s constitutional requirement to provide shelter to homeless individuals and families, a critical safeguard as Texas Governor Greg Abbott bused thousands of migrants to New York City. Banks’ work on these cases demonstrates his deep commitment to defending vulnerable populations against government overreach and corporate exploitation. His appointment signals the Mamdani administration’s intention to use the Law Department as a tool for advancing justice and protecting marginalized New Yorkers rather than simply defending municipal interests or accommodating business pressures. “I know firsthand the key role that the staff of the law department can play in supporting the mayor-elect’s vision and agenda for transformative change to help New Yorkers in every community of the city,” Banks said.
Helen Arteaga: Healthcare Leadership and Personal Connection to Health Justice Mission
Arteaga, who has led Elmhurst Hospital since February 2021, brings both personal connection and professional expertise to the institution and its mission. She is the first woman of color and first Latina to serve as CEO of the hospital, which operates as a 545-bed Level I Trauma and Academic Medical Center serving Queens and neighboring communities. Under her leadership, Elmhurst received significant recognition as one of America’s Best Regional Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and achieved Joint Commission Health Equity Gold standard certification. Arteaga’s background in healthcare management and her demonstrated commitment to serving underserved and marginalized populations make her well-suited for overseeing the city’s entire health and human services portfolio during a period of significant change.
Personal Stake in Healthcare Justice and Equity
Arteaga shared emotionally during the announcement that Elmhurst Hospital had saved her life during the COVID-19 pandemic and that her father passed away at the facility. “It is here where my advocacy was born. It is here where my dad died without having lack of insurance. It is here where I survived COVID,” she stated, explaining her deep personal commitment to the institution and to community healthcare. Learn more about healthcare equity at NYC Health + Hospitals. As Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, she will oversee public health, mental health services, social services, and homelessness initiatives across the city.
Ramzi Kassem: Civil Rights Attorney and Police Accountability Advocate
Kassem, a prominent progressive activist lawyer and CUNY Law professor, previously served as senior policy advisor to President Joe Biden from 2022 to 2024, giving him federal government experience. He founded the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility (CLEAR) Project at CUNY School of Law, focusing on police accountability and civil rights protections for vulnerable communities. “Service is what I look to do and what I hope to do alongside the mayor-elect and his team at City Hall to defend the rights of all New Yorkers,” Kassem said at the announcement. As chief counsel, Kassem will provide legal guidance directly to the mayor on policy implementation and governmental affairs.
Immigration and Civil Rights Protection Background
Kassem’s work has focused extensively on protecting immigrants and marginalized communities from government overreach and surveillance. His presence in the administration signals strong commitment to aggressive defense of vulnerable New Yorkers’ rights, particularly regarding law enforcement and immigration matters. “I grew up in war-torn countries in the Middle East and New York City was my first stable and permanent home, and this is an opportunity for me to repay that debt,” Kassem noted. For civil rights information, visit CUNY School of Law.
De Blasio Administration Experience and Balanced Governance Strategy
Banks joins several other appointees with ties to the de Blasio administration, including First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan, who served in the same capacity under de Blasio and brings decades of municipal fiscal and operational experience. This blending of experienced municipal administrators with progressive activists appears to be Mamdani’s deliberate strategy for effective governance that balances idealism with practical implementation. The appointments demonstrate that the Mamdani administration will combine deep knowledge of city operations with genuine commitment to reforming systems to better serve working-class New Yorkers and vulnerable populations. “That is the city I want to build, the prosperity I intend to deliver, and the leadership that has too long been lacking,” Mamdani said.
Outstanding Vacancies and Future Announcements Expected
When asked about remaining key positions including schools chancellor and transportation commissioner, Mamdani said only “wait and see,” indicating additional announcements may come before his inauguration or shortly after taking office. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain in her position despite policy differences with Mamdani, and both have stated commitment to working together on public safety issues. Learn more at NYC City Charter, NYC Law Department, and NYC Charter.
