Kamillah Hanks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamillah Hanks
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| Member of the New York City Council from the 49th district |
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| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Debi Rose |
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| Born | September 4, 1972 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | College of Staten Island |
Kamillah M. Hanks is a politician who helps lead New York City. She was born on September 4, 1972. She is a member of the New York City Council. She represents the 49th District on the North Shore of Staten Island.
This district covers many neighborhoods on Staten Island. Some of these include Arlington, Clifton, Concord, Elm Park, Graniteville, Mariners Harbor, New Brighton, Port Richmond, Rosebank, St. George, Stapleton, and Tompkinsville.
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Kamillah Hanks' Early Life and Work
Kamillah Hanks grew up on Staten Island and is a mother of four children. She went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for music, art, and performing arts. Later, she studied marketing and finance at the College of Staten Island.
Before becoming a City Council member, Kamillah Hanks worked in different roles. She was part of the New York City Council Districting Commission. This group helps decide the boundaries for election districts. She also led the Van Duzer Civic Association in Stapleton for a time. She was also the director of the Downtown Staten Island Council.
Community Involvement and Programs
Kamillah Hanks also worked as a public relations helper for the Staten Island Museum. She also helped the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation. In 2012, she started the Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership. This group works to keep Tappen Park on Staten Island nice and help it grow.
In 2014, she was chosen to be on the New York City Panel for Educational Policy. She represented Staten Island on this panel until 2016. This group helps make important decisions about schools in New York City.
Hanks also started the first YouthBuild program on Staten Island. This program helps young adults who are not working or in school. It teaches them job skills and life skills. It also helps them become leaders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she worked with local businesses and YouthBuild members. They made over 5,000 face shields. These shields were given to firefighters, first responders, and medical workers in New York City. She also helped create the Minority Women in Business Association of Staten Island in July 2020. This group supports women business owners.
Kamillah Hanks in the New York City Council
In November 2021, Kamillah Hanks was elected to the New York City Council. She now represents the 49th District.
Important Roles and Committees
As a City Council member, Hanks has important jobs. She is the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety. This means she leads discussions and decisions about keeping the city safe. She also serves on other committees. These include the Committee on Civil Service and Labor, Committee on Education, Committee on Environmental Protection, Committee on Finance, and Committee on Land Use. She is also part of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.
As the Public Safety Committee Chair, she has led meetings on many topics. These include how to stop gun violence and how the city responds to hate crimes.
Supporting Businesses and Healthcare
In March 2022, during Women's History Month, she hosted Staten Island's first Women in Business Expo. This event showed off businesses owned by women on Staten Island. More than 60 local businesses were there.
In 2023, Kamillah Hanks worked with other Staten Island City Council members. They worked with City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Together, they helped get $7 million in funding. This money will help expand the NICU and PICU units at Richmond University Medical Center. These units care for babies and children who need special medical attention.
Views on City Planning
In 2024, Hanks spoke out against a plan called "City of Yes." This plan wanted to add more housing in New York City. It suggested small changes to building rules. For example, it would let owners of single-family homes add an extra living unit. It would also allow more housing near train stations. The plan also aimed to make it easier to turn empty office buildings into homes.
Staten Island has not built much new housing recently. Hanks said that any housing plan should be careful. She felt it should "maybe use a scalpel as opposed to a hammer." This means she prefers small, careful changes instead of big, sudden ones.
