Mayor Eric Adams, facing a major crisis that is worsening by the day, quickly named a new schools chancellor on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the abrupt resignation of David C. Banks, his longtime friend.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, one of Mr Banks’s deputies, will take up her post in January, once Mr Banks’s resignation is effective. Ms Aviles-Ramos, who was previously Mr Banks’ chief of staff and is close to the outgoing chancellor, is relatively unknown outside the Department for Education.
The immediacy of the appointment appears intended to project some stability amid the chaos surrounding Mr. Adams’ administration, which faces at least four federal corruption investigations and a wave of resignations among top officials.
But even in Mr. Banks’s farewell address, the turmoil seemed evident. Throughout his opening remarks, he did not mention Mr. Adams by name, referring to him only as “the mayor.”
He did, however, mention his fiancée, Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, whose phone was seized by federal agents along with Mr. Banks’ earlier this month.
“It has been the joy of my life to lead this entire school system,” Banks said Wednesday.
Mr. Adams was much more complimentary.
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