New York City Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks represents the 49th District, which is the North Shore of Staten Island. She was elected to the City Council in 2021 after defeating eight other candidates in a Democratic primary and a Republican opponent in the general election. She serves as the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety in the New York City Council.  Additionally, she serves on the Committees on Finance, Civil Service and Labor, Land Use, Education, Environmental Protection, and the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. Council Member Hanks advocated for a new Citywide initiative, the Community Safety and Victims Services Initiative, which was instituted by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams this year.

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Council Member Hanks brought over $26 Million to the 49th District in the Fiscal Year 22 City budget and has sponsored or co-sponsored several pieces of impactful legislation.

Council Member Hanks is a native Staten Islander and proud mother of four, who has been a leader and advocate for smart growth and positive economic development in the North Shore of Staten Island for over a decade. In 2012, Council Member Hanks founded the Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership, where she worked with civic leaders, community groups, and local schools to boost cultural and economic development in Stapleton and surrounding neighborhoods. Council Member Hanks is particularly proud of pioneering Staten Island’s first YouthBuild program, which provides a pathway for out of school, out of work young adults with advanced vocational education, leadership development, job training and valuable life skills. In 2020, Council Member Hanks founded the Minority Women in Business Association of Staten Island.

Council Member Hanks studied marketing and finance at the College of Staten Island and has over 10 years of experience in advertising, marketing and public relations. She served on the 2012 New York City Council Redistricting Commission, as Interim President of the Van Duzer Civic Association in Stapleton, and was the former Executive Director of the Downtown Staten Island Council. Council Member Hanks also worked as a public relations consultant at the Staten Island Museum and the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. In 2014, Council Member Hanks was appointed by Staten Island Borough President to the NYC Panel for Education Policy, and served as the Staten Island representative until 2016. She was the National Council of Negro Women Honoree in 2009, as well as a Staten Island Economic Development Corporation 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Winner. She is also an alumna of Coro Neighborhood Leadership Program NYC, and was State Senator Diane J. Savino’s 2015 New York State Woman of Distinction honoree.  She is also a past Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement.

In 2001, Council Member Hanks worked with producers and starred in a Staten Island documentary short film, "Ferry Tales," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2004.

Council Member Hanks resides in Stapleton, Staten Island with her family.