William Banks
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Panebianco Banks (born July 28, 1949) was alderman of the 36th ward in Chicago
from 1983 to 2009.
owner Vincenzo Giuseppe Panebianco, anglicized his name to James Joseph and added "Banks" to their surname. All his sons continued to use "P" or "Panebianco" in front of "Banks."
Banks earned a B.A.
degree in 1971 and a law degree in 1975 from DePaul University
.
Before his election as alderman, Banks served as Chief Research Aide and Legal Counselor to Congressman Morgan F. Murphy. Later, Banks served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago.
Banks is chairman of two well-funded political action committees, the Friends of William J P Banks and the Citizens to Elect Committeeman William J P Banks, and controls a third, the 36th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
, because of Farina's eminent indictment
. Farina was indicted on January 27, 1983 on charges of extortion
and conspiracy to commit extortion for shaking down a building owner and construction company for building permits, and was subsequently charged with accepting bribes to get the contractor’s nephew a job at the airport and for fixing a drunk driving charge. Banks' 36th ward Democratic organization held a fund-raiser to help defray Farina's legal fees. Farina was convicted on December 7, 1983 and sentenced to four years, later reduced to three, and served 15 months.
An important facet of Banks' aldermanic career is his position as chair of the Zoning Committee of the Chicago City Council.
Banks has come under some scrutiny because his nephew, James J. Banks, is a zoning attorney and registered lobbyist, the busiest zoning lawyer in Chicago, who has a very high success rate in securing zoning changes. Banks recuses himself prior to all of James Banks' clients. (On October 11, 2007 then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
appointed James J. Banks as a salaried member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Tollway Authority).
Banks said there is "nothing unusual" about donations to aldermen from developers or their attorneys.
In addition to the Zoning Committee, Banks serves on seven other committees: Rules and Ethics; Aviation; Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Budget and Government Operations; Finance; and Housing and Real Estate. Mayor Richard M. Daley
appointed Banks to lead the Commission of Zoning Reform. He is also a member of the Chicago Plan Commission.
As alderman he has proposed and sponsored a variety of ordinances. These include ordinances promoting home ownership, expanding emergency services, improving law enforcement, and supporting veterans by giving them extra points in city hiring selection.
Two city zoning inspectors with ties to Banks’ 36th Ward organization were among more than a dozen defendants charged on May 22, 2008 by federal prosecutors in "Operation Crooked Code
" who alleged bribery in the Daley administration’s Buildings and Zoning Departments. Beny Garneata, a Chicago developer and political campaign contributor, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2009 in federal court to acting as a go-between in a bribe-for-permits scheme. Garneata admitted that, in December 2007, he acted as a go-between to pass on a bribe to a city plumbing inspector while pocketing some of the cash. Garneata was charged with passing a $7,000 bribe to the inspector, Mario Olivella, who was also charged in the scheme. Garneata is a onetime client of lobbyist James Banks. Garneata and his companies have made $23,000 in campaign contributions since 1999, including $4,000 to the 36th Ward Democratic Organization run by William J. P. Banks.
In late April, 2009, Banks announced his intention to retire from City Council and asked Mayor Daley to appoint his driver John Rice
as his replacement.
and the State of Illinois
. Banks is co-counsel with Morrill and Associates, P.C., a law firm specializing in Illinois state and local government relations.
Banks is also co-counsel with the law firm of his brother, criminal defense attorney and lobbyist Samuel V. P. Banks, which is also the law firm of Banks' nephew, zoning lobbyist James J. Banks. Belmont Bank & Trust, a bank in Banks' 36th ward, was founded in 2006 by and is owned by Banks' nephew, zoning
attorney James J. Banks, who is also chairman of the bank's board of directors
and the bank's landlord. Other directors of Belmont Bank & Trust include Samuel V. P. Banks (William's brother and law partner and James' father and law partner), State Senator James DeLeo
, and waste management consultant Fred Bruno Barbara. Belmont Bank and Trust is a designated Municipal Depository bank
for the City of Chicago.
After his retirement from Chicago City Council, Alderman Banks became a named partner in the firm Schain, Burney, Banks & Kenny, Ltd., where he practices as an attorney. He counsels clients on matters related to land use, real estate development, real estate tax reduction, litigation strategy, and state, county and federal government relations and approvals.
Bank's brother, Samuel Vincent Panebianco Banks, was an attorney who for years was synonymous with influence in Chicago's 36th Ward on the Far Northwest Side. A former Cook County prosecutor and Chicago police officer, Samuel V. P. Banks was called a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in his brother William's 36th Ward Democratic organization. Samuel V. P. Banks made a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney representing Mob-linked and corruption defendants.
Banks is a member of several community organizations: the Blue Ribbon Commission of the Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers; the North Austin Business Association; the Fraternal Order of Police; the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans; and the District Council for the Boy Scouts of America
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1983 to 2009.
Early career
Banks is Italian-American; to avoid anti-Italian bigotry, Banks' father, currency exchangeCurrency exchange
Currency exchange can refer to:* Bureau de change* Foreign exchange market...
owner Vincenzo Giuseppe Panebianco, anglicized his name to James Joseph and added "Banks" to their surname. All his sons continued to use "P" or "Panebianco" in front of "Banks."
Banks earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1971 and a law degree in 1975 from DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
.
Before his election as alderman, Banks served as Chief Research Aide and Legal Counselor to Congressman Morgan F. Murphy. Later, Banks served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago.
Political career
Banks is the Democratic committeeman for the 36th Ward, a party position within the Cook County Democratic Party. Banks took over as committeeman when long-time ward committeeman Louis Garippo died in 1981.Banks is chairman of two well-funded political action committees, the Friends of William J P Banks and the Citizens to Elect Committeeman William J P Banks, and controls a third, the 36th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
Aldermanic career
Banks was first elected alderman in 1983. Banks succeeded first-term alderman Louis Farina, who declined to run for re-election in 1983 under pressure from then Chicago Mayor Jane ByrneJane Byrne
Jane Margaret Byrne was the first and to date only female Mayor of Chicago. She served from April 16, 1979 to April 29, 1983. Chicago is the largest city in the United States to have had a female mayor as of 2011.-Early political career:...
, because of Farina's eminent indictment
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
. Farina was indicted on January 27, 1983 on charges of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and conspiracy to commit extortion for shaking down a building owner and construction company for building permits, and was subsequently charged with accepting bribes to get the contractor’s nephew a job at the airport and for fixing a drunk driving charge. Banks' 36th ward Democratic organization held a fund-raiser to help defray Farina's legal fees. Farina was convicted on December 7, 1983 and sentenced to four years, later reduced to three, and served 15 months.
An important facet of Banks' aldermanic career is his position as chair of the Zoning Committee of the Chicago City Council.
Banks has come under some scrutiny because his nephew, James J. Banks, is a zoning attorney and registered lobbyist, the busiest zoning lawyer in Chicago, who has a very high success rate in securing zoning changes. Banks recuses himself prior to all of James Banks' clients. (On October 11, 2007 then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
appointed James J. Banks as a salaried member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Tollway Authority).
Banks said there is "nothing unusual" about donations to aldermen from developers or their attorneys.
In addition to the Zoning Committee, Banks serves on seven other committees: Rules and Ethics; Aviation; Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Budget and Government Operations; Finance; and Housing and Real Estate. Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
appointed Banks to lead the Commission of Zoning Reform. He is also a member of the Chicago Plan Commission.
As alderman he has proposed and sponsored a variety of ordinances. These include ordinances promoting home ownership, expanding emergency services, improving law enforcement, and supporting veterans by giving them extra points in city hiring selection.
Two city zoning inspectors with ties to Banks’ 36th Ward organization were among more than a dozen defendants charged on May 22, 2008 by federal prosecutors in "Operation Crooked Code
Operation Crooked Code
Operation Crooked Code is a federal investigation into the corruption surrounding the City of Chicago's Department of Building and Zoning. As of September 2009, Operation Crooked Code had resulted in charges against more than two dozen individuals, 13 of them city inspectors charged with bribery...
" who alleged bribery in the Daley administration’s Buildings and Zoning Departments. Beny Garneata, a Chicago developer and political campaign contributor, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2009 in federal court to acting as a go-between in a bribe-for-permits scheme. Garneata admitted that, in December 2007, he acted as a go-between to pass on a bribe to a city plumbing inspector while pocketing some of the cash. Garneata was charged with passing a $7,000 bribe to the inspector, Mario Olivella, who was also charged in the scheme. Garneata is a onetime client of lobbyist James Banks. Garneata and his companies have made $23,000 in campaign contributions since 1999, including $4,000 to the 36th Ward Democratic Organization run by William J. P. Banks.
In late April, 2009, Banks announced his intention to retire from City Council and asked Mayor Daley to appoint his driver John Rice
John Rice (alderman)
John Rice was alderman of the City of Chicago representing the 36th ward on the City's far northwest side from 2009 to 2011.-Early career:Rice worked as general manager of Red Top Parking for more than 20 years and owned Valet Service for 12 years....
as his replacement.
Professional career
While alderman, Banks worked as an attorney in private practice. Banks is a lobbyist registered with Cook CountyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
and the State of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Banks is co-counsel with Morrill and Associates, P.C., a law firm specializing in Illinois state and local government relations.
Banks is also co-counsel with the law firm of his brother, criminal defense attorney and lobbyist Samuel V. P. Banks, which is also the law firm of Banks' nephew, zoning lobbyist James J. Banks. Belmont Bank & Trust, a bank in Banks' 36th ward, was founded in 2006 by and is owned by Banks' nephew, zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
attorney James J. Banks, who is also chairman of the bank's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and the bank's landlord. Other directors of Belmont Bank & Trust include Samuel V. P. Banks (William's brother and law partner and James' father and law partner), State Senator James DeLeo
James DeLeo
James A. DeLeo was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 10th district since 1992, and is an Assistant Majority Leader. Earlier he served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He announced his retirement from the State Senate in 2010, and left office in August 2010....
, and waste management consultant Fred Bruno Barbara. Belmont Bank and Trust is a designated Municipal Depository bank
Depository bank
A depository bank is a bank organized in the United States which provides all the stock transfer and agency services in connection with a depository receipt program...
for the City of Chicago.
After his retirement from Chicago City Council, Alderman Banks became a named partner in the firm Schain, Burney, Banks & Kenny, Ltd., where he practices as an attorney. He counsels clients on matters related to land use, real estate development, real estate tax reduction, litigation strategy, and state, county and federal government relations and approvals.
Personal life
Alderman Banks lives in the Galewood neighborhood with his wife Shirley and their two children.Bank's brother, Samuel Vincent Panebianco Banks, was an attorney who for years was synonymous with influence in Chicago's 36th Ward on the Far Northwest Side. A former Cook County prosecutor and Chicago police officer, Samuel V. P. Banks was called a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in his brother William's 36th Ward Democratic organization. Samuel V. P. Banks made a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney representing Mob-linked and corruption defendants.
Banks is a member of several community organizations: the Blue Ribbon Commission of the Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers; the North Austin Business Association; the Fraternal Order of Police; the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans; and the District Council for the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.