Months before Arva Rice, head of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), was forced to step down due to comments on the Trawick case and funding requests, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks had been pushing for her removal. Banks sought to replace Rice with Khaair Morrison, a lawyer with a prominent firm, by mid-2023. Despite Council Speaker Adams’ denial to Rice, Morrison was introduced as the incoming chair. The move to oust Rice drew criticism from council members and advocates, who praised her willingness to hold the NYPD accountable. Mayor Adams initially denied budget issues led to Rice’s departure but later appointed Randy Mastro, a white man, as the city’s top lawyer amid resistance from the Council. Rice’s departure coincides with the resignations of two other high-ranking Black women in the administration, Sylvia Hinds-Radix and Dawn Pinnock.
