By M. Thomas Nast and Frankie Pressman with Richard Luthmann
Jozette Carter-Williams, the former wife of fallen NYPD Officer Gerard Carter, officially launched her campaign for New York City Council on Staten Island’s North Shore. With crime and quality-of-life issues at the forefront, Carter-Williams promises a new era of integrity, accountability, and a commitment to public safety for the 49th District.
Her opponent, incumbent NYC Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, has faced mounting criticism from residents who feel overlooked and disillusioned by her performance.
A Staten Islander since she was three years old, Carter-Williams’s commitment to public safety is deeply personal. Her late husband, Officer Gerard Carter, was fatally shot in 1998 by Shatiek Johnson, who snuck up from behind Carter while he was seated in a marked police van outside the West Brighton Houses and put a bullet in his head. He succumbed to his wounds several days later.
Carter-Williams, who describes herself and her husband as “best friends” at the time of his death, has since dedicated her life to honoring his legacy and raising their son, Louis.
She founded a nonprofit in Gerard’s name and has been active in the community, advocating for police-community relations.
In 2023, she successfully fought to prevent Johnson’s parole, citing the gravity of his crime and the need to protect Staten Island from repeat offenders.
“Things have gotten a lot worse,” Carter-Williams said, referring to the increased crime rate in the North Shore district and deteriorating quality of life. “People are frustrated because they can’t reach their councilmember, and they feel their concerns are ignored.”
For Carter-Williams, who has spent years advocating for the community’s safety, her campaign is about restoring trust in local government.
“We need to bring respect and integrity back to Staten Island,” she added.
Kamillah Hanks’ Rocky Tenure
Hanks, a council member elected in 2021, has faced growing criticism for her unresponsiveness and close ties to controversial figures. Many North Shore residents feel neglected, citing difficulty reaching her office and an overall lack of engagement.
Residents also criticize Hanks for her support of the True2Life organization, which employs individuals who have advocated for the parole of violent offenders, including Shatiek Johnson, the man who murdered Officer Gerard Carter.
“She’s supposed to represent us, but it feels like she’s more interested in supporting people who bring harm to our neighborhoods,” one North Shore resident commented.
True2Life’s advocacy for parolees and ties to gang-related individuals, including convicted murderer John Pena, has led many to question Hanks’s judgment and priorities. Pena, a gang leader from Stapleton, was recently convicted of multiple murders, and True2Life’s connections to such figures have sparked outrage among Staten Islanders.
Hanks has also been criticized for accepting campaign contributions from drug dealers Ettore Mazzei and his son, David, who were recently implicated in a Ponzi scheme targeting retirees. Both contributed to Hanks’s 2021 campaign, and despite calls to return the funds, Hanks has refused.
“Our councilmember publicly praised the arrests of Mazzei and his son, but she didn’t mention their contributions to her campaign,” Carter-Williams said, calling Hanks’s actions “disingenuous.”
Many residents are troubled by the idea that their council member may have financially benefited from drug money, further tarnishing Hanks’s reputation.
A Government-Paid “Political Mercenary” Defends Hanks
Hanks’s spokesman, Michael Arvanites, dismissed Carter-Williams’s criticisms, calling Hanks “the moderate, sensible voice our community needs.” Arvanites, a seasoned political consultant with a reputation as a “political mercenary,” defended Hanks’s record, emphasizing her supposed “years of activism” and dedication to the North Shore.
But many Staten Islanders see Arvanites as emblematic of Hanks’s reliance on political insiders who care more about their paychecks than the community.
“Arvanites, like much of Hanks’s staff, doesn’t really care about us,” said a longtime Staten Island resident who asked to remain anonymous. “He’s just here to defend her because that’s his job. Real Staten Islanders want someone who’s actually going to make our streets safer, not just throw out sound bites using their NYC-paid public Communications Director to handle clearly political matters.”
Financial Mismanagement and Nepotism
Hanks’s financial controversies have also soured her reputation among North Shore residents. During her previous campaign, Hanks allegedly failed to pay several staffers, including longtime political consultant Michael Cox, who provided key strategic support. Cox, who worked closely with Hanks in 2017, claims he was never compensated, even while Hanks and her partner, Kevin Barry Love, were vacationing in Paris.
“They could afford a trip to Paris, but they couldn’t pay their workers,” Cox stated in a legal affidavit, underscoring the financial mismanagement that has become associated with Hanks’s office.
Hanks and Love’s former family attorney, Richard Luthmann, is a contributor to this outlet who provided background and comment for this article. Luthmann is currently suing Hanks, Love, and her political committee for unpaid fees.
“I’ve never met Jozette, but I know Kevin and Kamillah. They are deadbeats of the worst kind. I don’t have much, but I’m going to support her by making a contribution. Any friends with integrity and who Back the Blue can also contribute. Our cops need help, and so does the North Shore of Staten Island,” Luthmann said.
CONTRIBUTE TO JOZETTE CARTER-WILLIAMS HERE
Luthmann recently wrote a scathing letter to Kamillah Hanks, detailing her “Deadbeat” ways.
Additionally, Hanks’s recent allocation of $105,000 in public funds to Henry “Bobby Digi” Olisa’s nonprofit, Canvas Institute, has raised serious concerns about favoritism. Olisa, the partner of NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, received city funding for a nonprofit that some say has limited impact on the North Shore community.
At her announcement, Carter-Williams tagged these financial dealings as “insider trading.”
“This money should be going to real community groups, not her politically connected friends,” said Carter-Williams.
A Candidate Focused on Public Safety and Community
While Hanks appears more focused on her political connections, Carter-Williams promises to prioritize real issues like public safety and quality of life for Staten Island residents.
“Our community has real problems—rising crime, deteriorating infrastructure, and a lack of support from our representatives,” she said.
Unlike Hanks, Carter-Williams has committed to regular community engagement, holding town halls, and being readily available to constituents.
Carter-Williams also highlights the disparity between the North and South Shore, pointing to issues such as underfunded infrastructure and struggling local businesses. She specifically pointed out Tappan Park in Stapleton, where Hanks had a not-for-profit. The park is perenially filled with drug dealers, drug addicts, prostitutes, and paraphernalia. It is conveniently located across the street from drug dealer Mazzei’s shuttered base of operations.
“When I drive around the district, I see closed stores, streets that look like they’ve been neglected for years, and families afraid to let their kids play outside,” she said. “We deserve the same quality of life as everyone else.”
A Groundswell of Community Support
Carter-Williams’s campaign has already garnered strong support, with early donations totaling over $10,000—a testament to her popularity among Staten Island residents who are eager for change. Her backers include local leaders and community activists who see her as a true advocate for Staten Island’s future.
“Jozette is the real deal,” said one North Shore activist. “She’s not here for herself; she’s here to serve the people.”
As the election approaches, the North Shore council race is shaping up to be a referendum on Kamillah Hanks’s tenure and Jozette Carter-Williams’s promise of a safer, more accountable future for Staten Island.
Carter-Williams closed her speech with a call to action: “The time has come to be represented by someone who genuinely cares about our district. I’m here to serve, not to build a political empire. I want to give the North Shore the leadership it deserves.”
For many in Staten Island’s North Shore, Jozette Carter-Williams represents a beacon of hope, a return to integrity, and a renewed focus on community safety. In a district that has long been plagued by rising crime and political controversy, Carter-Williams’s candidacy marks a fresh start.
The people of Staten Island will have their say in June.
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