By Nelson A. King
New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane D. Williams
on Monday announced activist,
strategist, organizer, chief
executive officer and lawyer,
Ifeoma Ike, as his nominee to
the New York City Conflicts of
Interest Board (COIB).
Ike, if confirmed, would be
the first appointee by a public
advocate following the 2019
Charter revision restructuring
the body.
“New Yorkers made it clear
in 2019 that independent oversight
and accountability should
be top priorities in government;
and, as the ombudsman of the
city, I’m honored to nominate
Ifeoma Ike as the first ever
COIB appointee by a Public
Advocate,” said Jumaane D.
Williams, the son of Grenadian
immigrants, in announcing
the nomination.
“Her experiences both in
government and in communities
across our city, her passion
and expertise in fighting for
justice, make her well-suited
for this role,” Williams added.
“I know that she will bring a
new voice and perspective to
the Board in pursuit of radical
transparency, holding city
government accountable to the
people it serves, and the legal
and ethical obligations we all
have as public servants.”
Ike said she was “humbled to
be considered to serve on the
Conflicts of Interest Board.
“This important board seeks
to ensure integrity across our
agencies and departments
exists, and that the public has
trust in the governance which
they support with their tax
dollars and livelihoods,” she
added. “I look forward to the
next steps of this process and
to once again serving our great
City.”
Williams said Ike is an equity
strategist, lawyer and chief
executive officer of Pink Cornrows,
a social impact consultancy
firm.
With a full career committed
to service, her professional
resume includes serving under
the de Blasio administration as
the Deputy Executive Director
for NYC’s Young Men’s Initiative,
as a senior policy advocate
Caribbean Life, F 8 ebruary 11-17, 2022
with the Innocence Project and
counsel on the US House Judiciary
Committee, as a Congressional
Black Caucus Foundation
counsel fellow and as a
member of Obama for America’s
voting rights counsel.
Ike has also been an adjunct
professor at Lehman College in
both the Political Science and
Africana Studies Departments.
Williams said Ike has led
efforts in civic engagement,
international human rights
and justice reform, as well as
launched spaces to prioritize
the needs of systematically
marginalized people, including
two congressional caucuses to
center policies impacting the
quality of life for Black lives.
Ike earned her B.A. and
M.A. in applied communication
theory and research from
West Virginia University, J.D.
from CUNY School of Law,
and LL.M. with highest honors
from The George Washington
University School of Law.
The Conflicts of Interest
Board is an independent city
agency tasked with administering,
enforcing and interpreting
Ifeoma Ike. Ifeoma Ike/FB
the city’s Conflicts of Interest
Law and the city’s Annual Disclosure
Law.
Under its previous construction,
the Board consisted of five
mayoral appointees.
But, after voters approved a
charter revision in 2019, one
appointment each was given
to the public advocate and the
comptroller for the upcoming
term.
New appointees, once confirmed
by the New York City
Council, will begin their term
on April 1, 2022.
Williams nominates Ifeoma Ike to serve
on NYC Conflicts of Interest Board
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