Education

Mayor, UFT React to Retirement of Schools Chancellor David Banks amid Federal Probe & City Hall Storm

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the United Teachers Federation (UFT), and others have shared their reactions to the announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 24, by New York Public Schools Commissioner David Banks that he will be retiring effective Dec. 31, this year. The news comes on the back of a slew of other resignations by top Adams administration officials as the mayor gears up for a second term in office, and as he battles to retain the confidence of New Yorkers and strives to maintain calm amid the latest political storm.

Robert Tucker Sworn in as 35th Fire Commissioner of New York City

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Robert Tucker was appointed as the new fire commissioner of the FDNY and was sworn in on Aug. 12. He is the 35th person to hold the position. City officials said, previously, Tucker worked for the Queens DA’s office and was CEO of a private security and cyber intelligence company, T&M Protection Resources. They said he also worked at the FDNY, though never as a firefighter, served as secretary of the FDNY Foundation, and was also a past honorary fire commissioner. “I can think of no higher calling than serving as the fire commissioner for the City of New York,” he said.

Swimmers See No Danger in Bronx River Swims

By DAVID GREENE
Following our recent story on unsupervised swims in the Bronx River over the summer and despite some drowning incidents in New York City this summer, swimmers, mostly teens and young children, were once again observed having an unsupervised swim in the river last month. Two sources say the practice has been going on for years, if not decades.

New Protections Against Deed Theft Recently Became Law

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York Attorney General Letitia James reminded New Yorkers during the summer that a new law (S08306) establishing deed theft as a crime, and expanding the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) ability to prosecute deed theft, went into effect in mid-July.

South Bronx: Angellyh Yambo Foundation Partners for Back-to-School Giveaway

By ARIEL PACHECO & SÍLE MOLONEY
A back-to-school giveaway was held at La Central YMCA on Saturday, Sept. 7, in partnership with the Office of the Bronx Borough President, the Angellyh Yambo Foundation, Metroplus Health, RomoGIS, The Hub Third Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau. Families were invited to bring along their kids for a day of fun, games, and of course a backpack giveaway to coincide with the start of the school year.