Cayla Bamberger

Former NYPD School Safety commander indicted in bribery scheme The former head of the NYPD School Safety division tried to steer city contracts to a Florida businessman in exchange for cash payments, luxury hotel stays and Broadway tickets, federal officials s…

Today, SaferWatch CEO Geno Roefaro and former NYPD School Safety Cmdr Kevin Taylor were indicted by the feds for an alleged bribery scheme to get the firm a contract with the city.

Federal investigators search private firm that hired Terence Banks as part of NYC corruption probe Federal authorities investing possible City Hall corruption have served search warrant on at least one employee of SaferWatch, a security app company that hired the brother of two of Mayor Adams&#8…

Back in September '24, @caylabam.bsky.social, @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social and I broke the news that SaferWatch -- which hired the brother of a deputy mayor & the school chancellor as a consultant -- had been raided by the feds.

This morning, Executive Editor Andrew Julien, citing a "a highly competitive media landscape," told NYDN staff to expect layoffs.

The first cuts are primarily hitting our National Desk, but we're also losing some metro staffers and more cuts are expected — more than 25% of the unionized newsroom.

Mamdani takes first step in launching promised 2K program, though key questions remain 2-K is expected to launch this fall with the first 2,000 seats in high-need neighborhoods.

Mamdani takes first step in launching promised 2K program, though key questions remain

In today's paper, @richiefife.bsky.social call's Alden Capital's NYDN Font Gate "another visible marker of a paper steadily abandoning its identity, its readers, and its responsibility to this city."

WHAT THE FONT

Daily News readers and reporters alike awoke this morning to pages and fonts we could barely recognize.

Apparently our hedge-fund owners thought New York's hometown paper needed to look more like generic mid-market wire copy.

Sunday vs. Monday, below:

I am immediately filled with sadness and rage. Something in me just died, to be quite honest, and it was a murder.

I once again feel so bad for my friends who remain and were forced to send the pages to the plant like that. At least we have the DN Union fighting the good fights.

NYC schools to reopen Tuesday after remote learning ‘snow day’ After an online “snow day” Monday, it’s back to in-person learning Tuesday for NYC public school students.

NYC schools to reopen Tuesday after remote learning ‘snow day’

After Mamdani’s snow day plug, ‘Heated Rivalry’ book downloads surge at NY Public Library The New York Public Library saw a 529% spike in “Heated Rivalry” downloads after Mamdani plugged the book during his snow storm press conference.

New from me -- after NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani plugged "Heated Rivalry" in his snow day press conference, downloads through the New York Public Library surged.

NYPL tells me downloads of the eBook and audio book increased by 529% Sunday after the mayor spoke.

www.nydailynews.com/2026/01/26/a...

NYC schools to close Monday due to snowstorm, shift to remote learning The pivot to virtual instruction will impact some 500,000 students across more than 1,100 schools.

NYC schools to close Monday due to snowstorm, shift to remote learning buff.ly/xeOZt1z

After Mamdani reversal, Gov. Hochul proposes 4-year extension of mayoral control over NYC schools Mamdani ran for mayor on a promise to end mayoral control, saying that it shut parents and teachers out of shared decision-making about their children’s education.

After Mamdani reversal, Gov. Hochul proposes 4-year extension of mayoral control over NYC schools

Gov. Hochul’s budget proposes record school aid, but NYC kids may still get shortchanged Even though overall education spending is higher, NYC could see itself shortchanged again this year when the dollars are divvied up among New York state’s various cities and towns.

Gov. Hochul’s budget proposes record school aid, but NYC kids may still get shortchanged

Rita Joseph is expected to be tapped to lead the Council's less prominent Committee on Higher Education, a post Dinowitz used to hold

Trump admin opens probe into NYC policy on transgender athletes in school sports It marked the second time in a matter of months the federal government has targeted NYC’s schools over their gender policies.

The Trump admin opened an investigation today into NYC public schools over a policy that allows trans students to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity, federal officials announced in a news release.
www.nydailynews.com/2026/01/14/t...

Mamdani slams Adams outreach efforts at 3-K, pre-K application launch Mayor Mamdani pledged a “full-court press” to increase enrollment in New York City’s pre-K and 3-K programs.

Mamdani slams Adams outreach efforts at 3-K, pre-K application launch

Gov. Hochul proposing expansion of free community college program with focus on nursing The expansion would include new opportunities for aspiring nurses as thousands went on strike in New York City.

Gov. Hochul proposing expansion of free community college program with focus on nursing

Hochul State of the State plan to deliver child care for NYC 2-year-olds may fall short of need Advocates have estimated that 2-Care requires 55,000 slots citywide to be considered universal.

Hochul State of the State plan to deliver child care for NYC 2-year-olds may fall short of need

Mamdani takes an early victory lap for this first phase of a dramatic child care expansion:
“To those who think that the promises of the campaign cannot survive once confronted with the realities of government, today is your answer.”

“The era of empty promises ends with the two of us,” Hochul says, standing next to Mamdani.

Gang’s all here for Hochul’s child care announcement: Mayor Mamdani, his schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, Council Speaker Julie Menin, child care advocate Rebecca Bailin — and many, many others.

The gov's office says there's enough money in the budget to fund it next school year without tax hikes.
Again, unclear what happens after then.

2-Care will launch in NYC's "high-needs" neighborhoods this fall, before expanding citywide by the 2029-30 school year.
The state will fund it for the first two years. It's not clear what will happen after then.

Hochul unveiling free child care plan for 2-year-olds in NYC, though funding unclear As part of his affordability agenda, Mamdani campaigned on a promise of free child care for all kids from 6 weeks to 5 years old, regardless of household income.

Gov. Hochul is set to announce a free child care program for 2-year-olds along with Mayor Mamdani on Thursday, a major first step toward implementing one of the mayor’s key campaign promises w/ @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social
www.nydailynews.com/2026/01/08/h...

Mamdani slams Trump freeze on child care funding as NYC braces for potential cuts The federal funding freeze could jeopardize programs that serve New York’s neediest families and force daycare centers to shutter, just as Mamdani looks to expand universal child care.

Mamdani slams Trump freeze on child care funding as NYC braces for potential cuts

Mamdani said Melissa Aviles-Ramos will stay on for the next month to help with the transition. Unclear what that entails, but the outgoing chancellor has already released a "farewell message" to NYC families.
www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/mes...

Mamdani reverses course on mayoral control over NYC schools as he appoints Kamar Samuels chancellor On the campaign trail, Mamdani expressed interest in sharing more authority with students, parents and the adults who make schools run every day — principals, teachers and other school staff member…

It's official: Mamdani picks Kamar Samuels, a Manhattan superintendent, for NYC schools chancellor.
In the same breath, Mamdani eliminated a major uncertainty for Samuels: The mayor-elect will ask to retain control of the schools. (He campaigned on the opposite.)
www.nydailynews.com/2025/12/31/m...

Mamdani's DOE chancellor announcement today will be in the same spot in Manhattan where Mamdani was initially going to have yesterday's appointment presser (which was moved on short notice).

Begs the Q if yesterday's presser was initially going to be the chancellor announcement.

Mamdani to pick Manhattan superintendent Kamar Samuels as public school chancellor Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is expected to elevate Kamar Samuels, a local uptown Manhattan superintendent, to chancellor of the New York City public schools on Wednesday, sources confirmed to the Da…

A source said the schools chancellor selection process has left some on the Mamdani transition disillusioned after lots of behind-the-scenes jockeying for the various different candidates. "That could have been done better," source said. w/ @caylabam.bsky.social
www.nydailynews.com/2025/12/30/m...

if the mta sold F/M swap merch they'd be funded for the next decade

City Hall says "expect more news soon" on whether Adams will fill the two remaining mayoral vacancies on the PEP

If he does, Mamdani will not be able appoint anyone to NYC's school board until June unless other mayoral appointees resign