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Protect and serve or tweet and delete?

The Office of the Inspector General for NYPD (OIG) launched an investigation into the social media conduct and policies of the city police force last week after a series of inflammatory posts from leading department officers targeting department critics. 

The probe comes after requests made by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Legal Aid Society, pointing specifically to April 30 posts from NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell over X (formerly known as Twitter) made in the wake of protests at Columbia University. Chell fired off—and later deleted—offenses targeting City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, who criticized Columbia University administrators, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD for raiding and arresting pro-Palestinian students. Chell also accused the councilmember of encouraging criminal activity and suggested that those who wanted change to “seek the change you want by getting involved. Then you know what to do…” Speaker Adams believes such a suggestion implies political activity on an official public servant account, which may violate city policy. 

Chell later doubled down in a second post, calling the deletion “an accident” and added that he “started to read this garbage and quickly realized this is coming from a person who hates our city and certainly does not represent the great people of NYC,” in reference to Cabán’s post. 

Speaker Adams’s office told the AmNews that it began independently monitoring the NYPD’s social media outbursts late March when Chell went on an X rant against lawyer Olayemi Olurin after her viral Breakfast Club takedown of Mayor Adams. In an April interview, she told the AmNews she welcomed Chell’s posts “because it says this is what they do to journalists and media and attorneys because they do their job. Imagine what they are doing to regular, everyday New Yorkers who critique them.”

Now Speaker Adams questions whether Chell is in violation of rules set for public officials around commentary on political activity. A spokesperson from Speaker Adams’s office said there’s concern that such attacks not only aim to silence Cabán, but undermine trust in police for New Yorkers who identify with her. The Queens councilwoman is a prominent democratic socialist and staunch proponent of abolitionism and decarceration. She also boasts Puerto Rican heritage and is proudly queer. 

On May 3, Speaker Adams penned her letter to the OIG requesting an investigation into the NYPD’s social media practices, citing Local Law 70 of 2013 which established the office over a decade ago. She called the posts “unprofessional and unbecoming for public officials,” with concerns that they violated city policy and riled up threats against those named. 

The spokesperson for Speaker Adams’s office directed to the NYC Conflict of Interest Board’s political activity outline, which states that “public servants may not use any City time or City resources (including a City computer, email account or phone) for any political purpose.” The OIG investigation would likely determine whether NYPD officials violated such a rule. There’s also hope the probe will bring to light the department’s internal social media policies for high-ranking members on official accounts.
Adams’s letter also pointed to concerns about disinformation, specifically citing Chell misidentifying a judge by name in an accusation of her setting “free a predator back into the community, who may be on your next train, or walking the streets of our city, looking for his next victim.” The tweet remains up as of press time. 

The Legal Aid Society backed Speaker Adams’s request, calling the police officials’ social media conduct “completely inappropriate for a police department that purports to exude ‘courtesy, professionalism and respect.’” 

The OIG, headed by Inspector General Jeanene Barrett, investigates the NYPD’s policies and practices. It cannot, however, discipline individual NYPD members or force the department to implement recommended procedures.

There are more than 250 of these NYPD official social media accounts ranging from police chiefs like Chell to precinct commands. Ownership of the accounts is passed down to whoever assumes the corresponding role, and while officials can delete what their predecessors post, the contents are archived by the Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS). Such accounts typically keep the public informed on anything from arrests and attacks to street closures and events. 

During a city council hearing May 14, the NYPD officials did not answer many of Speaker Adams’s questions, including on whether Chell’s post was reviewed before posting, with Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber saying it was “precisely” one of “the factual issues” she asked DOI to look into and that the department “would respect that process.” Adams took that response as a “no.”

However, the NYPD did reveal that there are six individuals assigned to review social media: a sergeant, a detective, three police officers and a “civilian” employee.

The NYC Department of Investigation (DOI), the parent agency of the OIG, provided a statement confirming the probe but declined to comment further.

“DOI is in receipt of the May 3 letter from the City Council Speaker and the May 6 letter from the Legal Aid Society,” said a spokesperson over email. “In light of the requests, DOI has begun an investigation of the relevant social media use and exchanges, as well as applicable City policies.”

Cabán and NYPD officials were not available for an interview this past week. The PBA, which represents rank-and-file NYPD members under Chell, declined to comment.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

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* This article was originally published here

Since New York State passed its smaller class sizes law in 2022, education advocates have repeatedly called out city officials for not fully keeping up with newly enacted budget mandates that require the city to prioritize classroom headcounts in its spending.

The class size law (S9460), sponsored by Senator John Liu, required the city to reduce class sizes over a five-year period in public schools. All classes were to be capped at 20 students in kindergarten through 3rd grade, 23 students in 4th through 8th grade, and 25 students in high school. The five-year phase-in required at least 20% of city schools classes to comply by the 2023-2024 school year.

“Since the class size law was passed, City Hall and the DOE [Department of Education] have maintained that it can’t be done, usually claiming a lack of space. Our analysis of the DOE’s own documents prove that in fact these schools have the room,” United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew said in a statement. “We don’t need any more excuses. With a $38 billion DOE budget and $10.7 billion in NYC surplus for FY24 and FY25, the funding is available to bring our class sizes into line with schools in the rest of the state.” 

Pushing for smaller class sizes in New York City has long been seen as a racial justice and equity issue stemming from a history of rampant segregation in our public schools.

Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark, who founded the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem and whose psychological studies of Black children were instrumental in the Brown v. Board of Ed case that desegregated schools, were staunch education advocates since the 1940s. Dr. Kenneth Clark was the first Black person elected to the New York State Board of Regents where he passionately led efforts to racially integrate schools, upgrade facilities in the poorest neighborhoods, and reduce class sizes. 

“Children can achieve if they have the proper tools,” said Renee Freeman, an educator and  paraprofessional that’s worked in schools in Queens. “When we’re asking for smaller class sizes, we’re asking people to look at the bigger picture. With our high schools, they promised us smaller class sizes when they broke up [co-located] the schools. But those schools are overcrowded.”

In her experience in Far Rockaway and Jamaica school districts, she said that she’s seen as many as 32 students in a class in the past. She said that hinders a teacher’s ability to give them the academic and social-emotional help they need. “We need equity,” said Freeman. “The racism in this country continues and it’s impacting our children.”

The city has released its Class Size Reduction Plan for 2025, the second annual plan, in compliance with the state law earlier this month. As of 2023, about 40% of all classes—with the exception of performing groups and physical education classes—meet the class size requirements, with schools serving populations of students with higher poverty levels prioritized, reported the city. 

The plan doesn’t propose significant enrollment caps but it does mention the possibility of reducing enrollment at “high-demand schools” in future years if necessary. It states that the city has identified “roughly 540 schools” that need additional physical space in order to comply with the class size law. Based on a UFT survey, Mulgrew said there are 856 Title 1 or low-income schools across the boroughs with enough space to reduce class sizes by the start of the school year this September.

“New York City Public Schools is actively working to implement this law across the city. We are in full compliance this year and will be in full compliance next year with the steps we are proposing,” the city’s Department of Education (DOE) said in a statement. 

“As shared in our recent class size plan, we are proposing investing an additional $180 million in school budgets for Contracts for Excellence and class size reduction in particular—enough to support over 1k teachers—and asking superintendents and principals to find ways to make progress towards specific numerical goals across the city. But, to be clear, multiple independent analyses of the law indicated that it would prioritize funding and staffing away from our higher need communities and towards our better off communities.”

Besides the need to address physical space in city schools, most advocates the Amsterdam News reached out to said that hiring more teachers was critical. The city currently employs about 76,000 teachers. 

The UFT is a huge proponent for hiring more teachers and rebalancing classes as a method of reduction, estimating that the education department will need to hire at least 3,000 teachers to lower class sizes in the coming school year. In the long-term, the reduction plan notes that the city may need to hire between 10,000 to 12,000 teachers, especially in shortage areas like special education, English as a Second Language courses, Career Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Still, the city’s reduction plan has not pleased everyone.

“Any plan worth its salt must provide information on what actual, effective steps will be taken next year and over the following three years to meet the mandates in the law,” said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters.
She also slammed the DOE. “Any plan worth the paper it is printed on must project how many classes will be reduced each year, using which levers, and with what results. This document fails on every account.”

Haimson said that the plan would cut funding for new school construction by over $2 billion compared to the existing five year plan and the $137 million allocated for staffing will not be sufficient. She also pointed out the city’s financial plan and the Mayor’s executive budget call for a counterproductive hiring freeze on teachers. 

She suggested that the DOE adhere to the recommendations of the Class Size Working Group, which includes adjusting enrollment between nearby schools, or moving some 3K and PreK programs to neighborhood community-based organizations.  

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

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* This article was originally published here

The Knicks are in denial. Or have wired their collective psyches to be oblivious to adversity.
They have been unfazed and undeterred by a depletion of their lineup due to injuries. A thumping by the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in hostile territory was an aberration. The Knicks were run out of Indianapolis by an urgent opponent, losing 121-89 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series.

It could have been a sign that attrition was overtaking a team that has demonstrated steadfast resolve this postseason. Playing without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic, they have found a way to soldier on. Yet the Game 4 defeat, which tied the series at 2-2 coming back for Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, was a disquieting alarm.

But dismantling obstacles has been one of the defining qualities of the current iteration of the No. 2 seed Knicks. They flipped the score in Game 5, tactically and forcefully taking apart the No. 6 Pacers by 121-91 to go up 3-2 with Game 6 tomorrow in Indiana. A victory would advance the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, when they fell to the Pacers 4-2.  

“We still need one more win so we can’t get too excited about it,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized. “We have to understand what we need to do [and] stay focused on the task at hand.”

As he has done all season, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was a force multiplier, shrugging off a sore foot, injured late in the first quarter of Game 2, and a combined 16-43 shooting in Games 3 and 4, to score 44 points on 18-35 from the field.

“I think as a team, no matter what the situation is, we have the same mindset no matter what,” Brunson said in a measured assessment. “And regardless of how I’m feeling or someone else is feeling, we know what’s at stake. We know what we have to do and we’re going to figure it out.”

The Pacers, like the rest of the league, have not devised a code or algorithm to breach Brunson’s sheer will. Still, Knicks contributions spanned the lineup. As usual, Josh Hart was an energizer, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds. Deuce McBride, who started the second half of Game 4 and was installed as a starter by Thiboeau in place of Precious Achiuwa on Tuesday, responded with 17.

Guard Alec Burks, whose playing time was completely cut late in the regular season, has been called upon by necessity with Anunoby sidelined by a left hamstring injury sustained in Game 2. The 32-year-old veteran answered the charge with 18 points. And center Isaiah Hartenstein left a deep imprint on the win with seven points and 17 rebounds, including a massive 12 offensive rebounds, as the Knicks owned the backboards 53-29 in total. 

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* This article was originally published here

The Mets are a competent team. Led by first-year manager Carlos Mendoza, they were 19-22 and in fourth place in the National League (NL) East after a 4-0 loss to the division leading Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field in Queens on Tuesday. The Mets were 18th in runs scored in Major League Baseball, with 172 in 41 games played prior to last night’s game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.   

Veteran first baseman and designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who was signed as a free agent in March less than a week before Opening Day, has provided protection for the other hitters, particularly All Star first baseman Pete Alonso. Martinez has been a very good hitter for most of his 14-year career, with 305 home runs, 1,655 hits, and 1,007 RBI when the Mets’ four-game, home-and-home series against the Phillies moved to Philadelphia last night for Game 3. The series finale is tonight.

Martinez has shown the ability to be a consistent run producer in the middle of a lineup. Alonso, while still one of baseball’s best power hitters with nine home runs and 22 RBI before last night’s game, has seen his batting average decrease. A career .250 hitter, he finished at .218 last year and was batting .226 after going 0-3 on Tuesday.  

Teams are pitching around Alonso due to his low average. He’s not getting enough good pitches to hit. However, as Martinez rounds into form, Alonso has begun to heat up and looks more comfortable with Martinez hitting behind him. Martinez has also helped others further down in the lineup, including second baseman Jeff McNeil. 

The 2022 NL batting champion at .326, McNeil’s average dropped 56 points last year (.270). He was counted on to be a run producer last season, which he is not. He’s averaging less than 50 runs batted in per year. Martinez, a gap hitter with power, has moved McNeil to sixth in the order where he can be more effective.

Martinez, who spent the beginning of the year in the minors, has begun to hit his stride. He hit a ninth-inning home run to avert the Mets being no-hit by a trio of Atlanta Braves pitchers in a 4-1 loss on Saturday. As of yesterday, Martinez was batting .288 with one homer, five RBI, and 16 hits in 17 games.

Four-time All Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is adding punch with seven homers and 21 RBI in 162 at-bats from the three-spot batting in front of Alonso. Thus far, the Mets have not looked like a playoff contender, but they are a respectable work in progress that could emerge as a wildcard challenger. 

Their schedule has them playing the Miami Marlins on the road for three games this weekend beginning tomorrow, followed by a three-game set versus the Cleveland Guardians next Monday through Wednesday. 

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The Major League Baseball season is still in the early stages. The conclusion of the first half on July 14 is two months away, and 16 more weeks of the schedule lie ahead before the regular season ends.  

Even so, the Yankees are positioned where many pundits predicted they would be coming into this campaign. A lot can happen between now and their final regular season game on Sept. 29, but as for now, they had the third best record in MLB at 28-15 going into last night against the Minnesota Twins on the road. Only the Philadelphia Phillies (30-13) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (29-15), both of the National League, were above them for the top overall mark.

The Yankees were in first place in the American League (AL) East, and led the young and gifted Baltimore Orioles (26-14), last year’s division champions, by a half-game. The Yankees finished fourth last year at 82-80. They have accumulated a high win total with two mainstays. Pitcher Gerrit Cole, last season’s AL Cy Young Award recipient, and infielder DJ LeMahieu have yet to play a regular season game due to injuries they picked up in spring training. Cole was shelved with right elbow inflammation and nerve pain. LaMahieu’s 2024 debut has been delayed by a non-displaced right foot fracture after hitting a foul ball off of it on March 16.

Both have been rehabbing at the Yankees complex in Tampa, Florida. No exact timetable has been publicly communicated by the Yankees for when either will rejoin the active roster, but according to the team’s manager, Aaron Boone, the signs are encouraging.

“Gerrit, everything went well,” said Boone after a recent throwing session by Cole. In the meantime, the Yankees starters Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt have been strong with a collective ERA of 3.318 before meeting up with the Twins last night. And closer Clay Holmes had 12 saves, a 0.98 WHIP, and a remarkable 0.00 ERA in 18 appearances.

At the plate, right fielder Juan Soto has been on an MVP mission, leading the Yankees in batting average (.313), RBI (34), and hits (51). Center fielder Aaron Judge, the 2022 AL MVP, topped the team in home runs with 10.

The Yankees will play three games against the Chicago White Sox this weekend on the road, then take on the Mariners in Seattle for four games Monday through Thursday. 

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* This article was originally published here