MIGRANTS ATTACK ON NYPD OFFICERS: At a bipartisan press conference at the Capitol today, state senators and Assembly members called for additional action because they claim Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not take enough action against the migrants attacks on NYPD officers last week in Times Square. “How long will we be the benefactors of lawlessness,” Assemblymember Jaime Williams, a Brooklyn Democrat, said. “Today we stand in solidarity to support the two NYPD offices that was assaulted by a group of migrants. I say that the entire issue was mishandled by DA Bragg… he has allowed politics to cloud his judgment.” Bragg has only indicted one out of 10 of the accused attackers involved in the incident. Assembymember Sam Pirozzollo, a Republican, made it clear that everyone's comments were really only directed at three people: Hochul, Adams and Bragg. “We have pretty much given the [migrants] everything… And what do we get in return? We get an assault on New York City police officers, that neither the governor, the mayor and — forget Alvin Bragg — have responded properly to.” — Shawn Ness EDUCATION: Schools Chancellor David Banks today expressed concerns about education budget cuts impacting Adams’ efforts to persuade state lawmakers he should retain control of the New York City public school system. He sounded the alarm on soon-to-be-expired federal stimulus money that has funded popular education programs like 3K — and Banks warned of “difficult choices” the city will have to make “with a finite set of dollars.” “It could, but I certainly hope that it does not,” Banks told PIX 11 on whether it will impact legislators’ vote on whether to extend mayoral control during the ongoing legislative session. “I think that this administration has really earned the right to an extension… of mayoral control.” He emphasized achievements like improvements in city students’ state test scores and a decrease in chronic absenteeism in schools. “A lot of people are saying, ‘We should get rid of mayoral control’…but there are very few people that are actually offering up a real alternative.” — Madina Touré SCHOOL SAFETY: The city Department of Education is looking to put more metal detectors in schools amid an uptick in weapons recovered at institutions. “We’re looking at that,” David Banks told PIX 11. “Those are also multimillion dollar investments that have to be made, even during some tough fiscal times…There’s nothing more important than keeping all of our kids safe.” This comes after two students were stabbed at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens. Metal detectors were placed at the school in the aftermath of the incident. At the same time, education officials have been working with companies who have systems that detect dangerous weapons without subjecting students to a “dehumanizing process” that entails emptying their pockets,” he said. “Some of these companies are still developing that technology,” Banks added. — Madina Touré MAKING THE ROUNDS: Hochul has announced two new rounds of education funding for various programs throughout the state. The Educator Career Development Ambassador Program, which is a summer training session for aspiring teachers, librarians and counselors in six through 12 grade levels. Her initiative also included another round of funding for the Empire State Teacher Residency Program, which now gets $12.4 million a year. Both proposals are designed to bolster the state’s teaching workforce. “Our kids deserve the best possible education, and that starts with investing in our teachers… We are reinforcing our commitment to our public servants and to preparing young people for the robust opportunities that await them,” Hochul said in a statement. — Shawn Ness RENEWABLE RISKS: New York has long pushed to rely on 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030. It’s clear now the state is no longer on track — derailed by growing costs, canceled projects and regulators’ refusal to provide more ratepayer-funded subsidies. Part of the problem is there are simply not enough existing, awarded and contracted projects in the pipeline to hit the 2030 target. The biggest blow: Two offshore wind contracts with the state’s energy authority were terminated last week, taking a bite out of the state’s inventory of investments set to be operational before the statutory deadline to reach 70 percent renewable electricity. State officials have recognized the challenges and highlighted the efforts to still achieve the targets in New York’s historic 2019 climate law, which also included a zero-emission electricity system by 2040 and an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. — Marie J. French
| 
