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Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026

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Paraprofessionals and their supporters rallied at City Hall rally ahead of vote on a measure to give school paraprofessionals a $10,000 supplemental payment, July 16, 2026. (Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)

Dear New Yorkers,

The local teachers union says it’s considering legal action against the city on behalf of nearly 200 retired paraprofessionals whose disability pensions were slashed because their payments had been miscalculated for years.

The city’s Teachers’ Retirement System notified the retirees of the mistake earlier this summer and said the pension system would claw back a portion of the overpayments from future checks. That amounts to tens of thousands of dollars for some of the retirees — a sum many say they can’t afford.

“To do this to us now, going after older people, it’s inhumane, it’s horrible and it’s cruel,” said Sheri Principato, 64, who retired in 2008 after she was attacked by a student. “Now my checks started bouncing. I had to dip into my savings.”

Paraprofessionals work with students with disabilities and special needs. The United Federation of Teachers union says the teacher aides “should not be the ones to pay for the agency’s error.” The pension system didn’t answer inquiries right away.

“We understand that this news may be upsetting and that any reduction in monthly income can create financial concerns,” TRS wrote in a June 18 letter to Principato. “We sincerely apologize for our error and for the impact this correction may have on you.”

Read more about the snafu and how Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration will address it.

Weather 🌤️

A high near 89 and partly sunny with heat index values up to 99 during the day. A low near 76 and partly cloudy at night. Chances of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. today through 8 p.m. tomorrow. City cooling centers will be open.

MTA 🚇

Midday in the Bronx, Manhattan-bound 6 trains run express from Pelham Bay Park to Hunts Point Avenue. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Aug. 6.

By the way…

If you rented from Extra Space Storage between March 24, 2023 and June 16, 2026 and experienced what the city calls “predatory practices,” you can submit a restitution claim to a $1 million settlement fund.

Our Other Top Stories

The city’s rollout of a new tax on luxury second homes could put some owners in a double bind, as the governor’s office says it will look out for potential residency fraud exposed through the exemption process. The Mamdani administration is targeting rising utility bills as a tenant affordability issue at the same time as more apartment buildings face new costs from shifting to electricity from oil and gas.

Reporter’s Notebook

Mamdani Cracks Down on Illegal E-Bikes and E-Scooters

Mayor Mamdani’s administration is ordering more than 40 online retailers — including Amazon, Target, Temu and Wayfair — to stop selling illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in the city, following a spate of deadly crashes involving the motorized two-wheelers.

It’s illegal in New York City to sell or operate motorized scooters capable of traveling faster than 20 mph or e-bikes capable of speeding more than 25 mph.

“We cannot and will not accept these dangerous vehicles on our city streets,” Mamdani said at a City Hall press conference Wednesday. “It is the responsibility of retailers to only sell the vehicles permissible under New York law in our city.”

Last week, 17-year-old Gabriel Nacato was riding an illegal e-bike able to speed more than 30 mph when he crashed into an SUV in Lower Manhattan and died of his injuries, city officials said. In May, two men died after colliding in the Queensboro Bridge bike lane — one was riding an illegal e-scooter, the other a regular bicycle.

The mayor said officials are requesting meetings with the corporate employees responsible for these online marketplaces “to develop cooperative measures.” Companies that don’t comply with the city’s laws could be penalized up to $2,000 per violation, he added.

The retailers have until Aug. 18 to comply or face potential fines and litigation, according to City Hall. An Amazon spokesperson said the company requires e-bikes sold in its store to meet “applicable safety standards and Amazon policies,” and it’s looking into the products at issue. Target, Temu and Wayfair didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

— Claudia Irizarry Aponte

FAQ NYC Live

Blackouts in City History

Watch a live taping of a special Knickerbocker History of New York episode of The City Reporter’s FAQ NYC podcast all about blackouts, featuring Brooklyn Borough Historian Asad Dandia. Tuesday, Aug. 11, free at P&T Knitware on the Lower East Side. Doors open at 6:30, recording 7-8 p.m. RSVP here.

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Thursday, Aug. 6: At Brooklyn Bridge Park, kayak on the water (Pier 2, 5-7 p.m.) or watch an outdoor screening of “Jurassic Park” (Harbor View Lawn, 6-11 p.m.). Both events are free. Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! hosts a variety of international musical performances from globalFEST (5:30 p.m. Friday) and a tribute to R&B star Aaliyah (4 p.m. Saturday). Free, Prospect Park Lena Horne Bandshell for both events.

THE KICKER: Looking to get some reading or audiobook listening done this summer? New York Public Library has recommendations for beach listens and “Odyssey”-related books as director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem takes theaters by storm.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Thursday.

Love,

The City Reporter

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