Can they do that? Council sets vote on $10K perk for paraprofessionals

The City Council will vote on a bill to provide a $10,000 annual payment to paraprofessionals in the city school system, separate from their salaries, despite legal concerns from the mayor’s office. The United Federation of Teachers argues low pay contributes to high vacancy rates, while the mayor’s office raised doubts about compliance with state labor laws. Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa introduced the bill, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani initially supported it but later expressed caution about its implementation.