Council approves $10k perk for public school paraprofessionals

The City Council approved a one-time $10,000 payment for public school paraprofessionals in an effort to improve retention and recruitment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the bill as violating state labor law, while Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa highlighted the affordability crisis and low starting salaries for paraprofessionals. The program, costing $244 million, would distribute payments in four installments starting in 2027.