As thousands of people were running out of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY Lt. Kenneth Phelan was running in. On July 22, his family gathered with FDNY members and City Council representatives to unveil a new red street sign bearing his name on the Maspeth block where he lived.
The City Council voted to approve a bill on Dec. 19 to allow small, non-public schools to be reimbursed by New York City for the cost of hiring security guards — just as larger schools are. Specifically, the bill will expand the number of non-public schools eligible for the city’s reimbursement program. That program, established in 2015, allows schools with an enrollment of at least 300 students to qualify. The new bill lowers that threshold to 150 students.
The City Council has voted unanimously to pass legislation to double the fines for vandalizing houses of worship, as the city continues to grapple with disturbing incidents at religious institutions.
