3 white former executives at NYC's Department of Ed to receive huge payout, following 'evidence of race-based discrimination'



In yet another blow to DEI initiatives across the country, three white former executives with the Department of Education in New York City will soon receive a hefty payout after they had allegedly been demoted in favor of "less-qualified" employees "of color," the New York Post reported.

Five years ago, Lois Hererra, Jaye Murray, and Laura Feijoo filed a lawsuit alleging that the city's DOE had discriminated against them on the basis of their race, as Blaze News previously reported. The lawsuit originally sought $90 million in damages.

Hererra, a Harvard alumna who had become executive director of the Office of Safety and Youth Development following decades at the agency, had been demoted in favor of Mark Rampersant, a black man with a GED. Murray, a former executive director of the Office of Counseling Support Programs, was demoted three rungs and had to report to Rampersant at one point. Finally, Feijoo, a former senior supervising superintendent who once supervised all other DOE superintendents was passed over for an opening at deputy chancellor by one of her black subordinates, Cheryl Watson-Harris, who did not even have the license necessary for the position at the time she was hired.

Those staffing changes occurred under the leadership of former Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, a lackey of Democrat former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was "fixated on diversity," according to an internal DOE email written by then-chief operating officer Ursulina Ramirez.

According to the lawsuit, Carranza threatened the job of any "Caucasian DOE employees" who dared to question his "equity platform." "Get on board ... or leave," he allegedly warned them.

In sworn depositions in connection with the lawsuit, both Carranza and de Blasio admitted that they wanted to create a DOE that "looked like New York City," the Post reported. Carranza resigned from his position in February 2021, and de Blasio was term-limited out of office the following December.

Three months ago, a judge ruled that the lawsuit showed "evidence of race-based discrimination in Carranza’s DOE," and a trial had been set for June.

Rather than proceed with the trial, the city elected to reach a settlement with the plaintiffs. Hererra, Murray, and Feijoo will now each receive $700,000.

Their lawyer, Davida Perry, called the settlement "a resounding affirmation that discrimination of any form should not be tolerated in educational institutions, regardless of the race of those negatively impacted." She also claimed her clients "feel justified and vindicated."

Though the city will have to shell out more than $2 million to settle with the three white women, it still has not admitted wrongdoing. "The DOE and City are fully committed to fair and inclusive employment practices, and we maintain that these claims lack merit,” a spokesman for the Law Department said. "Nevertheless, settlement of this long standing case was in the best interest of all parties."

Hererra has since retired, and Feijoo left for another job three and a half years ago. Murray is the only plaintiff who remains on the NYC DOE payroll, but her duties have been "sharply reduced," the Post said.

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New York City implements vaccine mandate for all indoor activities: 'If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated'



New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning that New York City will mandate vaccination for anyone who wants to participate in indoor activities, including dining at restaurants, going to the gym, and seeing musical or theatrical performances.

"It's time for people to see vaccination as literally necessary to living a good and full and healthy life," de Blasio said at a news conference announcing the vaccine mandate, which also applies to workers at those places.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: "If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated." https://t.co/UNHC9XInoY

— The Hill (@thehill) 1628001308.0

The program is called the "Key to NYC Pass," and a pass showing proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will be required of anyone who wants to participate in an indoor activity. The new requirement will go into effect on Aug. 16 and will begin being enforced on Sept. 13.

"The only way to patronize these establishments indoors will be if you're vaccinated, at least one dose," de Blasio said. "This is crucial because we know that this will encourage a lot more vaccination."

The mandate comes as New York City is seeing a surge of COVID-19 cases mostly caused by the Delta variant, which is more contagious than other variants of the virus. In the face of rising cases, de Blasio previously mandated that all city workers get vaccinated or be regularly tested for COVID-19 to keep their jobs. The mayor also created a $100 incentive for anyone who gets a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Nearly 66% of New York City adults are fully vaccinated, according to city data, but a significant number of people remain hesitant to take their vaccine doses.

Last week, de Blasio said the time for "voluntary" vaccination is over, blaming the unvaccinated and vaccine hesitant for the reintroduction of the coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking Tuesday, the mayor said that forcing people to be vaccinated is the only way to stop COVID-19 cases from rising.

"Not everyone is going to agree with this, I understand that," de Blasio said. "But for so many people this is going to be the life-saving act, that we're putting a mandate in place. It's going to guarantee a much higher level of vaccination in this city and that is the key to protecting people and the key to our recovery."

New Yorkers who wish to dine outdoors will be able to do so without showing proof of vaccination. But to dine indoors, city residents will need to use a new digital app, the New York state Excelsior app, or a paper card to show proof of vaccination.

"We know that this is what's going to turn the tide. And we also know that people are going to get a really clear message: If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated," the mayor added.

NYC Mayor de Blasio says city plans to 'fully reopen' by July 1 with no restrictions



New York City will attempt to "fully reopen" by the first of July, ending all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, retail, and other businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday morning on MSNBC.

Citing that more than 6.3 million city residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, de Blasio said it's now time for the city that was once the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic — with nearly 800 daily deaths reported in April 2020 — to mostly return to normal life.

"Our plan is to fully reopen New York City on July 1. We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength," the mayor said. "People have gotten vaccinated in extraordinary numbers, 6.3 million in New York City to date."

During the process of reopening, de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to be "smart" by practicing social distancing and mask-wearing when in public with strangers, but otherwise said the city is confident that the virus is managed to the point where life can return to normal.

"We said a month or so ago, it was the variants versus the vaccination, what was going to win, which one was going to win the race. Vaccination is winning this race ... 6.3 million vaccinations, COVID is plummeting," de Blasio said. "This is going to be the summer of New York City. You're going to see amazing activities, cultural activities coming back. I think people are going to flock to New York City because they want to live again."

New York City's move to reopen could potentially come into conflict with statewide coronavirus restrictions enacted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). The mayor indicated he has not discussed the city's reopening plans with the governor, though he did pledge to work with the state government to achieve full reopening.

"I think the best way to proceed here is to set out the city's vision. We're going to work with the federal government, we're going to work with the state government, but it's quite clear it's time to set a goal and move on that goal," de Blasio said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced the state would lift the curfew on outdoor dining for bars and restaurants on May 17. At the end of the month, the 12:00 a.m. curfew on indoor dining will also be lifted. The move was widely seen as an attempt to one-up the state legislature, which had intended to repeal some of Cuomo's executive orders restricting the types of services bars may offer.

New York state has also adopted the new CDC guidance on mask-wearing, which advises that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors unless they are in a large crowd with strangers.

According to the New York Times COVID-19 tracker only 29% of New York City residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. The city is reporting an average of 1,803 new cases per day, though this is a 44% decrease from the average number of cases reported two weeks ago. The New York Times labels New York City at "very high risk" of exposure to COVID-19.

Mayor de Blasio encouraged those who have not been vaccinated to go and get the free vaccine, which will help New York City fully reopen by immunizing people from the virus.

"Anyone who likes what I'm saying, help us out by going out and getting vaccinated if you haven't already,'" he said.

California restaurant owner: 'We're in survival mode right now'



Restaurant owners in New York and California continue to suffer under heavy restrictions as lawmakers issue increasingly draconian edicts during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A report from Fox News highlights the plight of some restaurant owners, who spoke out about their fear of closing business for good.

"We're in survival mode right now. We're just trying to stay afloat right now, we really don't know what to do, said Chef Rodney Worth, who owns the Peasant and Pear in California.

Worth appeared on Fox News Friday for an interview about how his business is coping with California's new lockdown.

"We've done everything they've said to do, and you know, people have spent thousands of dollars on tents, we have outside dining, we have the best sanitizer, we have training," Worth said. But even so, businesses are struggling to earn enough to keep running while the state prohibits indoor dining services.

"We're like dying a death by a thousand cuts right now," he added. On top of it all, Worth said no one among his business associates and fellow restauranteurs has reported anyone in their restaurants contracting COVID.

"We have not had one case of COVID in our restaurants with 55 employees and all the restaurants near us, we haven't heard of any cases of COVID at all."

Watch:


His complaints have been echoed by other business owners fed up with the edicts of local lawmakers. In New York City, where the state has ordered restaurants to close their indoor dining rooms, a massive snowstorm has forced businesses to close their outdoor dining arrangements as well. The result is many of these restaurants aren't serving customers or making money at all.

Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, said Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's coronavirus policies have dealt a "huge blow" to the industry.

"This action will inevitably result in massive layoffs and vast closures right before the holidays," Fleischut said. She characterized the closures as "unfair and devastating."

"It will be the last straw for countless more restaurants and jobs," said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance. "The restrictions begin on Monday with zero economic support for small businesses that are already struggling to survive."

On top of it all, city officials have been unclear about what restaurants can and cannot do.

New York local officials on Thursday implemented a new rule preventing outdoor diners from permitting their customers to use indoor restrooms. The backlash from restaurant owners and their customers was so intense, officials were forced to reverse the policy. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday the bathroom rule was "a mistake."


Orthodox Jewish Community Protests Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New Coronavirus Lockdown Restrictions

'We new appalled by Governor's Cuomo's words and actions today'

'We'll see you in court, Mr. President': De Blasio vows to sue after Trump threatens to 'defund' NYC



Far-left Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed Thursday to sue over President Donald Trump's recent actions seeking ways to redirect federal funds away from U.S. cities the commander in chief says have permitted "anarchy" amid nationwide riots.

What are the details?

The New York Post broke the news Wednesday that President Trump sent a 5-page memo to federal agencies wherein he writes:

My Administration will not allow Federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones. To ensure that Federal funds are neither unduly wasted nor spent in a manner that directly violates our Government's promise to protect life, liberty, and property, it is imperative that the Federal Government review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction in America's cities.

The president named Portland, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and New York City as preliminary targets, and The Post noted that de Blasio was mentioned twice in the president's order.

On Thursday, De Blasio — who has repeatedly asked the federal government to bail out his city citing revenue losses due to COVID-19 lockdowns — released a video responding to President Trump's move, and promised to fight back with legal action.

"The president of the United States — a New Yorker by birth — threatening to take away federal funding from this city while we're still in the grips of this crisis," de Blasio begins in his recorded statement. "It just makes no sense."

The mayor said this is "a time when we should be seeing solidarity with New York City, support for New York City, understanding for New York City, and we're seeing the opposite."

De Blasio then addressed President Trump directly, saying the Supreme Court has already determined that presidents cannot interfere with funding appropriated to cities.

In a tweet posting the video, de Blasio wrote, "We asked @realDonaldTrump to do his job. We asked him for COVID-19 testing and for a stimulus to help us get back on our feet. He refused to lift a finger. He failed New York City. And now he wants to threaten us? We'll see you in court, Mr. President."

We asked @realDonaldTrump to do his job. We asked him for COVID-19 testing and for a stimulus to help us get back o… https://t.co/QIvzY2ijbn
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@Mayor Bill de Blasio)1599163308.0

New York City has seen more deaths from COVID-19 than anywhere in the U.S., partially attributed to its high population density. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has faced heavy criticism for his policies early on in the crisis requiring coronavirus-positive patients to be placed in nursing homes amid vulnerable elderly patients.

But Trump's threat to pull federal funds is aimed at leaders for their policies against law enforcement during the rioting that has been ongoing since the death of George Floyd in late May.

The president wrote in his memo:

In New York City, city officials have allowed violence to spike. In light of this unconscionable rise in violence, I have offered to provide Federal law enforcement assistance, but both Mayor de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have rejected my offer.

While violence has surged, arrests have plummeted. In a 28-day period during the months of June and July, [New York City] arrests were down 62 percent from the same period in 2019. Amidst the rising violence, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council agreed to cut one billion dollars from the New York Police Department (NYPD) budget, including by cancelling the hiring of 1,163 officers.

Police officials have cited this decision as a factor contributing to the rise in violence.