NEW YORK MINUTE: New York City Department of Education Chancellor David Banks is resigning, according to PIX11 news. Banks’ resignation comes after the chancellor’s personal devices and home were searched by federal agents three weeks ago. Federal investigators are reportedly looking into whether Banks’ brother, Terry Banks, illegally lobbied his brother to sign off on city contracts between technology companies and New York City schools while acting as an unregistered lobbyist. The probe into Banks is just one of many that has ensnared City Hall, which has now seen three other top officials resign, including the city’s police and health commissioner. Banks, who is engaged to Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, is brothers with Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, whose phone was also seized by federal agents. ANTI- ANTI-SEMITISM: The scourge of anti-semitism on CUNY campuses is real, and it needs to be addressed, a top state judge found in a damning 146-page report on antisemitism and discrimination policies on CUNY college campuses. The report, requested by Gov. Kathy Hochul in October last year, painted a disturbing portrait of the environment Jewish students face on city college campuses: Administrators hesitated to call in law enforcement for fear of “bad publicity;” an online antisemitism reporting system was really just a “black box;” and CUNY students, plainly, do not feel safe. But one of the most remarkable things to emerge in the release of the Hochul-initiated report was that it drew unreserved plaudits from one of the state’s most outspoken Republican lawmakers. “I am grateful that this is happening, and I really am always willing to put party lines aside when it comes to issues like antisemitism,” said Republican Council member Inna Vernikov, who represents Southern Brooklyn and has frequently slammed the Democratic administrations of Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams. Vernikov said she played a key role in raising awareness to the treatment of Jewish students at CUNY. “I think that the governor deserves credit where credit is due,” she said. The report comes as college students return to the classroom one year after an academic year marked by protests and encampments as pro-Palestinian students protest the Israel-Gaza war. It also comes as the Oct. 7 attacks, which set off the demonstrations, nears its one year anniversary. In a statement, Hochul, who has remained a vocal ally of Israel and Jewish students, said she is directing CUNY to adopt all 13 recommendations issued by former state Judge Jonathan Lippman in his report. “My top priority as Governor has always been to ensure the safety and security of every New Yorker, and right now, too many students at our colleges and universities do not feel safe,” Hochul said. “Let me be clear: we will not tolerate threats of antisemitism or hate of any kind. Every New Yorker must be free to live, learn and worship without fear of harassment or violence.” Lippman recommended, for instance, that CUNY create a new center to tackle antisemitism, do more to acknowledge the relationship between Jewish students and Israel when addressing antisemitism, and, among other asks, hire a monitor to ensure that university complies with his recommendations. In a statement, CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said the university has taken “critical steps” to combat hate and discrimination on campus. “Recognizing there is always more to do, we look forward to working on implementing Judge Lippman's recommendations to redouble our efforts and build on our progress to create a more inclusive campus environment for students, faculty and staff,” Matos Rodríguez said. — Jason Beeferman | 
