“Investing in quality afterschool services now is not only fundamental to supporting the next generation of New Yorkers. It is critical to building a stronger economy, enabling more parents—particularly mothers—to participate fully in the workforce.”

Students at an afterschool program on Staten Island in 2023. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

New York City is at a critical juncture. As we look toward a pivotal mayoral election, city leaders have a profound opportunity to build better, safer and more affordable communities across the five boroughs. 

One of our best tools to shape the future of our city is investing in accessible, affordable high-quality afterschool services. These programs are critical to both supporting the healthy development of young people and ensuring families can participate in the job market. In New York City, however, many afterschool programs are out of reach for families, operating with limited capacity, long waitlists, and inconsistent quality. Today, 80 percent of families can’t afford afterschool services, according to an analysis by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.

Programs like New York City’s Comprehensive Afterschool System (COMPASS) for students through fifth grade and School’s Out New York City (SONYC) for sixth-through-eighth grade students are particularly scarce and unevenly distributed. This has led to countless school-aged children being unsupervised and at risk after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thankfully, Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a $331 million commitment to create a total of 20,000 new afterschool slots by Fiscal Year 2028 as part of his vision to build an afterschool system that is accessible to all.

The investment is a critical step in the right direction and presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a truly universal afterschool system—one that will help prevent learning loss, reduce community violence and crime and enable families to continue to work and put food on the table. We commend the administration for having such a forward-looking policy that can help make a universal afterschool system finally a reality. 

Unfortunately, the proposed investments overlook one key piece of the puzzle. Afterschool programs are experiencing a staffing crisis. At a time when demand for afterschool programs from families is high, there is not enough capacity to care for children because of a lack of funding from the city. Across the city, providers are forced to operate in the red just to meet the needs of their communities. As a result, children and youth suffer.

Advocates have called for higher reimbursement rates for years, but the mayor’s proposal unfortunately does not address the issue of insufficient rates until 2027. That is too late. Children, youth and families are in desperate need of quality services now. To cover the true costs of operating the critical afterschool programs New York’s families rely on, New York City must increase rates for COMPASS and SONYC in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

In this moment when the mayor has rightly focused on making New York City more affordable, it’s critical that the administration focus on the urgent investments needed to sustain one of the basic supports the city provides working families. Increasing the base rates of afterschool programs would help ensure that we are building and expanding capacity upon a stable foundation. 

Investing in quality afterschool services now is not only fundamental to supporting the next generation of New Yorkers. It is critical to building a stronger economy, enabling more parents—particularly mothers—to participate fully in the workforce. 

Regardless of the outcome of the mayoral election, a clear vision for how to move the city toward a universal afterschool system requires investments now to ensure stable and sustainable growth. Let’s not miss this opportunity to build a quality system that meets the needs of children, youth and working families.

Our city’s future depends on it.

Raysa S. Rodriguez is the executive director of Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.* Ben Thomases is the executive director of Queens Community House.

*Citizens’ Committee for Children is among City Limits’ funders.

The post Opinion: A Safer, More Affordable NYC Starts With Investing in Afterschool Care appeared first on City Limits.

NEW YORK (AP) — Researchers at cybersecurity outlet Cybernews say that billions of login credentials have been leaked and compiled into datasets online, giving criminals “unprecedented access” to accounts consumers use each day.

According to a report published this week, Cybernews researchers have recently discovered 30 exposed datasets that each contain a vast amount of login information — amounting to a total of 16 billion compromised credentials. That includes user passwords for a range of popular platforms including Google, Facebook and Apple.

Related Articles

Minnesota adds a net 6,600 jobs in May, unemployment rate at 3.3%

Aflac finds suspicious activity on US network that may impact Social Security numbers, other data

More employers adopting ICHRAs, giving workers money to buy their own health insurance

What is a HENRY and are you one?

US stocks drift in a quiet return from the Juneteenth holiday

Sixteen billion is roughly double the amount of people on Earth today, signaling that impacted consumers may have had credentials for more than one account leaked. Cybernews notes that there are most certainly duplicates in the data and so “it’s impossible to tell how many people or accounts were actually exposed.”

It’s also important to note that the leaked login information doesn’t span from a single source, such as one breach targeting a company. Instead, it appears that the data was stolen through multiple events over time, and then compiled and briefly exposed publicly, which is when Cybernews reports that its researchers discovered it.

Various infostealers are most likely the culprit, Cybernews noted. Infostealers are a form of malicious software that breaches a victim’s device or systems to take sensitive information.

Many questions remain about these leaked credentials, including whose hands the login credentials are in now. But, as data breaches become more and more common in today’s world, experts continue to stress the importance of maintaining key “cyber hygiene.”

If you’re worried about your account data potentially being exposed in a recent breach, the first thing you can do is change your password — and avoid using the same or similar login credentials on multiple sites. If you find it too hard to memorize all your different passwords, consider a password manager or passkey. And also add multifactor authentication, which can serve as a second layer of verification through your phone, email or USB authenticator key.

Gophers center Ella Huber made one point above all else during a recent conversation at the Athletes Village on the University of Minnesota campus. Having entered her name into the PWHL draft that will be held on Tuesday night in Ottawa, she would be thrilled to be selected by any of the eight teams.

Until the league came along two years ago, Huber was all but resigned to the fact that her playing days were winding down. So, she considers it “a blessing” to be able to continue to play after college — wherever that might be.

But should her name be called by one of two teams in particular, that blessing would be twofold.

Gophers forward Ella Huber, left, celebrates with teammates after a goal by Abbey Murphy (center) in Minnesota’s 3-2 NCAA regional victory over Colgate on March 15, 2025, at Ridder Arena (Brad Rempel / Gophers Athletics)

For starters, being selected by the Frost would have Huber playing in her adopted hometown. She grew up in the Chicago suburb of Northfield, but her parents, John and Margie, relocated to Excelsior two years ago.

“My dad went to Minnetonka High School, so he always wanted to come back,” Huber said. “He’s been bugging our family to get out of Chicago for a while, so he finally pulled the plug.”

Huber is projected to be selected in the first two rounds. The Frost have the sixth pick in the first round and are believed to be eyeing a defenseman with their first pick. But that could change depending on how the first five picks fall.

Playing for the Frost would reunite Huber with former Gophers teammates Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle. Former Gophers Lee Stecklein and Kelly Pannek also are on the team, and Huber has leaned on them all in her quest to learn all she can about playing in the PWHL.

“They love it, they love the opportunity to play,” Huber said. “It’s fast and it’s physical, as you would expect from watching. It’s exciting to hear from them because it gives me a better outlook for what it’s going to be like. Even lifestyle-wise, and everything else.”

Huber also has ties to Toronto, in a relationship with former Gophers winger Matthew Knies, who plays for the Maple Leafs. Huber, who said she has been dating Knies since her freshman year at the U, has made frequent trips to Toronto the past two years. As for the possibility of playing for the Toronto Sceptres, she said, “I would love it.”

Gophers captains Ella Huber, left, and Nelli Laitinen celebrate with the NCAA regional championship trophy after beating Colgate, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA tournament at on March 15, 2025, at Ridder Arena. (Brad Rempel / Gophers Athletics)

“I love the city; it’s a great atmosphere,” Huber added. “And I love how the Sceptres are right in the city, unlike a lot of the teams.”

Knies is a restricted free agent, so the possibility exists that he could sign an offer sheet with another team this summer. But signing a long-term deal with the Maple Leafs is the likely outcome.

Should Huber and Knies end up playing in different cities, Huber said they’ll manage just fine.

“We’ve done it the last two years,” she said. “We can do it again.”

Huber will attend the draft in Ottawa, where she will be joined by her parents and Knies. She said she has taken part in Zoom calls with most of the original six teams in the league. Her ability to play both ends of the ice has her rated among the top forwards available.

“I think I’m a versatile player that can play in a lot of scenarios,” said Huber, listed at 5-foot-6 on the Gophers’ roster. “Taking that 200-foot game there from college can be really helpful. And just using my speed, as well. That will be one of my positives.”

Huber has been training on campus with current and former Gophers with an eye on improving her strength.

“The physicality definitely increases,” she said of the pro game, “but (her former teammates) mentioned as well that playing in the WCHA is a good jump. So, I think that will be beneficial as well.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Huber, who has earned her undergraduate degree, thought she would be using this summer to find a job, most likely in the medical field. Instead, an appealing employment opportunity awaits.

Tuesday night she’ll find out where she’ll be reporting for work.

Briefly

Gophers forward Natalie Mylnkova also is expected to be selected in the first two rounds. The Czechia native has excelled on the international stage, has good speed and a good scoring touch.

Gophers forward Peyton Hemp also has entered the draft, as have five players from St. Thomas: Lauren Stenslie, Madison Clough, Alli Pahl, Nicole Vallario and Calla Frank.

PWHL Draft

First-round order, and why, in Tuesday’s PWHL draft, which starts at 6 p.m. CDT in Ottawa. It will be streamed live on the league’s YouTube channel:

1. New York Sirens (most draft order points in “Gold Plan”)
2. Boston Fleet (non-playoff team)
3. Toronto Sceptres (lowest-ranked playoff semifinalist)
4. Montréal Victoire (highest-ranked playoff semifinalist)
5. Ottawa Charge (PWHL finalist)
6. Minnesota Frost (PWHL champion)
7. PWHL Vancouver*
8. PWHL Seattle*

* Expansion teams will alternate positions for next five rounds.

Related Articles

Gophers women’s hockey: Abbey Murphy returning for another season

By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, repeating his baseless claim that the contest was marred by widespread fraud.

“Biden was grossly incompetent, and the 2020 election was a total FRAUD!” Trump said in a social media post in which he also sought to favorably contrast his immigration enforcement approach with that of the former president. “The evidence is MASSIVE and OVERWHELMING. A Special Prosecutor must be appointed. This cannot be allowed to happen again in the United States of America! Let the work begin!”

Trump’s post, made as his Republican White House is consumed by a hugely substantial foreign policy decision on whether to get directly involved in the Israel-Iran war, is part of an amped-up effort by him to undermine the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency. Earlier this month, Trump directed his administration to investigate Biden’s actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessor’s “cognitive decline.” Biden has dismissed the investigation as “a mere distraction.”

The post also revives a long-running grievance by Trump that the election was stolen even though courts around the country and a Trump attorney general from his first term found no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome. The Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity arm pronounced the election “the most secure in American history.”

It was unclear what Trump had in mind when he called for a special prosecutor, but in the event Attorney General Pam Bondi heeds his call, she may face pressure to appoint someone who has already been confirmed by the Senate. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Friday.

The Justice Department in recent years has appointed a succession of special counsels — sometimes, though not always, plucked from outside the agency — to lead investigations into politically sensitive matters, including into conduct by Biden and by Trump.

Last year, Trump’s personal lawyers launched an aggressive, and successful, challenge to the appointment of Jack Smith, the special counsel assigned to investigate his efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election and his retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. A Trump-appointed judge agreed, ruling that then-Attorney General Merrick Garland had exceeded his bounds by appointing a prosecutor without Senate approval and confirmation, and dismissed the case.

That legal team included Todd Blanche, who is now deputy attorney general, as well as Emil Bove, who is Blanche’s top deputy but was recently nominated to serve as a judge on a federal appeals court.

Related Articles

Judge rules Trump administration can’t require states to help on immigration to get transport money

Appeals court lets Trump keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles

Trump is silent about Juneteenth on a day he previously honored as president

Federal immigration agents asked to leave Dodger Stadium parking lot, team says

Some US restaurants and servers oppose Republicans’ ‘no tax on tips’ budget proposal