The school year has started again, but classrooms may be lacking in essential supplies. With budget cuts hitting every possible part of city agencies (4,100 teachers jobs were threatened), the NY Times reports on how the "Teacher's Choice" program, which allowed teachers to get reimbursed for getting their classes ready, has been suspended for the foreseeable future. more ›

Thanks to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Toyota will provide NYC drivers with a service that picks up recalled vehicles to get them fixed, reimburses them for transportation costs and hands out free rental cars during the repair period (more info at www.nytoyotahelp.com). It's the first agreement between the beleaguered automaker and an attorney general, though it doesn't signal that Cuomo will call off investigations of the company. In NY, 500,000 vehicles have been recalled, reports the AP. “It is unacceptable that New York consumers should face additional burdens when dealing with a safety problem that is Toyota’s responsibility,” Cuomo said in a statement. more ›

The City Councilman accused of fraud, extortion, money laundering, and doctoring a receipt so he was reimbursed $177 for a $7 bagel sandwich, pleaded not guilty yesterday. After getting hit with a litany of charges in a 65-page federal indictment [PDF], Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) was released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond. "We have no hesitation in saying that we don't perceive that a crime was committed," said his lawyer, who claimed reimbursement checks issued to the Councilman were legitimate expenses. "That's laundering? I question that." more ›

New York City judges spent taxpayer money on seemingly personal purchases like meditation retreats, framed photographs of themselves, and an iPod, according to the New York Post. Each year, judge's receive an expense allowance of $10,000 each — a citywide total of $12.6 million per year — to cover their work-related costs. But the stipend, which doubled in value on Nov. 1, is sometimes used on "frivolous expenses," the tabloid reports. more ›

Congressman Anthony Weiner sounded the call for cities to be reimbursed for employees fighting in the Iraq War. Like he did last year, Weiner cites the fact that civil servants, like cops and firefighters, still get paid by the city when their military salaries are less. And since many don't send their military salaries to the city, Weiner says NYC has lost "$65.6 million since September 11, 2001," per the Sun. Weiner said, "While it is important that we honor the patriotism of those who go to serve overseas, we should realize that for every police officer that is off the streets here in New York City patrolling the streets of Fallujah or Baghdad, taxpayers are footing the bill." More info here at Weiner's website. more ›