City Law Would Expand Whistleblower Shield

The City Council is expected to override a mayoral veto today, voting into law a bill aimed at protecting city employees who report when a child is facing "educational harm."

City law already protects whistleblowers reporting criminal activity, corruption, conflicts of interest, mismanagement, or abuse of authority. The teachers union supports the measure, which would protect employees who expose issues such as principal misconduct or cheating scandals, and council members backing it say no one should face retaliation for standing up for a child.

Opponents say the expanded protections are unnecessary and will make it harder to fire problem teachers.