Majority of NYC Council members urge the Mayor to call a moratorium on the use of AI in schools

June 9, 2026

This afternoon, City Council members, state legislators, environmental leaders, privacy advocates, racial-justice groups, educators, and public school families rallied at City Hall for a moratorium on AI in public schools at all grade levels, from 2K through 12th. Organized by the AIM Coalition, the rally included the release of a public letter signed by 29 City Council members across the political spectrum in support of this moratorium.

The signers include members left, right, and center, demonstrating a strong nonpartisan consensus on the dangers of AI use in schools. Their letter mentions the deeply flawed NYCPS Guidance on AI, pointing out that it “fails to address the primary concerns of families and education researchers,” containing no proposals to strengthen the security of students’ personal data and offering no plan to address AI’s documented threats to “student learning, cognitive development, basic skills, creativity, critical thinking, mental health, and the environment.”

Addressed to Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels, the letter ends with a demand for an immediate halt to AI use in schools until rigorous safeguards can be developed with input from the public and independent experts to prevent damage to kids and the environment.

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