Union Backs Thompson
The city's largest municipal employee union, District Council 37, yesterday announced it would support Democrat William Thompson Jr. in his bid to unseat Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The move represents a change of heart for the 120,000-member union, which had supported Bloomberg in 2005 but reportedly soured on the mayor because of his threats to lay off city workers and other issues. Along with the earlier endorsement by the Working Families Party, the move by DC 37 gave a boost to Thompson's long-shot campaign. In response to DC 37's announcement, the Bloomberg campaign raised questions about what Thompson might have promised the union in return for its support. For more on Thompson's campaign, read The Long Shot.

Officer Cleared in 'Friendly Fire' Death
A Manhattan grand jury has cleared a white police officer who accidentally shot and killed a black colleague he apparently thought was a criminal. The panel decided not to indict Andrew Dunton in the death of off-duty officer Omar Edwards on a Harlem street in May. Edwards, who was not in uniform, had his gun drawn and was pursuing a suspect who had allegedly broken into his car. Witnesses reportedly testified that Edwards did not respond when Dunton announced he was a police officer and told Edwards to drop the gun. Several civil rights group criticized the grand jury's decision.

Majority Leader's Son to Step Down, Waterfront Watchdog Found to be Corrupt, Calls for Air Traffic Reform, Plane Crash Over the Hudson, Maloney Drops Senate Bid, Sotomayor Confirmed , complete archive of lead stories.

In the Press

Mayor Plans Multimillion-Dollar Effort to Aid Community Colleges (NY Times)

Paterson Calls for Tougher Penalties on Driving Drunk with Kids (Daily News)

Transit Agencies Slow to Spend Stimulus Cash, Report Finds (NY Post)

Senate Democrats Set New Controls on Hiring of Staff (Newsday)

FAA Suspends Two Employees in Wake of Fatal Hudson River Crash (NY 1)

Deadly Accident Prompts Renewed Criticism of Helicopters (Downtown Express)

Goldman Sachs Seeks to Bail Out of Luxury Brooklyn Condo (Crain's)

Chinatown Bus Company One of City's Top Parking Scofflaws (AM New York)

Can Oysters Return to Jamaica Bay? (Queens Courier)

Today's Report
Report Card on Beaches
With warm weather finally here, New Yorkers for Parks has released its report card on New York's seven city beaches. The report found conditions improved somewhat since 2007 but said "New York City's 14 miles of public beaches still need additional maintenance attention." (read the full report)

Recent Reports
Innovation in Asset Building, Saving Independent Retail, State Tax Revenue In Steep Decline, Improving the Section 8 Voucher Program, more recent reports.