NYC principal under probe showered taxpayer funds on pals — including Jay Z’s bankrupt ex-manager and wife

**NYC Principal Under Probe Showered Taxpayer Funds on Pals Including Jay-Z’s Bankrupt Ex-Manager and Wife**
*By Susan Edelman | NY Post | November 2, 2025*

A Queens principal who counts former Jay-Z manager Damon Dash and his wife as close pals has allegedly turned her school into a slush fund for friends, according to whistleblowers.

Aneesha Jacko, principal of PS 35 Nathaniel Woodhull in Hollis, is accused of spending tens of thousands in taxpayer funds to purchase books published by her associates, hiring others as consultants, and prominently featuring their brands on a sprawling mural in the school lobby — essentially turning it into a billboard, staffers say.

“It absolutely blows my mind that she is still allowed to run our school,” said one faculty member. Jacko has led PS 35 since October 2020.

The Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) for city schools has been probing complaints about Jacko’s spending for more than three years, spokesperson Jason Brooks confirmed. “The case is still open, and therefore the SCI cannot comment,” he said.

Officials have not accused Jacko of any criminal wrongdoing at this time.

However, the SCI issued a report in 2022 faulting Jacko for granting excessive overtime to a favored teacher, resulting in $10,500 in improper payments. The independent agency also referred three other complaints to the New York City Department of Education for further investigation.

Jacko’s closest associates include Damon Dash — Jay-Z’s ex-business partner and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records — and Dash’s wife Raquel Horn. Dash is a controversial figure who overcame drug dealing in his youth but recently filed for bankruptcy to avoid $5 million in lawsuit debts. He currently owes New York $2.1 million in back taxes.

*Read the full story at nypost.com.*

**Topics:** Business/Economy | Conspiracy | Education | History
**Keywords:** bankrupt, funds, principal, taxpayers

*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected.*

*Support Independent Journalism*
You can donate by:
– [Credit Card]
– [PayPal]

Or mail donations to:
Free Republic, LLC
PO Box 9771
Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

*“Must be nice to be Jay-Z’s bankrupt ex-manager.”*
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350209/posts

Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa closing gap on socialist Zohran Mamdani in latest NYC mayoral election poll

**Radical Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s Lead Over Andrew Cuomo Narrows to 6.6 Points Ahead of Election**

*By Geoff Earle, Khristina Narizhnaya, and Rich Calder | November 1, 2025 | NY Post*

Radical socialist Zohran Mamdani’s lead over Andrew Cuomo has narrowed to just 6.6 points — the slimmest edge he’s held since July, according to a stunning new poll released Saturday.

The latest AtlasIntel survey shows Democratic candidate Mamdani leading the field with 40.6%, while former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, a registered Democrat running as an independent, has climbed to 34%, just days before Tuesday’s election.

“The gap is closing fast — we can feel it on the ground everywhere from the Bronx to Staten Island. At this rate, we win the race. Keep going strong,” Cuomo said.

“Six points in this election is nothing,” the former governor later told reporters while campaigning Saturday in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

He also commented on Mamdani’s platform, noting that New Yorkers have done a good job educating themselves about the candidate’s ambitious campaign promises — such as free bus service and city-run grocery stores — initiatives Mamdani would likely not have the power to implement even if elected mayor.

*Excerpt*

Read more at [nypost.com](https://nypost.com).

**Topics:** Politics/Elections
**Location:** New York, USA

**Support Our Coverage**

Click here to donate by [Credit Card]
Or here to donate by [PayPal]
Or by mail to:
Free Republic, LLC
PO Box 9771
Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by applicable copyright laws.*
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4350129/posts

Iran’s New ‘Virgin Mary’ Metro Station and What It Says About Faith in the Islamic Republic

**Tehran’s New “Virgin Mary” Metro Station Sparks Debate**

*By Romy Haber | The Catholic Telegraph | October 21, 2025*

This past week, social media was flooded with images of a new metro station in Tehran called the “Virgin Mary” station. The photos quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate among various audiences. Some hail it as a rare gesture of openness, others dismiss it as a staged act aimed at polishing the regime’s image, and many simply wonder if the station even exists.

According to posts circulating online, the “Virgin Mary” station is located on Line 6 of the Tehran metro, near the St. Sarkis Armenian Cathedral. France 24 reports that the station has been under construction for 10 years. Its arched concourse and dome feature religious frescoes and artwork honoring the Virgin Mary, alongside what appears to be a church—presumably the nearby cathedral.

For many, the idea of a metro station in Iran named after the mother of Jesus is surprising. Others see it as consistent with Shiite culture, which also venerates the Virgin Mary. Still others interpret it as an attempt to highlight the country’s religious diversity.

However, many argue that such a move does not align with the Islamic Republic’s record regarding religious minorities. Some dismiss the station as propaganda designed to project a more tolerant image of the regime to international audiences.

The official X account of the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan weighed in, describing the station as “a beautiful sign of coexistence between Iranians and the Armenian community.” In reality, however, this so-called “coexistence” falls far short of international standards for religious freedom and human rights.

*Excerpt. Read more at The Catholic Telegraph.*

**Topics:** Culture, Society
**Keywords:** Virgin Mary, Tehran Metro, Religious Diversity, Iran, Armenian Community

*Support our work:*
Click here to donate by Credit Card
Or here to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to:
Free Republic, LLC
PO Box 9771
Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

*Disclaimer:* Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the views of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4350120/posts