Date: June 14, 2026

To:

James Dolan, Owner, New York Knicks

The Honorable Zohan Mandani, Mayor of New York City

The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State

Kumar Samuels, Chancellor, New York City Department of Education

Subject:

Urgent Request to Schedule/Reschedule the New York Knicks Championship Parade for Equitable Student Attendance

Dear Mr. Dolan, Mayor Mandani, Governor Hochul, and Chancellor Samuels,

First and foremost, congratulations to the New York Knicks and the entire city of New York on an incredible, historic championship season. This victory has brought an unmatched energy to the five boroughs, uniting millions of New Yorkers in a way only sports can.

However, as plans are finalized for the celebratory ticker-tape parade, a major conflict has arisen that threatens to exclude a vital part of our community: our youth. Holding the championship parade on Thursday, June 18, directly conflicts with the New York State Regents Examinations.

This scheduling conflict creates a profound issue of equity and fairness:

An Unfair Ultramatum: High school students across New York City are being forced to choose between their academic future and a once-in-a-lifetime historic celebration. Unlike regular school days, Regents exams are mandatory state-standardized tests required for graduation and cannot simply be skipped or easily made up.
Compromised Equity: The students most affected are those who have worked tirelessly all year to pass these exams. Depriving them of the chance to celebrate their city's historic milestone—while adults and non-testing students freely attend—is inherently inequitable.
A Once-in-a-Generation Moment: A Knicks championship is history in the making. Our children, who are the heartbeat of this city’s future and its biggest fans, deserve to be part of that history.
We urgently request that you work together to move the parade date to a day that does not conflict with the Regents exam schedule (such as Friday, June 19, or the weekend). By shifting the date, you will ensure that all New Yorkers—especially our hard-working students and dedicated public school teachers—can safely and joyfully participate in this monumental occasion.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and commitment to fairness and equity for the youth of New York City. Let’s make sure this championship celebration truly belongs to everyone.

Sincerely,

Michelle J. Weintraub

Proud 25Q294 Parent of 8th grader taking 3 NYS REGENTS, lifetime Queens Resident and NYCDOE Teacher