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Host: Welcome to NYC NOW, your source for local news in and around New York City, from WNYC. It's Thursday, July 3rd. Here's the midday news from Verónica Del Valle.

Verónica Del Valle: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is losing some key support for an independent mayoral run in November. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim reports.

Elizabeth Kim: Reverend Al Sharpton is joining a growing list of power brokers urging Cuomo not to run. In a statement, he says he told the former governor that the "best option" for New Yorkers is a one-on-one race between Mayor Adams and the Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Bill Ackman, an investor who gave $500,000 to a pro-Cuomo super PAC, says he's backing Adams after meeting both the mayor and Cuomo. In a social media post, he writes that the former governor "is not up for the fight," describing Cuomo's "subdued energy." Many unions, which supported Cuomo in the primary, have also switched their allegiance to Mamdani.

Verónica Del Valle: The New York Knicks have a new head coach. A person with knowledge of the details tells the Associated Press that Mike Brown will be the team's new bench boss. Brown has been a head coach and an assistant coach in the NBA since the late '90s with several teams. The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after he led them to their Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter century. The Knicks' run electrified the Tri-State area this past spring, but didn't have enough in the tank to win. They haven't won a championship since 1973.

Right now, it's 87 and sunny outside. Tonight, a slim chance of showers and severe thunderstorms, mainly by 8:00, a low around 70.

Host: Stay close. There's more after the break.

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Michael Hill: On WNYC, I'm Michael Hill. Last week, as Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez walked across the stage to get his high school diploma, he got it, and something even greater. A $74,000 contract to return to Newark Public Schools as a music teacher. The moment has been all over social media feeds. Thirty-four students, including Miguel, received job offers to become future teachers in Newark Public Schools. Miguel and Newark School's Superintendent Roger León join us now to talk about this offer, and this incredible moment. Miguel, talk to us about that moment when the superintendent offered you the contract.

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: Oh my gosh. It was a pleasure. It was an honor. I couldn't believe it. I was just in shock. It was just amazing. It was an amazing moment. Tears to my eyes came down. I couldn't believe it. I just looked at my family, and all of them were smiling, and I was filled up with joy.

Michael Hill: Did you have any inkling, though, that this was coming?

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: No, not at all. I didn't think at all that I was going to get this.

Michael Hill: Superintendent, of all the students in Newark, why did you offer the contract to Miguel?

Superintendent Roger León: Miguel has been one of my star arts high school Latin band musicians since his freshman year. He's been showcased not only in district events throughout our city, the county, the state, even outside of New Jersey. He is a model of excellence. I know he's going to be an absolutely incredible music teacher when he comes back.

Michael Hill: Wow. Miguel, tell us about how music has inspired you, and why are you pursuing a degree in music education?

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: Music is just my life. Music has helped me through everything. It's my escape out of reality. I found music at a very young age. Growing up, my mother was a single mother. My brother had autism and cerebral palsy, and it was a struggle. Mom going in and out of the hospital. Brother was having 74 seizures a week. I had to really be on my own. When I found music, it was just everything to me. That was the only thing that kept me going. From there, going into school, I picked up the saxophone, and the saxophone just was a whole new, brighter perspective of life. Now I wanted to become a music educator. Back in Newark Public Schools, I already know that I want to give back my knowledge, the wisdom that was given to me by all my teachers, and I just want to give back and give back even better.

Michael Hill: From Frankie Valli, the Fugees, Queen Latifah and more, Newark has a rich music history. Who are some of your favorite artists?

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: Oh, my gosh. Well, I go back to a lot of old music.

Michael Hill: Watch out now. Watch out.

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: [laughs] I like a lot of Ronnie Cuber, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan. I'm more of the old soul.

Michael Hill: Are you in a band or a group? Do you perform?

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: I do the Jazz House Kids Program at Montclair State, and then I just graduated. I do the Latin band at arts high school, and now I'm starting to get my own band. Right now is to focus on getting an instrument. Sadly, I had to turn to my instrument because it was the schools. It was a Yamaha YBS-62 baritone saxophone, close to $10,000, and it was probably the light of my life, and I had to turn it in. It was like losing a part of me. Right now, it's just focusing on getting this instrument so then I can keep going with my music and keep working.

Michael Hill: Wow. Superintendent León, there's no question you can tell Miguel's passion as he talks about music. How do you hope that that passion affects students who are going to be his students when he begins to teach?

Superintendent Roger León: He's a student leader today, right now with the band. He helps with the composition not only of the musical arrangements, but just leadership strategies. He's not only having an impact with the band. He's having an impact in the school. He's a leader.

Michael Hill: You've been listening to Superintendent Roger León of Newark Public Schools there, and Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez in need and looking for a $10,000 saxophone. He's also a future music teacher on his way now to William Paterson to get four years of schooling there. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for this.

Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez: Thank you, thank you.

Superintendent Roger León: Thank you.

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Host: Thanks for listening. This is NYC NOW from WNYC. Catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. More soon.

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