Company awarded NYC schools ‘panic button’ contract has ties to ally of Mayor Adams through hiring practices.
A Florida-based technology firm, SOS Technologies, has recently secured a multimillion-dollar contract with the administration of Mayor Eric Adams for the installation of emergency “panic buttons” in New York City’s public schools. This development has raised eyebrows, particularly given SOS Technologies’ engagement of Oaktree Solutions, a consulting firm run by Frank Carone, a close associate of Mayor Adams and his former chief of staff, in order to facilitate securing this contract.
Sources indicate that SOS Technologies enlisted Oaktree Solutions earlier this year for “strategic consulting,” which aligns with the company’s effort to obtain the city contract awarded in October. It should be noted that there is no documented evidence of Oaktree employees directly lobbying city officials before the contract award, as Carone’s resignation from his position at City Hall in late 2022 has placed him outside of the one-year lobbying ban applicable to former city officials. While the nature of the services rendered under this consulting agreement remains somewhat murky, concerns have emerged about possible ethical implications and the perception of influence-peddling during Adams’ administration.
The panic button initiative was unveiled during an October 27 press conference in Brooklyn, where Mayor Adams, flanked by Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser, announced a collaboration to implement these systems across 25 public school campuses. The technology aims to provide teachers with portable devices to quickly alert emergency services, enhancing safety protocols within schools. Although specific costs were not disclosed at the event, a city spokesman later confirmed that the initial installation would amount to approximately 0,000 per campus, potentially totaling around million for the entire project.
Presently, there are about 1,800 public schools in New York City, meaning the initial 25 campuses chosen for the panic button program serve as a pilot, with intentions for future expansion depending on the administration’s objectives. The stance of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani regarding the continuation of this program remains unclear.
The choice of SOS Technologies and its involvement in such a significant city initiative comes at a time when government watchdogs have heightened their scrutiny of the mayor’s administration, which has been marred by various corruption scandals, including ongoing investigations involving Adams himself. City records indicate that SOS Technologies had no prior history of engaging with New York City government entities or employing registered lobbyists to assist in obtaining the panic button program contract.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this contract and the accompanying concerns regarding transparency and ethical governance will influence the operations of the city moving forward. The implementation of these panic buttons reflects not only a commitment to enhancing school safety but also an increasing need for scrutiny and accountability in government dealings, particularly amidst an environment fraught with ethical considerations.
