“NYC Nonprofit Week,” Q-Teams Staten Island Expansion, Times Square Concert, Making NY Immigrants Safer, Milestones In Fight Against Rats, Largest Police Recruit Class, Non-Profit Payment Reform, Self-Driving Vehicle Testing: Mayor Adams

“NYC Nonprofit Week,” Q-Teams Staten Island Expansion, Times Square Concert, Making NY Immigrants Safer, Milestones In Fight Against Rats, Largest Police Recruit Class, Non-Profit Payment Reform, Self-Driving Vehicle Testing: Mayor Adams

Editor’s note: Readers can view last week’s rundown by the Mayor here, and the op-ed will be published this weekend. 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services (MONS) today kicked off “NYC Nonprofit Week” to showcase the Adams administration’s efforts to recognize the essential role nonprofit organizations play in providing critical services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers as the administration continues to ensure that these organizations get paid on time. As part of this effort, the Adams administration announced a contracting milestone: 812 contracts were submitted for registration on-time ahead of the new fiscal year — nearly double last year’s total of 430 contracts. In total, 88 percent of the already planned Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 human service contracts across agencies are now registered — the highest percentage of contracts registered in the past five years. This work builds on Mayor Adams unprecedented $5 billion in advance payments to city-contracted nonprofits in FY 2026.

“Nonprofits are the engine that keeps New York City moving. When New Yorkers need help, nonprofits are always there with the resources, expertise, and people that get the job done,” said Mayor Adams. “These organizations are a lifeline for so many families across the five boroughs, and we must have their backs to deliver day in and day out for New Yorkers. Today, our administration is proud to kick off ‘NYC Nonprofit Week’ by announcing this major contracting milestone as we deepen our commitment to support nonprofits across our city.”

“Nonprofits are both partners in service delivery and the heart of our city’s safety net. Every day, they stand alongside vulnerable New Yorkers, which is why we’re making meaningful investments and implementing policies like our new advance payment directive,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “As we celebrate ‘NYC Nonprofit Week,’ this administration recognizes the vital role nonprofits play in lifting up communities, and we are committed to giving them the stability, resources, and respect they need to continue their work. New York City cannot thrive without its nonprofits, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to build a stronger, fairer city for all.”

“NYC Nonprofit Week is our chance to celebrate the powerful partnership between public servants in government and the dedicated nonprofit providers who work to make sure New Yorkers are never left to face hardship alone,” said Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services Executive Director Michael Sedillo. “I’m especially proud of our Chief Nonprofit Officers and the agency staff who worked tirelessly to register an unprecedented number of contracts on time this year. None of this progress would have been possible without the unrelenting public servants at the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, whose leadership in this year’s Timeliness Initiative united this administration in getting resources where they belong: serving New Yorkers.”

“The success of this year’s timeliness initiative isn’t just about hitting a number — it’s about how we got there,” said Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Director and City Chief Procurement Officer Kim Yu. “As we kick off ‘NYC Nonprofit Week,’ we’re celebrating not only this milestone, but the deep partnership between the Adams administration and the nonprofit sector that made it possible. We took a fresh look at how we work with agencies and providers, and focused on building real trust, clear communication, and a process that actually makes sense for people. Agencies like the Department of Youth and Community Development and many others stepped up in a big way, and their commitment helped drive this achievement. That’s what people-centered government looks like — 88 percent of contracts submitted on time, services ready to go on day one.”

During FY 2025, city agencies performed at the highest levels in partnership with nonprofit providers to ensure timely contract registration, under the guidance of MOCS. Through its “Timely Registration Initiative,” MOCS focused on streamlining the contracting process, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that providers received stronger and more consistent support from the city throughout every stage of contracting. These improvements were made possible through a combination of streamlined interagency communications, real-time technical assistance, and system upgrades to PASSPort — the city’s digital procurement platform. Today’s achievement sets a new standard for timely, equitable service delivery in New York City.

NYC Nonprofit Week was created in recognition of National Nonprofit Day, observed annually on August 17, to shine a spotlight on the critical role nonprofits play in providing essential services to New Yorkers, including children, justice-involved individuals, older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. Throughout this week, the Adams administration will celebrate the contributions of nonprofits with executive leadership visiting organizations across the city, reflecting the administration’s broader commitment to ensuring that nonprofits are paid on time, fully supported, and empowered to continue delivering essential services to New Yorkers every day.

Today’s announcement also builds on the Adams administration’s continued efforts to significantly invest in, support, and enact policies that uplift the nonprofit sector in New York City. Earlier this spring, MONS relaunched ContractStat , a system that brings data-driven accountability to nonprofit contracting, providing both quantitative metrics — such as contract registration and payment timelines — and qualitative insights. Additionally, this past January, Mayor Adams announced Executive Order 47, which established the role of chief nonprofit officers to improve services, deliver quality customer support in response to nonprofit outreach, and expedite payments and communications with nonprofit providers. Today, already 18 chief nonprofit officers have been appointed by city agencies, working closely with nonprofit organizations to drive progress.

In April 2024, Mayor Adams announced the city’s first-ever Nonprofit Advisory Council. Comprised of leaders and experts in the nonprofit sector, the advisory council works with MONS to serve as a link between the Adams administration and the nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving New Yorkers. In March 2024, the Adams administration announced a $741 million investment for an estimated 80,000 human services workers employed by nonprofit organizations with a city contract as part of a new cost-of-living adjustment. The human services workforce — which is overwhelmingly female at 66 percent and 46 percent women of color — remains on the frontlines of the most pressing issues facing the city as they deliver vital services across housing, food access, health services, and asylum seeker services, among other areas. To date, the Adams administration has invested over $1.4 billion toward wage enhancements for the human services sector.

Finally, early on in the administration, Mayor Adams and MOCS worked on the “Clear the Backlog” initiative, which has unlocked over $6 billion in funds for nonprofits that were long overdue, allowing these organizations to get paid for delivering their vital services.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams participates in the Rockaways Peninsular disaster preparedness clergy meeting at the St. Camillus Church on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS AND NYPD COMMISSIONER TISCH EXPAND QUALITY OF LIFE TEAMS ACROSS ALL OF STATEN ISLAND FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL PILOT LAUNCH

Since Inception, Q-Teams Have Responded to Over 41,000 Quality-of-Life Calls

Pilot Commands Reduced Non-Emergency Response Times by Average of 50 Minutes 

Announcement Builds on Administration’s “End the Culture of Anything Goes” Campaign, Highlighting Mayor Adams’ Efforts to Change Culture, Laws, and Investments That Improve Quality of Life and Prevent Public Disorder on City Streets

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced the expansion of the NYPD’s Quality of Life Division “Q-Teams” across the entire borough of Staten Island. The expansion of Q-Teams across Staten Island doubles down on the NYPD’s focus on tackling the daily issues that impact New Yorkers’ sense of safety and well-being, including cracking down on illegal mopeds, towing abandoned and derelict vehicles, cleaning up encampments, addressing outdoor drug use, and responding to noise complaints.

Starting this past April, the NYPD launched Q-Teams in six pilot commands, and, to date, these teams have improved non-emergency response times by an average of 50 minutes citywide, while towing 710 vehicles and seizing 322 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds. Following the success of the pilot program, the NYPD expanded Q-Teams to every precinct in Manhattan on July 14, every precinct in the Bronx on July 21, every precinct in Brooklyn on July 28, and every precinct in Queens on August 11. To date, Q-Teams have responded to more than 41,000 911 and 311 calls. The NYPD will continue to expand these efforts to all housing commands later this month.

Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign which highlights the work the administration has done to date to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed, while simultaneously making the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing — all in an effort to make lasting impacts in lives and communities. Mayor Adams is bringing the same energy and approach that proved to be successful in carving a new path to help people with severe mental illness to address other health crises, like drug addiction, playing out on city streets, and recently laid out plans to realize that vision by connecting those suffering with treatment.

“New York is a five-borough city, and I am a five-borough mayor,” said Mayor Adams. “Every inch of our city matters, and Staten Island is the gateway to our city’s success and prosperity. With this final boroughwide expansion of the NYPD’s Quality of Life Division, Staten Island will see safer, cleaner neighborhoods thanks to localized, precinct-based teams working hand-in-hand with the community. Since launching in April, we’ve expanded these specialized teams to Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens — answering more than 41,000 calls for service and cutting average response times by about 50 minutes — and today, we are expanding to Staten Island. We are ending the culture of ‘anything goes,’ and with housing communities next on the horizon, we will keep ensuring every New York City remains the safest big city in America and the best place to raise a family.”

“Every day, New Yorkers tell us about the conditions that make their neighborhoods feel less safe: the abandoned cars, the illegal mopeds, the encampments, and the noise,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Q-Teams are responding to those concerns quickly and consistently. Since its inception, Q-Teams have handled over 41,000 calls citywide. Across the six pilot commands, teams have improved non-emergency response times by an average of 50 minutes citywide, while towing 710 vehicles and seizing 322 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds. With today’s expansion across Staten Island, we’ve expanded this dedicated team to all five boroughs, and made quality of life a core part of what the NYPD does every single day.”

Program Results

On April 14, the NYPD launched Q-Teams across six pilot commands: the 13th, 40th, 60th, 75th, and 101st precincts, along with Police Service Area 1. Since the launch and through August 14, Q-Teams have responded directly to communities and made significant improvements to New Yorkers’ quality-of-life concerns.

Six Pilot Commands:

• Responded to 18,031 911 and 311 calls.
• Towed 710 abandoned and derelict vehicles.
• Seized 322 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Manhattan Q-Teams:

• Responded to 6,384 911 and 311 calls.
• Towed 114 abandoned and derelict vehicles.
• Seized 135 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Bronx Q-Teams:

• Responded to 6,900 911 and 311 calls.
• Towed 71 abandoned and derelict vehicles.
• Seized 83 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Brooklyn Q-Teams:

• Responded to 7,473 911 and 311 calls.
• Towed 282 abandoned and derelict vehicles.
• Seized 99 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Queens Q-Teams:

• Responded to 2,283 911 and 311 calls.
• Towed 106 abandoned and derelict vehicles.
• Seized 8 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

In addition to Q-Team operations, the following NYPD units also contributed to addressing quality-of-life concerns in the pilot commands, as well as in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens through August 14, with the results below:

• Vehicle Response Team: Towed 5,894 abandoned or derelict vehicles.
• Smoke Shop Task Force: Executed 1,144 inspections and padlocked 211 smoke shops.
• Encampment Team: Resolved 1,650 homeless conditions.

Q-Teams are comprised of officers from across the NYPD who undergo specialized training on how to address non-emergency, quality-of-life concerns, including noise complaints, illegal vending, outdoor drug use, unregistered vehicles, encampments, and reckless e-bike and scooter riding. Each team receives additional instruction in discretionary responses to specific conditions as an alternative to using enforcement tools.

The NYPD holds monthly Q-Stat meetings — modeled after the NYPD’s main crime data tracker, “CompStat” — to analyze precinct and public service data related to 311 calls and requests. This process helps examine operation outcomes, identify neighborhoods that are most susceptible to recurring quality-of-life issues, and hold precincts accountable. New York City’s 311 system, NYC311, is a non-emergency service that allows New Yorkers to report non-emergency issues, request city services, and discover information about government programs.

“Public safety is achieved through many approaches and cannot be accomplished by enforcement actions alone,” said Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. “While law enforcement remains a critical component, it is only one piece of the larger puzzle. True public safety also involves addressing the root causes of crime and the everyday issues that affect the quality of life in our neighborhoods. That is why initiatives like the mayor’s creation of Quality of Life Teams are so important. By focusing on concerns such as disorder, community maintenance, and the underlying challenges that can give rise to crime, these teams will help create safer, cleaner, and stronger communities. Their work will not only complement the efforts of our police but will also bring needed resources and attention to issues that matter deeply to Staten Islanders. I applaud this initiative and welcome the Quality of Life Teams to Staten Island. Their presence represents an investment in prevention, problem-solving, and partnership with the community — an investment that will pay dividends in making our borough a better place to live, work, and raise a family. This initiative will go a long way in keeping Staten Island the safest borough in New York City.”

“Our number one priority has been to improve the quality of life for Staten Islanders. That’s why we support the initiative of the Mayor and NYPD to focus on these issues. The NYPD continues to be an effective partner in getting illegal mopeds taken off our streets, taking action against illegally parked commercial vehicles, and addressing other quality of life concerns,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. “We thank Mayor Adams for expanding these focused Q-Teams to Staten Island to continue this good work, and we will continue to do what’s best for our neighbors and the residents of this great community.”

“The expansion of Q-Teams across Staten Island gives us real hope in addressing the quality-of-life issues that affect our communities every day,” said New York City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks. “Tackling challenges like abandoned cars, illegal mopeds, and public disorder is essential to keeping our neighborhoods safe, clean, and welcoming. I look forward to seeing this effort make a positive difference for Staten Islanders.”

“Quality of Life teams are designed to focus on de-escalation and send the right professionals to address community issues. I strongly support expanding these programs and look forward to reviewing the data from their implementation,” said New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam. “Improving emergency response times, while reducing over-policing, is a key reform. Launching Q teams in Staten Island will help bridge gaps in our current system.”

Mayor Eric Adams participates in a ceremony adding names to the World Trade Center (WTC) wall for Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) members who died of 9/11 related illnesses. FDNY Headquarters, Brooklyn. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Tourism + Conventions (NYC Tourism), and The Broadway League today announced “Founded By Broadway,” a free live concert to celebrate the 400th anniversary of New York City and spotlight Broadway’s vital role in the city’s history. The concert — which will take place live in Times Square on September 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM, rain or shine — will be a marquee event for “Founded By NYC,” the Adams administration’s immersive year-long campaign commemorating 400 years of New York City history. “Founded By Broadway” will celebrate the past, present, and future of Broadway, with performances and appearances by some of Broadway’s newest and most celebrated shows, including Aladdin, & Juliet, The Book of Mormon, Buena Vista Social Club, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Chicago, Death Becomes Her, The Great Gatsby, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hell’s Kitchen, Just in Time, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Maybe Happy Ending, MJ, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, The Outsiders, Punch, SIX: The Musical, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and Wicked. All performances will be accompanied by live music courtesy of The Music Performance Trust Fund and the Film Funds. Performances and artists are subject to change closer to the final performance date.

Originally unveiled at the end of 2024, Founded By NYC celebrates the 400th anniversary of New York City through activations across the five boroughs — including New York City-themed movies as part of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation free summer movies series; the largest-ever New York City Department of Transportation Summer Streets with 400 blocks of free events citywide; the 47th annual Museum Mile Festival; and more.

“For well over 100 years, a small stretch of theaters in the heart of Manhattan has transported audiences across the entire world and through time. From stories set as close as Hell’s Kitchen to epic adventures in far-off lands, Broadway has inspired generations of New Yorkers and visitors alike with its creativity, energy, and ambition,” said Mayor Adams. “The story of Broadway is the story of New York City, and with ‘Founded By Broadway’ and this Times Square concert for all to partake in for free, we will help tell both of these stories this September. Thanks to ‘Founded By NYC,’ we’re thrilled to be hosting events like this all year long as we commemorate more than four centuries of New York City history and show, once again, why we are ‘the greatest city in the world.’”

“There’s only one Broadway and there’s only one New York City. The heart of Times Square is the perfect place to celebrate Broadway’s legacy,” said Jason Laks, president, The Broadway League. “As we mark 400 years of this extraordinary city, the ‘Founded By Broadway’ concert will bring together the energy, talent, and storytelling that define New York and inspire the world. We’re proud to be part of the ‘Founded By NYC’ campaign and to showcase the artists, productions, and performances that continue to make Broadway a cultural cornerstone and economic engine for our city.”

“Broadway is synonymous with a visit to New York City, and what better way to celebrate 400 years than with a free, live concert in the center of it all, Times Square,” said Julie Coker, president and CEO, New York City Tourism + Conventions. “As a marquee moment of our ‘Founded By NYC’ campaign, this celebration will spotlight our renowned theater scene and launch NYC Broadway Week, offering 2-for-1 admission to a variety of remarkable shows this season while supporting local businesses in the theater district.”

The Adams administration’s Founded By NYC campaign — led by NYC Tourism + Conventions — brings together organizations across the city, including the Lenape Center, The Broadway League, the Museum of the City of New York, Times Square Alliance and multiple other Business Improvement Districts, all city agencies, and more. Throughout the year, New York City’s 400th anniversary is being incorporated into major city events in the worlds of art, film, music, and more, including Gracie Mansion’s art installations, New York free summer movies featuring notable films set in the five boroughs, the Museum Mile Festival, performances by Broadway stars, and the largest-ever Summer Streets. New York City’s 400th anniversary themes are also being featured at additional events, parades, festivals, institutions, and celebrations across the city throughout the year. The campaign is supported by Hamilton, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, including the song, “The Schuyler Sisters,” which provides the soundtrack for the Founded By NYC video.

The Founded By NYC campaign highlights the achievements, creativity, and resilience of the five boroughs and its people, including the perspectives of marginalized audiences like those of the Indigenous community, women, and people of color. Throughout planning for New York City’s 400th anniversary, the Mayor’s Office has partnered with the Lenape Center to uplift the voices of the Lenape community. Last year, Mayor Adams proclaimed November 20 “Lenape Heritage Day” in a ceremony at Gracie Mansion. This announcement came one year after Mayor Adams hosted the first-ever mayoral reception celebrating Native American and Indigenous heritage at Gracie Mansion to ensure the past contributions and painful experiences of the Lenape people and other Indigenous communities are not lost to history.

As part of the campaign, NYC Tourism launched “From Times Square to the World,” a video series featuring local hosts using Times Square as a starting point to explore all five boroughs and uncover groundbreaking cultural movements, creative cuisines, and revolutionary ideas that make New York City unlike anywhere else. The video series can be found on the Founded By NYC website and NYC Tourism social media pages, alongside two series entitled Origin Stories and Object Lessons. The campaign also includes Founded By NYC branded content, created with media partners WNBC New York and Telemundo, as well as Atlas Obscura and the Bowery Boys.

Founded By Broadway will be held in partnership with The Broadway League. The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry representing more than 800 members from nearly 200 national and international markets including theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the commercial theatre industry. Key league programs and resources such as Kids’ Night on Broadway, The Jimmy Awards/National High School Musical Theatre Awards, Broadway Bridges, Black to Broadway, ¡Viva! Broadway, Broadway Membership Fellows, Broadway Speakers Bureau, and the Internet Broadway Database represent the League’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive culture within the industry that is geared toward accessibility and advancing audience development, industry practices, and workforce opportunities. The Broadway League co-administers the dotBroadway top-level domain, providing online visitors assurance that the web address they are accessing is from a verified League member. Since 1967, The Broadway League has been co-presenting the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards.

Mayor Eric Adams participates in a ceremony adding names to the World Trade Center (WTC) wall for Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) members who died of 9/11 related illnesses. FDNY Headquarters, Brooklyn. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant today announced that the City of New York has filed an amicus brief supporting plaintiffs in African Communities Together and The Door v. Todd Lyons et al., a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s unlawful campaign of arresting and detaining people who show up to for mandatory immigration proceedings. The amicus brief details the severe harms of the federal government’s ongoing campaign to arrest those showing up at courthouses when asked to do so and supports the lawsuit’s arguments that that the federal government is in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The brief supports the plaintiffs’ request for an immediate stop to these unlawful arrests.

“From my first days as a rookie cop to my current role as mayor of New York City, my job is, and has always been, to keep law-abiding New Yorkers safe.  We should allow New Yorkers to feel secure to attend legal proceedings in their pursuit to obtain legal status,” said Mayor Adams. “I’ve been clear, no one in our city should feel forced to hide in the shadows or be afraid to use resources, and that includes sending children to school, going to a hospital when sick, calling 911 when in danger, or going to a court hearing when called upon to do so.”

“New York City has become the epicenter of the Trump administration’s courthouse arrest campaign,” said Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant. “With every illegal courthouse arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is chipping away at the bedrock principles of fairness and due process that support our entire system of justice. We strongly support plaintiffs in this case, who are fighting to uphold the rule of law and reverse an unprecedented federal policy that undermines the public good.”

The brief — which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — argues that New York City is less safe when immigrants are afraid to use basic services and attend immigration court hearings. The brief makes clear that the federal government’s arrests of immigrants in the vicinity of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan — which is near several other courts as well — drives immigrants — who are otherwise inclined to follow the law — underground and undermines the very system that those laws are designed to serve. If residents fear that simply appearing in court to protect their rights or the rights of others could expose them to detention and removal, they will cease to do so and the judicial system will suffer, the brief argues. The five boroughs is home to more than 3 million immigrants, comprising nearly 40 percent of the city’s population. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration’s new immigration enforcement policies violate the Administrative Procedure Act by arbitrarily abandoning longstanding federal rules and laws limiting civil immigration arrests near courthouses and stripping away required due process protections for noncitizens. The city’s amicus supports plaintiffs’ motion seeking a stay of the policies.

This amicus follows several other amicus briefs by the City of New York in support of individuals who were arrested at their immigration hearings, including public school students Dylan Lopez Contreras and Derlis Snaider and former public school student Jose Luis.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments (BACA) on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan today announced three major milestones in their efforts to fight rats and deliver a cleaner city to all New Yorkers. First, the DSNY’s Highway Unit — created by the Adams administration in April 2023 — has removed more than 15 million pounds of litter and debris from highway shoulders and medians. Second, nearly a year ahead of a June 2026 deadline for buildings with one to nine residential units to start utilizing new bins, New York City residents and building managers have ordered more than 800,000 official NYC Bins online, along with 80,000 more purchased at Home Depot — a major milestone in the city’s effort to move trash off streets and into containers. Finally, new data shows the city’s approach is working in the war on rats: Since residential containerization requirements took effect eight months ago, rat sightings reported to 311 have declined each month, as shown in 311 data.

“It’s garbage to think we can’t have a cleaner city, and thanks to our ‘Trash Revolution’ we don’t have to; we are announcing three major milestones in our ongoing quest for a cleaner and more livable city for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “When we declared that trash and filth would no longer be normalized, many doubted it could be done, but we took bold, immediate action and are proving the doubters wrong. We’ve now removed more than 15 million pounds of litter and debris from highway shoulders and medians, moved trash off our streets and into containers, reduced rat sightings — and that’s just the beginning. We’re proving what’s possible when government leads with urgency and purpose, and when that’s paired with an unmatched hatred for rats and trash.”

“As a 26-year veteran of this department, I can say from experience that the city is cleaner than it has been in at least a generation,” said DSNY Acting Commissioner Lojan. “Think back to just a few years ago, when mounds of black bags were a fixture on our sidewalks, swarming with rats at night, and many of our public spaces were cleaned inconsistently by a patchwork of entities. Thanks to Mayor Adams, New York’s Strongest now have the tools we need to clean our city, and we are delivering.”

New York City’s 1,100 miles of highways are gateways to the city, seen by millions of New Yorkers and visitors alike each year, and yet, for decades, cleaning shoulders and medians was sporadic and performed by several different agencies. To ensure that highways reflected the Adams administration’s commitment to a clean city, Mayor Adams formed the DSNY Highway Unit in April 2023 to clean these spacers on a more regular basis. This unit — which required specialized training and equipment — consists of seven vehicles, including a three-arm mechanical broom designed specifically for highway use. Since launching in April 2023, sanitation workers assigned to this unit have removed 15 million pounds of debris and their work continues daily. Every morning, a convoy of equipment and workers removes litter and debris — including car bumpers, water bottles, fast food packaging, and more — that dirty New York City streets and potentially turn into safety hazards on roads.

The administration’s commitment to getting trash out of bags and into containers has also reached a milestone: Ahead of a June 2026 deadline for buildings with one to nine residential units to use official NYC Bins, New York City residents and building managers have now officially ordered more than 800,000 NYC Bins online through the city, while ordering 80,000 more NYC Bins at Home Depot stores. With a price tag of less than half of comparable bins on the market, the official NYC Bin is high-quality, affordable, and the rats hate it.

Taken together, these efforts are working, as evidenced by the drop in rat sightings reported to 311 for eight consecutive months when compared to the same months a year earlier, and year to date, rat sightings are down 16.4 percent citywide.

Today’s milestones are part of Mayor Adams’ Trash Revolution — the citywide effort to move trash from black bags on the sidewalk to rat-resistant, closed containers. In October 2022, the Adams administration kicked off the Trash Revolution by changing set-out times for both residential and commercial waste from 4:00 PM — one of the earliest set-out times in the country — to 8:00 PM beginning the following April, while allowing for earlier set-out times if materials were in a container. This incentivization of containerization was paired with major changes to DSNY operations, picking up well over a quarter of all trash at 12:00 AM rather than 6:00 AM, particularly in high density parts of the city, and ending a practice by which up to one-fifth of trash had been purposefully left out for a full day. Also, in April 2023, DSNY published the “Future of Trash” report, the first meaningful attempt to study containerization models in New York City and the playbook to get it done.

Building on that groundwork, in July 2023, containerization requirements went into effect for all food-related businesses in New York City. These businesses — restaurants, delis, bodegas, bars, grocery stores, caterers, and more — produce an outsized amount of the type of trash that attracts rats. That same month, installation of the initial 10-block, 14-school, Manhattan Community Board 9 pilot containers began. In September 2023, commercial containerization requirements extended to chain businesses of any type with five or more locations in New York City. These chain businesses tend to produce a large total volume of trash.

In February 2024, Mayor Adams unveiled a new, automated, side-loading garbage truck and a new data-driven containerization strategy, affirming a commitment from Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address to set New York City on the course to store all trash put out for pickup in containers. This truck was unveiled four years earlier than industry experts thought possible. The following month, in March 2024, container requirements went into effect for all businesses — of every type — in New York City to get their trash off the streets and into secure bins. Later that year, in November 2024, container requirements went into effect for low-density residential buildings — those with one to nine units — containerizing approximately 70 percent of all trash in the city.

Earlier this year, in the “Best Budget Ever,” Mayor Adams committed over $32 million in permanent funding for DSNY to keep New York City clean as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. This decision permanently allocates resources to key aspects of Mayor Adams’ cleanliness agenda, establishing permanent high levels of funding to protect the cleanliness and quality of life of city neighborhoods for generations to come. In June 2025, Mayor Adams announced that — following the installation of approximately 1,100 on-street containers for residential trash from the largest buildings — 100 percent of trash in Manhattan Community Board 9 is now covered by containerization requirements.

Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announce the opening of NYC Health + Hospitals’ “Bridge to Home” facility. Dyer Avenue & West 36th Street, Manhattan. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced the hiring of nearly 1,100 police officer recruits, marking the largest class of officers sworn in by the NYPD since January 2016. The 1,093-person class also breaks the record for the largest NYPD class hired during the Adams administration, previously broken in January 2025, which consisted of 1,045 NYPD recruits. Including today’s class, already this year, the NYPD has hired 2,911 recruits — the highest number since 2006 — with another class still scheduled for this year. During the totality of the Adams administration, the NYPD has already hired nearly 10,000 NYPD police officers when including today’s recruit class, the 773 recruits sworn in the past April who are still in training at the Police Academy, and the more than 8,000 other police officers who have completed their training and already on the streets and subways keeping New York City safe.

Today’s new class of recruits was sworn in this morning and will begin their training at the Police Academy tomorrow, joining a growing force of officers preparing to make the five boroughs safer once they graduate. The recruits reflect the diversity, talent, and experience that define New York City: they hail from 51 different countries, speak 34 languages, and include 80 individuals with previous or current military service.

Today’s announcement also builds on the Adams administration’s “End Culture of Anything Goes” campaign, highlighting Mayor Adams’ ongoing efforts to change city culture, update laws and make strategic investments that improve quality of life and prevent public disorder on city streets.

“Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity, and today’s announcement shows we are investing in the future of both,” said Mayor Adams. “With nearly 1,100 new police recruits — the most in almost 10 years — beginning their training today thanks to expanded eligibility and modernized educational requirements we announced earlier this year, we are building a stronger and more modern NYPD that reflects the diversity, commitment, and determination of our city. These recruits will be part of the nearly 10,000 police officers who have stepped up to serve under our administration, helping us achieve historic reductions in crime and keeping our communities safe. Together, we are ending the culture of ‘anything goes,’ improving quality of life, and keeping New York City the safest big city in America and the best place to raise a family.”

“Today is a defining moment for the NYPD and for New York City — 1,093 new recruits are entering the police academy, the largest class in nearly a decade,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The single most strategic thing the NYPD can do right now is hire more qualified officers. That’s why we were laser-focused on addressing our recruitment efforts and bringing in the next generation of officers. The momentum is changing, and thanks to Mayor Adams’ support, we will continue to attract the highest level of candidates to protect this city.”

Today’s announcement underscores the administration’s signature investments to make New York City safer, more affordable, and the best place to raise a family, while maintaining record-high reserves and ensuring a strong fiscal future. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget — which builds on the “Best Budget Ever” — includes $3.4 billion for approximately 34,000 police officers, including four academy classes, and FY 2027 is funded to support a uniform force of 35,000.

In February 2025, NYPD Commissioner Tisch announced a three-part plan to attract more candidates and modernize education requirements to address the hiring crisis the NYPD has faced in recent years. The NYPD was one of the only remaining big-city municipal police forces in the country with a college credit requirement — which limited its ability to compete for applicants with other local agencies and major cities nationwide. As a result of the changes announced in February, the department reduced barriers to employment by reforming the required college credit minimum to enter the Police Academy from 60 credits to 24 credits. The new plan also emphasizes physical fitness by reinstating the previous long-standing requirement of completing a timed 1.5-mile run. Additionally, a recent reassessment conducted by the National College Credit Recommendation Service determined that the completion of the six-month NYPD Police Academy recruit training program is equivalent to 45 college credits, an increase from the previous 36 credits. Graduates of the academy will now enter the NYPD with a minimum of 69 college credits.

Following this expanded eligibility announcement, daily applications increased by almost 332 percent, from an average of 53.5 filings per day to 231.5 per day. During the most recent exam, that average skyrocketed 579 percent, with an average of 363 daily filers. There were more than 5,000 individuals registering to take the latest police exam in just 14 days. This massive increase reflects renewed interest in New Yorkers in serving the city.

The Adams administration’s focus on public safety has already produced historic results. From January 2025 to July 2025, New York City experienced the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history. These historic numbers helped drive down major crime categories into the seventh consecutive quarter, with a 5.6 percent drop in July 2025 compared to the same month last year. Overall index crime across New York City is down 5 percent year-to-date, with reductions in homicides, robberies, burglaries, felony assaults, grand larcenies, vehicle theft, shootings, transit crime, housing crime, retail theft, hate crimes, and more — resulting in 3,605 fewer victims of crime in New York City so far this year compared to the same period last year. These record-low crime statistics build on the Adams administration’s work to remove more than 23,200 illegal guns from New York City streets since coming into office, including more than 3,400 illegal firearms already removed year-to-date.

Mayor Adams has also invested in broader public safety initiatives to keep communities safe. He has launched a $500 million blueprint to keep communities safe from gun violence, surged police officers into the subways to help reduce crime in the transit system, released plans to crack down on auto thefts and combat retail thefts, hired additional mental health clinicians to support people with untreated severe mental illness and announced plans to pilot new technology in the subways, and expanded the Saturday Night Lights youth program to keep young people safe and engaged.

Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Tisch also expanded the NYPD’s Quality of Life Division — a strategic public safety initiative launched in April 2025 that brings together specially trained officers from existing NYPD community-oriented roles to address chronic quality-of-life issues and strengthen community trust — to all five boroughs earlier this week. The division, made up of Q-Teams, will expand to housing developments citywide next month.

Through these combined efforts — recruitment, budget investments, and innovative programs — the Adams administration continues to prioritize safer streets, stronger communities, and a modernized police force prepared to meet the challenges of a 21st-century New York.

Interested applicants can learn more and apply by visiting the NYPD recruitment website.

Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announce the opening of NYC Health + Hospitals’ “Bridge to Home” facility. Dyer Avenue & West 36th Street, Manhattan. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams today announced a new pilot initiative to accelerate payments for a selection of small-scale discretionary funding awards and streamline the city’s discretionary funding process. Launching in fall 2025, the Discretionary Grant Pilot will replace the traditional contract process with direct grant agreements for approximately 100 organizations receiving $25,000 or less in City Council discretionary dollars during its first year. The grant pilot will eliminate 13 steps, allowing eligible nonprofits to receive 100 percent of their City Council-allocated funds in nearly half the time of the current contracting process. In its second year, the pilot will be extended to hundreds of organizations that qualify. The pilot addresses long-standing inefficiencies that have required small-dollar discretionary awards to undergo the same complex registration process as multi-million-dollar, competitively bid contracts. As a result, many nonprofits have faced delays before being able to register their contract or submit their first invoices for small-dollar funding awards. This initiative comes as Mayor Adams recognizes “NYC Nonprofit Week” and builds on his administration’s progress in reducing the city’s backlog of unregistered contracts — achieving an 88 percent rate of on-time submissions for the registration of standard human service contracts for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

“When nonprofits thrive, our city and our people thrive. New York City’s nonprofits do the work millions of our city’s residents rely on — delivering meals to seniors, providing legal services to immigrants, connecting people to housing, caring for our young people, and so much more. In order to ensure that these organizations succeed and continue to support New Yorkers, we need to remove the different barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of their crucial mission,” said Mayor Adams. “The new Discretionary Grant Pilot does just that — revamping the old process and replacing it with a new, streamlined approach to get the money nonprofits need and are owed to them within weeks instead of years. Nonprofits always deliver for New Yorkers, and today, we’re proud to continue delivering for nonprofits.”

“Non-profits provide essential services to New Yorkers through city contracts and funding, but far too often are paid late for their work and forced to shoulder excessive administrative burdens,” said Speaker Adams. “This new Council discretionary grant pilot program, in partnership with Mayor Adams’ administration, will remove excessive barriers to get non-profits their funding faster and with less red tape. The Council is proud to continue our work to ensure that our non-profit sector can successfully deliver New Yorkers the lifesaving care and dignity they deserve.”

Led by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS), the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services (MONS), and the New York City Council, in collaboration with key partner agencies including the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) and the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), this pilot will significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles and speed up payments to the city’s nonprofits — delivering on Mayor Adams’ promise to empower organizations that serve on the frontlines of New York City’s neighborhoods.

Under the pilot, eligible nonprofits will receive one-year grant agreements, bypassing the traditional months-long contract registration process. Once agreements are signed and returned, 100 percent of funds will be disbursed to the nonprofits, allowing organizations to serve their communities without delayed payments.

Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announce the opening of NYC Health + Hospitals’ “Bridge to Home” facility. Dyer Avenue & West 36th Street, Manhattan. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced that DOT has granted Waymo its first-ever permit to begin testing a limited number of autonomous vehicles (AV) in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn under the nation’s strictest AV safety rules, including a requirement to have a trained AV-specialist behind the wheel at all times. Launched by the Adams administration last year, the city’s robust safety requirements have been established for responsible and safe AV testing in New York City. The rigorous permitting program ensures all approved applicants are ready to safely and proficiently test their technology in the country’s most dynamic and complex urban environment.

“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” said Mayor Adams. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century. As we continue to implement responsible innovation, we will always prioritize street safety.”

“As autonomous vehicle technology expands across the country, DOT has put in place comprehensive safety guidelines to ensure safe, responsible testing on our city’s streets,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “These requirements will help ensure that the development of this technology is focused, first and foremost, on the safety of everyone who shares our busy city streets.”

“With over 10 million rides completed in five major U.S. cities and a strong safety record, we’re proud to be working with leaders to lay the groundwork to bring this life saving technology to New Yorkers one day, beginning with receiving the first-ever permit issued in the city to drive autonomously,” said Annabel Chang, head of U.S. state and local public policy, Waymo. “We believe it is essential for companies to collaborate directly with cities on the rollout of autonomous technology and are pleased to have reached this next step in New York City.”

“Roadway safety for all New Yorkers is quite simply one of the most important issues today,” said Paige Carbone, regional executive director, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) New York. “Autonomous vehicles hold the exciting promise of preventing deaths and injuries caused by behavioral factors, including impaired driving, if deployed responsibly and safely and in collaboration with the right community and city stakeholders. We welcome this next step for New Yorkers as Waymo receives the first permit of its kind.”

As part of their permit to operate within New York City, Waymo is required to coordinate closely with DOT through regular meetings and data reporting and Waymo must certify that they are adhering to the industry’s best practices related to cybersecurity. In addition to receiving DOT approval, Waymo has also obtained necessary permits from the New York state Department of Motor Vehicles. Waymo will be permitted to test up to eight autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September 2025. After the pilot testing period, Waymo will have the opportunity to apply for an extension to their pilot testing period. Finally, DOT’s approval strictly relates to testing AV technology — the use of autonomous vehicles for for-hire service is currently prohibited by New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rules, and any company providing for-hire service must comply with TLC rules, including by obtaining a TLC license.

Banner Image: Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announce the opening of NYC Health + Hospitals’ “Bridge to Home” facility. Dyer Avenue & West 36th Street, Manhattan. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Image Credit – Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.