Medical Debt, Disaster Grants, Jewel Street Neighborhood Plan, Battle of the Boroughs, Celebrating Polish Heritage, Knicks Playoff Opener, Childcare For DCAS, Disability Community, 9-1-1 School Pilot: Mayor Adams

Medical Debt, Disaster Grants, Jewel Street Neighborhood Plan, Battle of the Boroughs, Celebrating Polish Heritage, Knicks Playoff Opener, Childcare For DCAS, Disability Community, 9-1-1 School Pilot: Mayor Adams

Editor’s note: Readers can see the Mayor’s article from last week here, and the op-ed, about making New York City a more affordable place to raise a family with baby boxes given low-income families with essentials for a newborn’s first few months, an be found here. 

MAYOR ADAMS CANCELS NEARLY $135 MILLION IN MEDICAL DEBT FOR WORKING-CLASS NEW YORKERS, CELEBRATES OPENING OF EIGHT NEW FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS AT SELECT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LOCATIONS TO HELP NEW YORKERS AVOID FUTURE MEDICAL DEBT

Pioneering Program Launched by Mayor Adams Cancels Medical Debt for Over 75,000 New Yorkers in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt

When Done, New York City’s Investment Will Provide $2 Billion in Relief for up to 500,000 New Yorkers, Becoming Largest Municipal Medical Debt Relief Program in Nation

City Opens Eight Financial Empowerment Centers, Making More Financial Services Accessible to More New Yorkers

Note: Staten Islanders seeking this counseling would have to travel to a different borough, as there are none on the island.

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services to help New Yorkers reach their financial goals. Image Credit – NYC Mayor

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced over 75,000 New Yorkers. Last year, Mayor Adams launched a pioneering program that — through an $18 million investment by the city over three years — will relieve some or all of the medical debt for 500,000 working-class New Yorkers on a one-time basis, totaling over $2 billion in eliminated debt. In addition, Mayor Adams today celebrated the opening of eight new ‘NYC Financial Empowerment Centers’ run by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) at select NYC Health + Hospitals locations across the health system to help New Yorkers better plan and avoid going into medical debt in the future. This announcement continues to fulfill two more key commitments made during Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, to relieve $2 billion of New Yorkers’ medical debt and embed additional financial counselors in New York City hospitals — providing more New Yorkers with access to vital personalized financial guidance.

“For too long, and for too many, medical debt has not only been a barrier for those looking to get the health care they need, but also a major financial and emotional stressor for families through no fault of their own. Working-class New Yorkers shouldn’t have to live in fear that getting sick will break their bank, and, thanks to our administration, they won’t have to,” said Mayor Adams. “We are proud to announce another milestone in our initiative to abolish medical debt for New Yorkers. Since launching our program with Undue Medical Debt, we have cancelled nearly $135 million in medical debt for over 75,000 people and we will not stop until we reach our goal of providing $2 billion in relief for half a million of our city’s residents. We are also fulfilling our promise to place more Financial Empowerment Centers where they are needed: in our hospitals so that we can give people the tools they need to avoid going into medical debt from the start by making smarter financial decisions. Through the largest municipal medical debt relief program in the nation and providing greater access to financial resources, we are delivering debt relief and peace of mind to New Yorkers across the five boroughs, as we put money back in their pockets and make our city more affordable every day.”

“Our administration is taking a range of steps to support working-class families, and this program is one of these steps,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Suzanne Miles-Gustave. “We expect more relief to come in the coming months and years for hundreds of thousands more families. Thank you to our partners at Undue Medical Debt and the Mayor’s Fund for helping lift this financial weight from the shoulders of so many New Yorkers.”

“Erasing medical debt isn’t just a gesture of compassion — it’s a necessity when so many New Yorkers are often forced to choose between their health and basic needs like food or housing,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “We must create a more equitable and affordable system so that New Yorkers do not fear financial ruin after seeking necessary medical care. By relieving debt burden, we’re providing people with the freedom to prioritize their health while making our city stronger and more accessible for everyone.”

“Improving our financial health can have direct impacts on our physical and mental health,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Today, we’re encouraging all New Yorkers to get a dose of financial empowerment at one of our Financial Empowerment Centers! As a client of our Financial Empowerment Centers myself, I know firsthand how liberating it is to set yourself up for long-term financial success. Thank you to Mayor Adams and to NYC Health + Hospitals for partnering with us to help New Yorkers learn smart money habits and strengthen their financial health.”

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“Financial stressors are one of the most common non-medical needs identified by NYC Health + Hospitals patients and there is a close connection between wealth and health,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer Dr. Nichola Davis. “By bringing Financial Empowerment Center services to our health system, we are providing our patients with information and tools to improve their financial health as well as their physical and mental health. We are grateful to Mayor Adams and DCWP for their leadership to alleviate financial stress experienced by our patients.”

“We’re honored to continue our partnership with the City of New York to bring medical debt relief to more New Yorkers burdened by these unpayable debts,” said Allison Sesso, president and CEO, Undue Medical Debt. “Removing financial barriers to care is more important than ever. This initiative helps families breathe easier and re-engage with the health care system without fear of financial ruin.”

About New York City’s Medical Debt Relief Program

Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States, disproportionately affecting uninsured, under-insured, and low-income households. The city has partnered with Undue Medical Debt, a national New York City-based nonprofit specializing in buying and ultimately wiping out medical debt to acquire debt portfolios from health care providers and hospitals across New York City, as well as from collection agencies.

There is no application process for New York City’s one-time debt relief program, which is the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the country. Instead, Undue Medical Debt will purchase bundled, qualifying medical debt portfolios from providers, like hospitals and commercial debt buyers, to then abolish that debt at pennies on the dollar. Debt relief recipients will then be notified that their debt has been bought by a third party and erased, with no strings attached. Recipients owe nothing on the debt and face no tax penalty. New Yorkers who fit one of the two eligibility criteria will qualify for the debt relief if their debt has been acquired: 1) having an annual household income at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 2) having medical debt equal to 5 percent or more of their annual household income.

To supplement the city’s investment, Undue Medical Debt and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City will also partner to raise additional funding over three years in order to relieve more medical debt, New Yorkers interested in helping relieve medical debt can donate online.

More than 100 million Americans hold some amount of medical debt, with the total amount nationwide exceeding $220 billion. Carrying medical debt can undermine financial stability and mobility, as it can affect credit scores and put individuals and families in difficult positions to choose between care and other necessary expenses. Nationwide, , and while medical debt may be held by those without insurance, even those with insurance are at risk of carrying medical debt.

About New York City’s Financial Empowerment Program

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services to help New Yorkers reach their financial goals. The Financial Empowerment Centers can help New Yorkers learn how to create action plans and take small but meaningful steps to manage their money, establish or improve their credit, set up a spending plan, open a safe and affordable bank account, contact their lenders about debt, including student loans and medical debt, develop a strategy to reduce debt or lower payments, and more.

Building on DCWP and NYC Health + Hospitals’ existing partnership in providing access to free tax preparation services through NYC Free Tax Prep at select health system sites, this new expansion will offer all of the services available at NYC Financial Empowerment Centers across the city but now conveniently located where many New Yorkers receive health care. Research shows that offering financial counseling and coaching in clinical settings can improve quality of life and overall health outcomes. This collaboration ensures that more New Yorkers can access the financial care they need to improve their lives and achieve their goals.

Since the start of the Adams administration, DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Centers have helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers improve their credit, reduce their debt by more than $45.1 million, and increase their savings by $5.1 million through free one-on-one financial counseling services. There are over 40 centers across the five boroughs with services available in 11 languages. New Yorkers 18 and older can visit DCWP’s Financial Counseling webpage or call 311 and say “financial counseling” to schedule an appointment or for more information.

New Yorkers can now access free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services at the following NYC Health + Hospitals locations:

BRONX

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont

1920 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

1400 Pelham Pkwy S, Building 8 Atrium, Bronx, NY 10461

Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

BROOKLYN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York

2094 Pitkin Ave, 2nd Floor, Room 202, Brooklyn, NY 11207

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

451 Clarkson Avenue, E Building, Main Lobby, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

MANHATTAN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Finance Department, First Floor, Hospital Building

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur

227 Madison Street, 5th Floor Lobby, New York, NY 10002

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

QUEENS

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst

79-01 Broadway, Main Lobby, Broadway Entrance, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens

82-70 164th Street, Main Building, Conference Room D, Jamaica, NY 11434

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

“What They’re Saying:” Undue Medical Debt Recipients

“I want to thank Undue Medical Debt president, Allison Sesso, for the great help in solving my medical debt and [for leading] such a great program,” said Efrain, Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “I also want to thank Mayor Eric Adams for approving such a great program. Thank you so much.”

“I had no idea this service existed and was quite concerned that it might be a scam. After some research I was overjoyed to find that it is totally real. It is heartwarming to know that there are still so many people committed to fighting for social and economic justice,” said Hector R., Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “Due to some chronic illnesses and unfortunate accidents [over] the past 10 years, I have accumulated significant medical debt.  As a 73-year-old living on social security, it is impossible to keep up with copayments, coinsurance, and uncovered prescription drug costs. By relieving me of $5,348 of medical debt, you have contributed significantly to my mental and financial health. Thank you so much.”

“I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the cancellation of my medical debt by NYC and Undue Medical Debt. The burden of medical expenses has been overwhelming, and your assistance has provided me with immense relief and peace of mind,” said M., Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “Your generosity and support have made a significant impact on my life, allowing me to focus on my health and well-being without the constant worry of financial strain. I am truly grateful for your dedication to helping individuals like myself, and I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. Once again, thank you for your invaluable support and for giving me a fresh start. I am deeply appreciative of the work you do and the positive difference you make in the lives of so many.”

“For me it was a gift from God and then from you. [I] ask him for so much, that he open the way for me to get ahead and out of all my problems,” said Usi Alfonsina G., Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “And I receive this letter. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”

“I have been in medical debt for many years,” said Juan, Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “Thanks to Undue Medical Debt, I’m no longer in debt.”

“I got into a tragic car accident. My car was struck by a gas truck. I was ejected out of my vehicle and my body rolled onto the highway,” said Deandrea Dey, Undue Medical Debt Recipient. “The damages I went through felt so unreal. I had the most amazing staff. They were so surprised by how much fight I had to recover. There is plenty more to this story.”

New York City Mayor hosts a reception celebrating Uzbekistan heritage at Gracie Mansion. Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

CITY OF NEW YORK FILES LAWSUIT TO PROTECT OVER $100 MILLION IN FEDERAL EMERGENCY AND DISASTER GRANTS TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NATIONWIDE 

Lawsuit Argues Federal Conditions Imposed on Grants from DHS and FEMA Are Unlawful and Would Harm Public Safety, Emergency Preparedness

NEW YORK – The City of New York — as part of a national coalition of nine local governments from across the country — has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), challenging the federal government’s effort to force cities and counties to agree to unlawful conditions to continue to receive over $100 million in federal funding for countering terrorism, disaster preparedness, and other public safety programs. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that without this funding, the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) ability to detect and defend against a radiological or nuclear attack could be compromised. Additionally, funding that supports the New York City transit system’s operational security capability and capacity, including active shooter training and deploying specialized teams within the transit system every day, could be affected.

“Public safety has always been our administration’s North Star, which is why we have always fought for every penny from our state and federal counterparts to keep us safe,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’ve hit historic lows in crime because we’ve always been willing to make the necessary investments, so now is not the time to go backwards. We are proud to join partners from across the nation, once again, in filing this lawsuit to keep New Yorkers, and Americans from across the nation, safe.”

“Losing funding that helps the NYPD prevent terror attacks on our subways, bridges, and tunnels would be contrary to law, the intent of Congress, and put millions of New Yorkers at risk,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant.

In each of the last three fiscal years, New York City has been awarded approximately $150 million in grant funding for critical emergency management programs at the NYPD, the New York City Department of Transportation, and other city agencies. However, in Fiscal Year 2025, as part of the “Standard Terms and Conditions,” DHS adopted unlawful new conditions requiring recipients to certify that they do not “operate any programs that advance or promote ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’,” and requiring compliance with all of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to be eligible to receive the funds. The DHS grants help local governments prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters such as acts of terrorism, mass shootings, cyber incidents, and other complex emergencies, putting critical services for numerous communities, including New York, at risk.

The lawsuit — led by the City of Chicago in Illinois and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division — states that new funding conditions added by the heads of federal agencies are unconstitutional and an overreach by the executive branch, which does not have the authority to change conditions related to federal grants without the approval of Congress.

The lawsuit resists efforts by the federal administration to coerce local governments into accepting these unlawful grant conditions, including a condition that puts at risk three times the amount of the grants based on vague and undefined requirements — further endangering critical services for New Yorkers.

Joining New York City and Chicago in filing the lawsuit are the cities of Denver, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Saint Paul Minnesota; as well as the county of Ramsey, Minnesota.

New York Road Runners (NYRR) hosts its annual ceremonial painting of the blue line that follows the 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs. Central Park. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, ALLEVIATE FLOODING, BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES IN JEWEL STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS 

Neighborhood Plan Follows More Than Two Years of Community Engagement 

City Will Deliver New Drainage System to Alleviate Flooding, Traffic Safety Improvements to Protect Pedestrians and Bikers, Invest Over $146 Million in Safer Jewel Streets 

Through Ambitious Rezoning Proposal and Initiatives to Build Housing on City-Owned Land, Plan Will Deliver up to 5,000 New Homes

Adams Administration to Immediately Begin Implementing Infrastructure and Housing Investments

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a landmark plan to transform the Jewel Streets area in Brooklyn and Queens into a safer, more affordable neighborhood, delivering long-overdue infrastructure upgrades, laying the foundation for thousands of new homes, and improving quality of life for current and future residents. The plan — which marks the culmination of more than two years of deep community engagement since its launch in June 2023 — includes a new, comprehensive drainage system to address chronic flooding in the neighborhood as well as new bus lane and traffic safety improvements along Linden Boulevard.

Additionally, as part of the neighborhood plan, the city will transform 17 acres of city-owned land into 1,400 new homes and pursue an area-wide rezoning proposal for the neighborhood to unlock another 3,600 homes as well. The Adams administration will immediately begin implementation of the Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan, investing in infrastructure investments and new housing as well as kicking off the public approval process for the plan this year. Altogether, the city will invest over $146 million in upgrading the neighborhood’s streets and infrastructure.

“New Yorkers in this neighborhood are the crown jewel of our city; unfortunately, we cannot say the same for the area’s infrastructure. For too long, the Jewel Streets neighborhood has suffered from chronic flooding, dangerous streets, and a dire housing shortage. When we came into office, we said the days of letting government ignore the Jewel Streets and leaving residents to fend for themselves were over, and today, with the release of this plan, we are again keeping our word,” said Mayor Adams. “After two years of community engagement, we are not only unveiling but implementing a landmark neighborhood plan that invests nearly $150 million in this neighborhood to create a safer, more affordable Jewel Streets with new sewers to address flooding, street upgrades to protect pedestrians and bikers, and plans for thousands of new homes. From the North Shore of Staten Island to Jamaica, Queens, our administration is fighting to make sure that every neighborhood is a safe, affordable place to raise your family.”

“For too long the residents of the Jewel Streets have waited to see real change in their neighborhood,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “Over the past two years, the community has worked alongside the city to tackle illegal dumping and nuisance flooding, but more is needed. The new Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan lays out a long-term, all-inclusive strategy to deliver the infrastructure and investment this community deserves — creating a safer, stronger, and more resilient neighborhood for current and future residents.”

Collaborating with the Community

On February 16, 2022, 60 Jewel Streets residents and stakeholders sent a letter to several city agencies demanding a long-overdue investment in their neighborhood and kicking off a multi-year partnership between community stakeholders, city agencies, and lawmakers to strengthen the neighborhood’s future. In June 2023, the Adams administration formally launched the community planning process to engage residents and stakeholders. The community planning process included:

• Six public workshops.
• Over 50 biweekly meetings with local advocates and elected officials.
• 12 quarterly meetings with residents focused on quality of life.
• Six neighborhood tours with city officials.

The process has already delivered short-term interventions responding to direct community demands and, with the release of today’s plan, established a long-term vision for community development shaped by community perspectives.

Protecting the Jewel Streets from Flooding

Because the Jewel Streets — which straddles 12 blocks across East New York in Brooklyn and Lindenwood in Queens — is a low-lying area without comprehensive stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure, residents experience year-round flooding; the neighborhood is often described as “The Hole” due to its sunken streets. Led by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), and the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC), the city will install a comprehensive new drainage system to eliminate the use of septic systems in the Jewel Streets and protect the neighborhood from flooding.

The infrastructure plan includes:

• New sanitary sewers across the neighborhood, ending dependence on outdated septic systems.
• A stormwater and sanitary pump station to be built on a city-owned parcel.
• A network of storm sewers to direct rainfall into newly-created bluebelts — natural water features that store and filter rainwater before ultimately releasing the water into Spring Creek.
• Publicly accessible bluebelt ponds with plantings and open space benefits.
• Reconstructed streets with sidewalks, street trees, and safety improvements.
• Planned acquisition of vacant land for bluebelts and site selection for the pump station will be advanced through an area-wide rezoning Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), expected to begin in 2026.

The Adams administration has already worked to address chronic flooding in the neighborhood, installing drainage infrastructure such as storm sewers and catch basins at four intersections in the north and south Jewel Streets. These investments have dramatically improved conditions; the amount of time it takes water to drain at those intersections has plummeted from 60 days to just two days.

Keeping Drivers, Pedestrians, and Bikers Safe

DOT is also delivering bus priority and traffic safety improvements along Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn and Queens — a Vision Zero corridor — to benefit more than 38,000 daily bus riders. The improvements, which will be implemented in 2026, include:

• Corridor-wide markings to reduce speeding and calm traffic.
• Intersection upgrades to protect pedestrians.
• Bike and pedestrian safety enhancements.

Unlocking New Housing Through Comprehensive Rezoning

To meet the urgent need for housing in the Jewel Streets, the city will pursue an ambitious rezoning of the Jewel Streets to enable the creation of approximately 3,600 new homes as well as new retail and community spaces along Linden Boulevard. The rezoning will allow for new multifamily housing and infill development while preserving the neighborhood’s character. A scoping hearing — the first public step in the environmental review process — will be held before the end of 2025, with the full ULURP expected to begin in 2026.

Developing Critical Housing on City Land

On a 17-acre city-owned site within the Jewel Streets, the Adams administration will launch a transformational redevelopment to build up to 1,400 new affordable and mixed-income homes, including units with homeownership opportunities.

The city-owned site in the Jewel Streets will also include:

• New community facilities, retail, and green open space.
• A street grid restoration to reconnect the site to the surrounding community.
• Green infrastructure to manage stormwater and support area-wide resiliency.

Following Mayor Adams’ historic Executive Order 43 requiring city agencies to identify properties that can be turned into new housing, the Adams administration has already advanced nearly 10,000 new homes on city-owned sites.

Helping New Yorkers Find a Safe, Affordable Place to Live

To provide residents with personalized support, including navigating decisions about housing, the Adams administration is launching a range of initiatives to help residents:

• Remain in their home with retrofits that improve flood resiliency, or
• Voluntarily relocate through a buyout to a lower-risk area as part of the city’s “Resilient Acquisitions” pilot program.

Jewel Streets residents can express interest in receiving this support by filling out a online form.

Next Steps

The Adams administration plans to hold a scoping hearing for the plan — the first step in the environmental review process — before the end of 2025. Additionally, the city aims to certify the land use applications in 2026, which includes the rezoning to enable the creation of new homes, the planned acquisition and site selection for bluebelt infrastructure, and the development of the 17-acre city-owned site into housing, retail, and community space.

“We want to congratulate the residents of the Jewel Streets for this historic win in the fight for the long-overdue justice they deserve. When we began organizing in the Jewel Streets four years ago, residents told us they had tried raising their concerns with various government offices for decades to no avail. It is an understatement to say that they were frustrated and jaded, and many felt like giving up. Nevertheless, residents were ready to try again so we formed the Justice for the Jewel Streets Coalition and organized relentlessly around collective demands for investment and infrastructure. Today, we are thrilled that the city has released this detailed plan to address flooding over the long term,” said Debra Ack, co-Founder and board member, East New York Community Land Trust (ENYCLT). “We are proud that our community will be the site of the Resilient Acquisitions program, the city’s first-ever pre-disaster voluntary buyout and retrofit program. The plan is a testament to the power of community organizing and what can be achieved when residents and city agencies work together in good faith. ENYCLT will continue organizing so that residents’ voices are heard through the plan’s design and implementation phases. We will advocate for a just and equitable Resilient Acquisitions program that compensates and supports homeowners and tenants who have endured decades of disinvestment whether they choose to stay or leave.”

“We at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, proud members of the Justice for the Jewel Streets Coalition, applaud the city’s comprehensive neighborhood plan for the Jewel Streets, which came out of years of our coalition’s grassroots organizing and real collaboration between residents, advocates, and city agencies,” said Meredith McNair, senior community planner, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Inc. “For far too long, this community has gone without basic infrastructure, fending for themselves in the face of constant flooding, faulty septic systems, and rampant illegal dumping. Today, we move towards a more livable, resilient future for the neighborhood, complete with infrastructure upgrades, bluebelt ponds, affordable housing, and a voluntary buy-out and retrofit program for residents in flood-prone areas. We celebrate these historic wins and will continue to work with the city to ensure that resident needs, climate resiliency, and equitable development remain front and center throughout the implementation phase.”

New York Road Runners (NYRR) hosts its annual ceremonial painting of the blue line that follows the 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs. Central Park. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS, COMMISSIONER KAUFMAN KICK OFF 2026 “BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS” E-SPORTS COMPETITION 

Digital Gaming Competition Encourages Students to Design More Sustainable, Future-Ready New York City 

Mayor Adams Reveals First Round Prompt to Redesign Pier 6 in Sunset Park 

Competition Comes as New York City’s Digital Gaming Industry Continues to Grow, Creating Thousands of Jobs and Generating Billions of Dollars in Economic Impact

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman today launched the first round of the sixth annual New York City Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Competition (BOTB). Through BOTB, K-12 students compete to build a more inclusive, sustainable, future-ready New York City in Minecraft while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, for the first time, the Adams administration will baseline $60,000 for the annual competition to support critical technology needs for participants and educators. Submissions for student teams are open now and close on January 16, 2026. Information on how to join the challenge, as well as entry-level training courses for educators to bring digital gaming into their classrooms, is available on the New York City Public Schools website.

“We’re not just making sure our students are prepared to join the digital gaming industry but training them to lead it — that is what this competition is all about,” said Mayor Adams. “By encouraging students to learn computer science, build critical thinking skills, and explore sustainable design, we are both engaging our young people today and laying the foundation for good-paying careers after they graduate. Congratulations to last year’s winners and good luck to this year’s teams!”

“The annual Battle of the Boroughs competition showcases the incredible potential of our students when they’re given the tools and the platform to thrive,” said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. “The new funding set aside by New York City Public Schools to support this initiative will help us to celebrate and lift the creativity and innovation of our young people even further. I’m proud of every student who participates, and I’m grateful to the educators and partners who continue to support them every step of the way.”

“The annual Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs competition is back, with the earliest entry date yet, so that even more students across the five boroughs get an opportunity to enter and take a meaningful step towards an education and career in the city’s burgeoning digital games industry,” said MOME Commissioner Kaufman. “The Adams administration and our office are committed to supporting digital game development through the Battle of the Boroughs competition leading to the Mayor’s Cup Final and the second annual New York City Video Game Festival in the spring of 2026.”

“The Battle of the Boroughs empowers the next generation of New Yorkers to use digital gaming technology to reimagine city spaces, inspiring NYCEDC and our continuous revitalization work,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The competition is an outstanding opportunity to engage students across the five boroughs in city planning, digital innovation, and sustainability, and NYCEDC looks forward each year to seeing the visionary concepts from our city’s young minds.”

BOTB — which was developed in partnership with Minecraft Education and builds on Mayor Adams’ Digital Gaming Initiative, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done (GSD) — is a scholastic digital gaming competition in which elementary, middle, and high school students compete to design future-ready city spaces. Through the competition, students explore the five boroughs, learn more about New York City’s sustainability plans, and develop valuable computer science and critical thinking skills.

Mayor Adams today also announced the prompt for the first round of this year’s competition: to reimagine Pier 6 at the MADE Bush Terminal Campus in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. In August 2025, the Adams administration broke ground on a transformation of the actual Pier 6, which will create an engaging new open space for community residents and tenants of the MADE Bush Terminal Campus. The campus offers modern facilities and gathering space to promote manufacturing and business activity along the Sunset Park waterfront. In the first round of the competition, students are encouraged to create alternative designs for the project. Top submissions will compete at an in-person qualifying round in each borough. The BOTB Mayor’s Cup Final will take place during the 2nd Annual New York City Video Game Festival in the spring of 2026, presented by MOME.

As part of today’s announcement, Mayor Adams also celebrated last year’s winning student teams:

• PS 889 in Brooklyn (Elementary School Winner)
• Nest+M in Manhattan (Middle School Winner)
• World Journalist Prep in Queens (High School Winner)

Since coming into office, the Adams administration has made historic investments to establish New York City as a leading hub for digital games, including investing over $2 million in CUNY’s first-ever Game Design Bachelor’s Degree; launching the NYC Summer of Games initiative to shine a light on all digital events in the city throughout the summer; creating the first-ever Game Development Industry Council to advise the city’s policies and programs in the games development sector; and supporting game and workforce development though the “Made in NY” Developer Grant, the “Made in NY” Animation Training Program, and the NYU Game Design Future Lab. Collectively, this work is helping to spur the digital games industry and create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.

The city’s digital gaming industry has continued to grow under the Adams administration. Since 2019, the number of game development studios in New York City has increased by 90 percent, to 380 studios today; the number of industry jobs has increased by four percent, to 7,900 jobs; and the economic impact of the industry has increased by 30 percent, to $2.6 billion.

“Battle of the Boroughs has proven that, when you give students a platform like Minecraft to show their creativity and critical thinking skills, they come together in amazing ways to solve complex challenges,” said Allison Matthews, head, Minecraft Education at Mojang Studios. “In this new AI era, these skills have never been more important. We are thrilled to be part of this year’s kickoff with Microsoft and can’t wait to see what’s crafted during the competition.”

Kingsbridge Armory Rally. City Hall Park. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

TRANSCRIPT FROM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025: MAYOR ADAMS HOSTS RECEPTION CELEBRATING POLISH HERITAGE

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much. And it is really great to have you here as we honor two members of your community. But we all know that New York City is the Warsaw of America. We have a large Polish population here. And my relationship with the Polish community goes back long before being mayor, before being borough president, before being state senator. I served in the 94 Precinct as a platoon commander. 

And I watched the community long before Starbucks and others decided to reach and live in Greenpoint– [showing] how this Polish community was there to build up that community and invest to make sure it became a mainstay. Long before the fancy cafes, you were there and believed in what that community can do. And as you spread out throughout the entire city, we owe you a debt of gratitude for what you do and how you encourage your young men and women to join the New York City Police Department to keep our city safe. 

And we should give them an applause [for] those who are here right now. You believe in what many of our ethnic groups believe in. You believe in family, you believe in faith, you believe in education, you believe in small business, and most important, you believe in public safety. When I came into office, I had a clear message. We cannot have a city that does not acknowledge and bring the entire diversity of this city into focus. That’s why you’re here tonight. 

This is the second way we celebrated your culture here at Gracie Mansion. You graced us with your presence. But we also did our flag raising at Bowling Green when we raised your flag for the first time. It took 110 mayors before we understood how important [it was] to raise the flag at Bowling Green to celebrate this community and what this community has to offer. 

We know that many of us don’t realize that every day we cross over the Kosciuszko Bridge, a bridge that’s named after one of your most famous commanders that contributes to the vibrancy of our country. But that bridge is only a symbol of the bridges that you build every day to make this city the greatest city on the globe. And I thank you as I conclude my term as the mayor of the City of New York. 

You have played such a vital role in the recovery of our city. We recovered through COVID. We recovered through the migrants and asylum seekers. We recovered through the public safety. We recovered through the economic downturn. The city is back, is vibrant, and is moving in the right direction. And we’re going to continue to allow it to do so. Thank you so much.

Kingsbridge Armory Rally. City Hall Park. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS APPEARS ON “KNICKS PLAYOFF PREGAME” BEFORE KNICKS HOME OPENER

Alan Hahn: Joined here by the mayor, Eric Adams. Good to see you, sir. 

Mayor Eric Adams: [You] as well. 

Hahn: We seem to be doing this every year because the Knicks are good business right now for New York City. We always say this is a franchise that kind of unifies the city more than any other team that you have here. 

You’ve talked often about the economic impact successful Knicks teams can have, a run like last year all the way to the Conference Finals. Put a number to it. What does it mean for the city when the Knicks are this good?

Mayor Adams: No, no. So true. And I can’t thank Jim Dolan and MSG and the whole team [enough]. People don’t realize, yes, we like cheering for our fans, but we also cheer for the employees. Just the playoffs, $377 million. That’s a lot of families you’re feeding. A lot of economic activity becomes the center of this universe of our tourism. It’s so important to have the Knicks doing well [because] the city does well as well.

Hahn: I wonder why they’re parading in the streets after games. There’s a lot of anticipation for this coming season. More than I think we’ve seen in 30 years. What are you anticipating here with this next team?

Mayor Adams: Well, you know, not only what they do in the Garden, many people don’t realize what they do outside the court. How they are encouraging young people to stay in school, how they’re dealing with various programs that are taking place. Young people come here with their dad, their moms, their brothers and sisters for the first time. 

It’s an amazing experience. I’m looking forward not only to when the championship rings, but [to] bring up future champions. Because if you could be good on the basketball court, you could be good in the black robe on the Supreme Court. Same energy.

Hahn: So I know you’re a basketball fan, you follow the game. So if there’s a favorite Knicks player, and I know you’re a politician, you gotta be careful here. But if there’s a favorite Knicks player, who is it?

Mayor Adams: Well, first, I want to say who I want to endorse for mayor, Jalen Brunson. 

Hahn: I thought he was already! 

Mayor Adams: No, no, you know, Josh Hart and both Jalen. I know Josh is out now, but it’s a long season. But what they have done, you know, just how much they give back to our city. Just a great team. And it’s a dynasty that’s being built.

Hahn: Yeah, you certainly hope so. There’s no question. You’ve talked to me about Knicks history in the past and how much the franchise, just in the history of it, means to New York City as well. Beyond the economics, though, do you feel like– you were out and about during the playoff run last year. Is there something, like I said [where] it unifies? Do you notice that? 

Mayor Adams: No, you do. You do. You know what’s happening. You know, I think of the Karate Kid moment when he was learning how to wash a car, but he was learning karate. But the Knicks, what they’re doing, they’re bringing our city together. When you’re in the stadium and you’re wearing that orange and blue, people forget about where they come from, what language they speak. 

They start to have this synergy and realize why there’s something special about New York. And I say it over and over again, there’s only two types of Americans, those who live in New York and those who wish they could.

Hahn: There’s also two types of people that work in this building and those who get their streets named after them, like all the players. And Bill Pidto, who wants to get a street named after him as well. 

Bill Pidto: I’d love it. Alan and Mr. Mayor, thank you so much.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams host a “Faith in Your Borough” town hall with multifaith leaders at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS CONTINUES TO MAKE NYC THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY WITH LAUNCH OF CHILD CARE PILOT FOR CHILDREN OF DCAS EMPLOYEES AS YOUNG AS SIX WEEKS OLD

$10 Million Investment Will Fund First-Ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program for DCAS Employees

Municipal Child Care Pilot Leverages Underutilized City-Owned Space to Operate On-Site, Affordable Child Care  

Builds on Adams Administration’s Historic, Permanent Funding to 3-K Citywide Expansion and Special Education Pre-K

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina today announced $10 million to launch the city’s first-ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program, which will provide on-site and affordable child care to DCAS employees with children as young as six weeks old beginning in September 2026. Today’s investment builds on the Adams administration’s efforts to improve municipal employee retention, ensure the City of New York remains a competitive employer of choice, increase flexibility for working families, and make the city more affordable for public servants.

“Making New York City the best place to raise a family means that families shouldn’t have to live in fear that paying for child care will break their bank. Families deserve better, and, once again, our administration is delivering for them,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re making our city more family friendly by launching New York City’s first-ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program, which will provide on-site, affordable child care for free to some of the public servants who are serving their fellow New Yorkers. By turning underutilized, city-owned space into a child care centers, we’re giving back to the workers who give so much to our city. This bold investment delivers both peace of mind and will put money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers.”

“City employees should not have to choose between their commitment to public service and their commitment to parenthood,” said Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “At a time when city government is facing increased competition from the private sector, efforts like this pilot are crucial to increasing the offerings of family benefits and access to flexible work arrangements.”

“At DCAS, we recognize that affordable child care is not only a family issue; it’s also a workforce issue, a quality-of-life issue, and an earning potential and professional development issue — and these are all issues we cannot afford to ignore,” said DCAS Commissioner Molina. “With this solution-oriented pilot, we’re leveraging underutilized space to invest in our workforce. More than that, we’re ensuring that the City of New York remains an attractive employer for those willing to dedicate their lives to public service.”

The site for the child care pilot will be located on the ground floor of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, North Tower in Lower Manhattan ― DCAS’s headquarters and a central hub of city government operations. The estimated $10 million renovation will cover approximately 4,000 square feet and is being designed to accommodate up to 40 children.

Design and construction will be managed in-house by DCAS, with project completion anticipated by spring 2026. The high-quality, affordable program will be operated by a contracted child care provider to cater to DCAS employees with pre-school aged children as young as six weeks who are currently working at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building. Accordingly, DCAS will be issuing a Demonstration Project solicitation for proposals from qualified vendors. Eligibility criteria for the pilot, including the participating age range, is being developed in conjunction with the Office of Labor Relations and city unions. The Municipal Child Care Pilot Program will be closely evaluated to determine if expanding the program to additional locations is feasible.

“We know how vital child care is for our employees,” said New York City Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion. “This pilot will provide needed support to those who participate and help inform additional efforts to support our workforce. We look forward to working with DCAS and our municipal unions to pilot worksite day care for our employees.”

“Affordable, high-quality child care is essential for working families, including our city’s own workforce,” said New York City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer. “This pilot will help retain and recruit talented municipal employees and strengthen the city’s commitment to equity and family well-being. I look forward to seeing the program grow.”

“We hear from our members time and again that paying for quality child care is one of the top barriers to living and working in New York City, which is why we established a Child Care Trust in the last collective bargaining agreement,” said Henry Garrido, executive director, District Council 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO. “This pilot program is a great additional solution for making child care more affordable and accessible for city workers, as well as for workforce recruitment and retention.”

Over the last three years, the Adams administration has been focused on making New York City more affordable for families through popular and essential programs like early childhood education. Recently, Mayor Adams announced a new pilot program, “Creating Real Impact at Birth” (CRIB), to connect and prioritize pregnant New Yorkers applying for shelter with housing vouchers to put them on a path toward permanent housing and stability, so that no child is born into the shelter system, as well as a $7 million expansion of the “Fatherhood Initiative,” which helps fathers reconnect with their children, provide financial support, and develop parenting skills. Additionally, the Adams administration launched a child care initiative for 0-2 year olds that puts New York City on the path to universal child care for low-income families if the initiative is successful, and enrolled a record 150,000 children across the early childhood education system. These initiatives all build on Mayor Adams reducing out-of-pocket costs of child care from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week with subsidies today for a family of four, and the administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K on time last school year — the first time this has ever been done in the city’s history.

Additionally, over the Fiscal Year 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, as well as a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. Finally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, as well as $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams host a “Faith in Your Borough” town hall with multifaith leaders at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS HOSTS PROGRESS & PARTNERSHIP: AN EVENING WITH NYC’S DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND ALLIES

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much. And you know, the commissioner was saying something as I was backstage and she said forgive her if she gets teary eyed. And if you were to speak with my deputy mayors, my commissioners, those who really saw us in the trenches, those of us who spent three years and 10 months in the foxhole – if you were to speak to each one of them and tell their own narrative, their own story, you will have a full appreciation of this administration. You’ll know how personal it is. 

When I assembled together this administration, I didn’t want to know your academic achievements. I did not want to know what diplomas you held on the wall. I sat down and spoke with my leaders one-on-one and their personal stories. Their personal journeys [are] far outside the headlines and noise that all of you have read from time to time. You have an impression of this administration that has been distorted. 

And the reason many of us that do this work are in a perpetual state of teary eyes because we live the pains that others are living right now, sitting in the classroom, having people call me the “dumb student” writing on the back of my chair as a third grader because I had undiagnosed dyslexia is real. 

Living on the verge of homelessness, watching mommy try to raise six children without any support [from the] government and having my sister lose her whole childhood because mommy was doing three jobs and Sandra had to raise us without having the experience of a child is real. 

To have Commissioner Curry be the first African-American to head this agency living with disabilities and put her entire soul into this and push the envelope is real. To have DM Almanzar coming to this country with her nine siblings and her parents watching her extend to be the first Dominican deputy mayor is real. Story after story after story after story. We shattered what people thought we couldn’t do and you can’t take away the results. 

You can’t take away more housing than the history of any other mayor. You can’t take away the decrease in unemployment in general, but specifically for Black and brown communities. You can’t take away those we appointed to positions who spoke broken English, which traditionally people think is an indicator of the lack of intelligence, when in fact it is an indicator of intelligence, and we brought them in. 

You can’t take away the first five deputy mayors in the history of the city, the first Spanish speaker to be a police commissioner. You can’t take away what we have done and what this commissioner has done with people living with disabilities has changed the scope and we will never go backwards again. Never again. And I think about Nate, ask Nate to come out. Nate, come here Nate. 

Nate was with me in Borough Hall and he traveled with me to City Hall, visually impaired. He laid the framework of much of what we’re doing around mental health and physical health right now. I heard him over and over again, the first to come in, the last to leave and I saw the quality that having an individual who’s living with disabilities is the person that can open their gifts and their eyes to do so much and I cannot thank you enough. Cannot thank you enough. 

This is who we are and this is why this city is a better city because of you. No one is left behind and as we transition to a new mayor, we have to be clear that the foundation is laid. Let’s build on that foundation. Let’s make sure that this city will lead the way and how we ensure that no one is left behind. And that also means language access, one of the most significant barriers that prevent people from getting access to governmental services. 

The technology is now available [where] you should be able to walk into any agency in this city and speak in your native language and still be able to receive the services that your taxpayer dollars paid for. We’re going to make sure that happens and it’s transformative in the process. And so I thank Commissioner Curry. I thank her because there is a third grader sitting inside a classroom right now that knows his city sees him or her.  

And I thank her for saying something that many of you may have missed. “Nothing about us, without us. That is a powerful, powerful statement. Far too long in this city, everything about us has been dictated by those who are not us. It’s about those who are going through the journey [that] must have people who have gone through the journey as well. 

Keep the fight up. Don’t let anyone take away that energy. And no matter where I’m going, December 31st, one thing is clear. I’m going nowhere. I will always be a New Yorker and I will always fight for this city and this community. Congratulations. Thank you, commissioner.

Kingsbridge Armory Rally. City Hall Park. Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.