New Commissioners, Budget Proposal, Gym Membership Compliance, Rikers Conditions Improvements, Migrant Crisis, Protected Time Off For Worker, Other Updates: Mayor Mamdani

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Christina Farrell as Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management  

Farrell brings more than two decades of experience in emergency management, most recently serving as first deputy commissioner of NYCEM

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his appointment of Christina Farrell as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), the agency responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning, response and recovery.  

“New York City faces extraordinary challenges, and meeting them demands steady, experienced leadership. There is no one better prepared to lead NYCEM than Christina Farrell. Over three decades in public service—and in recent years as First Deputy Commissioner—she has helped guide our city through crisis after crisis with clarity and resolve. I’m proud to work alongside Commissioner Farrell to strengthen our preparedness and protect every New Yorker,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.   

“I’m honored to be appointed Commissioner of NYCEM, an agency that protects 8.5 million New Yorkers when they need us most, and to continue serving alongside the dedicated professionals who do this work every day,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “I’m grateful to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the opportunity to lead this exceptional team into a new era for our city. The Mayor’s vision is to deepen what New Yorkers expect from government and deliver with excellence, accountability, and integrity. For emergency management, that means ensuring preparedness reaches every neighborhood, that our response is coordinated and effective, and that New Yorkers can trust we’ll be there when crisis strikes. Together with our partners across government and the community, we’ll build the resilient, prepared city that New Yorkers deserve.”  

“Commissioner Farrell’s three decades of experience, including 23 years at NYCEM, equip her with the knowledge and vision to guide New York City through any emergency,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “After helping lead New York through a number of crises, we know Commissioner Farrell will bring a multidimensional approach to emergency preparedness and responsiveness, and I look forward to continuing our work with her to protect the millions of people who call our city home.”  

“For more than two decades, Christina Farrell has guided New York City through countless emergencies with clear, decisive leadership,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “From Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic to extreme heat emergencies and major blackouts, she has managed complex crises with a steady hand and ensured our communities have the resources they need. New Yorkers are lucky to have her at the helm of NYCEM, and I look forward to continuing our important work together.”  

“For more than three decades, Christina Farrell has been a steady hand and calming presence during our City’s most challenging days. I am so excited that she’s taking the well-deserved reins as head of NYCEM, and look forward to continued partnership in the days ahead,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.  

“Few people in city government, if any, know more about emergency management response, and the complex interagency dynamics that response entails, than Christina Farrell,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “When disaster strikes, it is our partners at New York City Emergency Management that take the lead on making sure all of the moving parts in government are working together to best protect and serve the public. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Christina for years, and New Yorkers should rest easy knowing that that such a competent, experienced and dedicated public servant will be in charge of these critical operations.”  

“Christina Farrell is a proven leader with deep experience in emergency preparedness and response, and she understands firsthand what it takes to keep New Yorkers safe during increasingly complex and climate-driven events,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “We look forward to continuing our close partnership with NYCEM to strengthen storm response, advance long-term resilience, and ensure our infrastructure and communities are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.”  

“When it comes to the way our City prepares for and responds to disasters, there is no one with more experience than Commissioner Farrell, and in the years we have worked together, I have seen her leading more command centers, joint operations, and comprehensive after-action reviews than I can count. NYCEM staff are among the first on scene in difficult times, and I know she has the expertise and creativity to lead this critical agency and keep our City safe,” said Javier Lojan, Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation.  

“Commissioner Farrell’s steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge will strengthen our city’s ability to safeguard communities before, during, and after emergencies,” said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “Public health and emergency management go hand-in-hand, especially in moments of crisis. Commissioner Farrell’s commitment to preparedness and coordinated response will ensure our efforts center equity and protect all New Yorkers, even when dealing with emergencies.”  

About Christina Farrell  

Farrell is a lifelong public servant who has served as first deputy commissioner of NYCEM since October 2021. In that position, she led the City’s emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts, working closely with City leadership and regional, state and federal partners on emergency management matters.   

Farrell has led the city through some of the most complex crises of the past two decades, including the 2003 citywide blackout, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Since joining the agency in 2003, as its first director of grants, Farrell created the agency’s external affairs division, serving first as assistant commissioner and then as deputy commissioner. In those roles, she oversaw programs including Community Emergency Response Teams and Ready New York, a public education initiative and strengthened partnerships with elected officials, community organizations, neighborhood leaders and private and nonprofit sector partners.  

Farrell began serving the City of New York in 1994 as a coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator. She also served as the deputy director of the NYC High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the deputy director and director of the Mayor’s Office of Grants Administration, where she worked on the creation of the Twin Towers Fund after 9/11.  

The Lunar New Year is celebrated with the 28th annual Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan , February 17, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Announces Commissioners for International Affairs and Immigrant Affairs 

Ana María Archila to lead Mayor’s Office of International Affairs 

Faiza Ali will head Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

NEW YORK, NY – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointments of Ana María Archila as Commissioner of International Affairs and Faiza Ali as Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.   

Archila, a longtime immigrant rights leader and former co-director of the New York Working Families Party (NYWFP), will serve as the city’s chief liaison to the United Nations and the State Department. Ali, who has served in the City Council for over a decade, most recently as the former Speaker’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Community Engagement, will lead the critical Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.  

The Commissioner for International Affairs is the City’s liaison with the United Nations, U.S. State Department and broader diplomatic community. In leading the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, Archila will advise city agencies on diplomatic matters, welcome foreign diplomats to New York and run leadership development programs like the NYC Junior Ambassadors. As commissioner, Archila will work to ensure New York City remains a welcoming home to the global community.  

“New York City has always belonged to the world—a city that immigrants helped build and one strengthened by our many languages and stories. I’m proud to welcome Ana María Archila into this administration to build on that legacy,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Through her leadership at the Working Families Party, she has helped lead a movement that puts working New Yorkers first and demands a government that does the same. She brings moral clarity and a deep commitment to the people who keep this city running. As Commissioner of International Affairs, she’ll continue to do the same as she ensures that the world continues to be welcome in the city we all call home.”   

“I’m deeply honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s transformative administration and to imbue into the Office of International Affairs his commitment to make New York a place where everyone can live with dignity,” said Ana María Archila. “New York City is where diplomats gather, and it’s also the home to millions of working-class New Yorkers from across the world, with hundreds of nationalities represented and languages spoken. In New York City, international relationships are built at the United Nations and across the five boroughs. I am excited to apply my 20-plus years of experience leading immigrant rights and economic justice organizations to the task of building strong relationships with diplomatic missions, governments and movements working to tackle the challenges of inequality, climate change and democratic backsliding.”  

“Diplomacy is the work of building intentional networks at an international scale, to improve lives. It’s organizing that Ana María Archila is built for,” said Patrick Gaspard, former United States Ambassador to South Africa and Distinguished Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “Ana María has been a frontline leader on the transnational challenges of the day — immigration, climate change, growing economic disparity. And at a time when our alliances have been jeopardized and our values compromised, Mayor Mamdani has made an inspiring choice for this global city of a leader with a proven record of finding common ground for progress.”  

“Ana María Archila’s appointment as New York City’s next Commissioner of International Affairs is testament to a career dedicated to bridging community needs with services, programs and policies at the city, state and federal levels,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. “She has spent more than twenty years fighting for the rights and dignity of working people here in New York City, as a nonprofit executive, as well as a board member for numerous organizations including our own. We can’t think of a stronger advocate for all New Yorkers on the global stage than Archila.”  

“Today, we celebrate the appointment of Ana María Archila as New York City’s Commissioner of International Affairs. Ana María began her journey as an organizer at Make the Road New York and spent more than two decades building power alongside immigrant, working‑class, and LGBTQ+ communities. To see one of our own caminantes step into this role fills us with immense pride. At a moment when the federal government continues to villainize immigrants, Ana María’s leadership could not be more urgently needed. We are confident that she will help shape an office deeply committed to uplifting and celebrating international workers — the very people who keep this city vibrant, strong, and moving forward,” said Jose Lopez, Co-Executive Director, Make the Road NY.  

“Ana María Archila’s appointment as International Affairs Commissioner is welcomed news to our community. She has always led with courage and with a deep sense of responsibility to immigrant and working families,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. “New York’s voice in the world will be stronger because Ana María understands that our global leadership starts with standing firmly for justice and human dignity at home.”   

About Ana María Archila  

Ana María Archila has been a leader in New York and nationally in the fight for immigrant rights for over two decades. Born in Colombia, Ana María has spent her entire adult life in New York. She co-founded and led several grassroots progressive organizations, including Make the Road New York and the Center for Popular Democracy.  

Throughout her career, Archila has led efforts for immigration reform, paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage and passing the New York Dream Act. She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022 and as a first-time candidate, won 213,210 votes. She most recently served as co-director of the NYWFP and played an integral role in the election of Mayor Mamdani.    

Faiza Ali will lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ali is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and brings years of experience in community organizing and city government. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) advises the Mayor to ensure New York City takes care of its immigrant neighbors.  

“I am proud to appoint Faiza Ali as the next Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. As the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Faiza understands firsthand the promise and the precarity that define the immigrant experience in New York. She brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement and city government, and a proven record of leadership in advancing immigrant rights and services,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “At a time when immigrant New Yorkers face escalating attacks and uncertainty, this administration will not equivocate. We will defend our neighbors. We will expand access to services. And we will ensure that New York City remains a place where immigrants are not merely welcomed in words, but protected in policy, supported in practice, and able to live and work with the dignity they deserve.”  

“I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Pakistan who came to New York City with courage, an unshakable belief in possibility, and the determination to build a future here. This city gave us opportunity, stability, and the chance to put down roots, just as it has for generations of immigrants before us. It is an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. New York City is not just home to immigrants, it is powered by them. Our neighborhoods, our economy, our culture, and our future are shaped by people who arrived here seeking safety and opportunity. As Commissioner, I am committed to building a city that ensures every New Yorker, regardless of when they arrived or where they were born, can live, work, and raise families with dignity,” said Faiza Ali.  

“I’ve had the honor of working with Faiza in her council capacity for the past three years. She is intelligent, caring, and deeply passionate about this work. I am confident as Commissioner she will bring her experience, drive, and commitment to serve as a strong ally to us all. At a time when our work matters more than ever, I am sincerely optimistic about her ability to lead the team at MOIA,” said Council Member Elsie Encarnacion, Chair of Immigration Committee.  

“Faiza N. Ali’s appointment as MOIA commissioner is a victory for immigrant New Yorkers,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. “As a born and bred New Yorker, who grew up in an immigrant family and neighborhood in Brooklyn, she intimately understands the needs and experiences of our communities. Throughout her career, she has empowered hard-working New Yorkers of all faiths and cultures by connecting them to opportunities and services – while advancing policy changes that ensure every family the opportunity to thrive. We are heartened by Mayor Mamdani’s appointment of Ali and look forward to working with her to advance the health and well-being of all immigrant New Yorkers now and into the future.”  

“We congratulate Commissioner Faiza Ali for her appointment to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza brings extensive experience as a public servant to this critical role, and with that a unique understanding of NYC’s diverse communities and the complex challenges they face. We are confident that Faiza will be a strong advocate for all immigrant New Yorkers and will stand firm in protecting our communities against federal overreach,” said Natalia Aristizabal, incoming co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY.  

“We are proud to welcome Faiza Ali as the next Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza has been a steadfast ally to Staten Island’s immigrant community. We need leaders like her, smart, principled, and deeply rooted in organizing, who will stand up for immigrant families on Staten Island and beyond. We look forward to working alongside her and supporting her,” said Arlette Cepeda, Interim Executive Director, La Colmena.  

“Faiza has been a part of AAANY’s community for many years. As the Director of our Advocacy & Civic Engagement program, she led campaigns—including immigration reform efforts—that helped thousands of immigrants across NYC,” said Marwa Janini, Executive Director, Arab American Association of New York. “Her experience and understanding of both policy and on-the-ground realities make her a perfect fit for this role. We at AAANY have every confidence that, as the Commissioner of MOIA, she will continue to be an advocate and a champion for New York City’s immigrant communities.”  

“We are thrilled that Faiza Ali will be the new commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza’s deep experience in government, outstanding dedication to serving immigrant communities, and commitment to fostering a city where immigrant small business owners can thrive make her an excellent fit for this role,” said Mohamed Attia, Managing Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.  

About Faiza Ali  

Faiza Ali has spent more than a decade working in community engagement at the New York City Council. In 2014, she served as a Community Liaison before working her way to Director of the Community Engagement Division. Prior to joining the Council, Ali was the Advocacy & Civic Engagement Director for the Arab American Association of NY and co-founded the Muslim Democratic Club of New York. She also served as Director of Advocacy at the Arab American Association of New York, an organizer with Brooklyn Congregations United and Director of Community Affairs at CAIR-NY.  

Ali helped lead efforts to include two Muslim holidays in the New York City public school system and has fought for immigration reform and language access. She most recently served as First Deputy Chief of Staff at the City Council. As commissioner, Ali will work to increase the accessibility of city programs and benefits to non-English speaking New Yorkers and work collaboratively with other agencies to protects immigrants throughout the five boroughs. 

Mayor Mamdani Releases Balanced Fiscal Year 2027 Preliminary Budget 

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Preliminary Budget, outlining the scope of a fiscal crisis inherited from the prior Administration and presenting two clear paths forward: raise revenue from the wealthiest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations and end the drain of City resources to the State — or balance the budget on the backs of working and middle class New Yorkers.   

“There are two paths to bridge the city’s inherited budget gap. The first path is the most sustainable and fairest: raising taxes on the wealthiest and corporations, and ending the drain by fixing the imbalance between what the City provides the State and what we receive in return,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “If we do not go down the first path, the City will be forced to go down a second, more harmful path of property taxes and raiding our reserves — weakening our long-term fiscal footing and placing the onus for resolving this crisis on the backs of working and middle-class New Yorkers. We do not want to have to turn to such drastic measures to balance our budget. But, faced with no other choice, we will be forced to.”  

Upon taking office, the Mamdani Administration identified a pattern of underbudgeted essential services, including rental assistance, shelter operations and special education — that widened projected gaps stated in the November 2025 Financial Plan Update to roughly $12 billion across FY 2026 and FY 2027. To restore transparency and stability, the Mamdani Administration launched aggressive new savings initiatives, maximized the use of in-year reserves and incorporated updated revenues. Through Executive Order 12, Mayor Mamdani is requiring every city agency to designate a Chief Savings Officer (CSO) to identify recurring efficiencies. These savings initiatives are projected to save $1.77 billion across the two fiscal years.   

After applying savings, revenue adjustments driven by an upward revision of $7.3 billion in tax revenue, and State support — including $1.5 billion in from Governor Kathy Hochul and an additional $97 million in Foundation Aid — the City faced a remaining two-year gap of $5.4 billion. The Mamdani Administration’s preferred solution is recurring revenue: increasing personal income taxes on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million annually and raising taxes on the most profitable corporations, while recalibrating the City’s long-imbalanced fiscal relationship with the State.  

Absent new revenue authority, the City will be forced to use the only tools currently available to increase revenue and fill this gap: property taxes and the use of reserves. The $127 billion FY 2027 Preliminary Budget assumes a 9.5 percent property tax rate increase — generating $3.7 billion in FY 2027. The City also applied $980 million from the city’s Rainy Day Reserve Fund in FY 2026 and $229 million from the Retiree Health Benefit Trust in FY 2027 in order to balance the budget as legally required.   

Of $14 billion in city-funded agency expense changes across the two fiscal years, the vast majority fills underbudgeted needs. Roughly 4 percent – $576 million – supports targeted investments, including: $100 million in FY 2026 for snow removal; $5 million in FY 2026 for warming centers and shelter connections for homeless New Yorkers; $11.9 million in FY 2027 for new Street Health Outreach & Wellness (SHOW) mobile units and a new Bridge to Home site for people living with severe mental illness; $5.3 million in FY 2026 and $38 million in FY27 for 200 new attorneys and 100 support staff to reduce tort liability and advance affordability efforts; and more than tripling baseline funding for HRA’s Community Food Connection program with an addition of $54 million in FY 2027. The Preliminary Five-Year Capital Plan totals $113 billion in all-funds and includes $662 million in FY 2027 to modernize and preserve more than 3,200 affordable housing units and $48.2 million starting in FY 2027 to fully fund the renovation and expansion of Bellevue’s Adult Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program.

Mamdani Administration Breaks Ground on Timbale Terrace Affordable Housing Development 

Project will include 341 affordable homes, including apartments for formerly homeless New Yorkers 

Development will include a permanent home for Casa Belongó Music and Arts Center, expanding access to arts and cultural education in East Harlem

New York, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, city officials and development partners broke ground on Timbale Terrace, a 100% affordable, mixed-use development that will deliver 341 affordable homes and a new community arts center to East Harlem.   

The project marks a major milestone for the City’s commitment to deeply affordable housing and to building on underused public land for public good.  

Timbale Terrace will transform a former NYPD parking lot into permanently affordable housing, community space and replacement parking. The development will include 97 homes reserved for formerly homeless New Yorkers through the NYC 15/15 program, including 30 units for young people aging out of foster care. On-site wraparound services focused on health, education and employment will be provided by Lantern Organization.  

The development will also house the new Casa Belongó Music and Arts Center, a more than 20,000-square-foot cultural space for music education, performance and community programming. The center will serve as a permanent home for Belongó and as a cultural anchor in East Harlem.  

“Affordable housing is the foundation of a rich, diverse city where all New Yorkers can live with dignity. Timbale Terrace shows what’s possible when we use public land to meet public need. By building deeply affordable homes across the five boroughs, we are making New York City a place families can afford to stay and thrive,” said Mamdani.   

“Timbale Terrace exemplifies the best of our affordable housing efforts: strengthening neighborhoods, enlivening the street, creating cultural space, and creating affordable housing for the New Yorkers who need it most. This groundbreaking is a major step forward for East Harlem and shows what is possible when government is working with and for communities. I am looking forward to working with partners across the city to create even more affordable housing on city-owned sites in the years to come,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.  

“Timbale Terrace will deliver 341 affordable homes to East Harlem, nearly a third of which will be set aside for formerly homeless New Yorkers and youth aging out of foster care,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin. “HDC is proud to support this development and grateful to our partners for their commitment to expanding much-needed affordable housing, supportive services, and vibrant cultural resources in this community.”  

Located at East 118th Street and Park Avenue, Timbale Terrace will activate the Park Avenue commercial corridor with ground-floor uses and incorporate sustainable design features. The project was identified through the East Harlem Neighborhood Rezoning plan approved in 2017. The City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a competitive request for proposals for the site in 2019, and Mega Development LLC and Lantern Organization were designated in 2021, with Belongó as a cultural partner.   

The development is supported by city subsidy, Housing Development Corporation bonds, the Department of Cultural Affairs, former Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the New York City Council and state and private partners.   

“Timbale Terrace is a blueprint for what is possible in addressing our city’s affordability crisis,” said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine. “From the very beginning, this was a project that centered community voices, and aims to deliver a rich cultural and economic boost through the programs it prioritizes, including the Casa Belongó Music and Arts Center. I am proud to see it break ground today, and look forward to its completion in the near future.”  

“I’m thrilled to join Mayor Mamdani, HPD, HDC, DCLA, and our committed partners in breaking ground on Timbale Terrace, a shining example of 100% affordable housing combined with vital supportive services and a new cultural cornerstone for East Harlem,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “I commend Mayor Mamdani’s leadership on truly affordable housing, our city agencies, Lantern Organization, Belongó, Mega Development LLC, Goldman Sachs, and state partners for delivering on the East Harlem Neighborhood Rezoning Plan. Timbale Terrace points the way to the inclusive, sustainable future our borough deserves.”  

“We are proud to deliver a transformative development that will not only provide high-quality, affordable homes for hundreds of families, but also create a vibrant cultural hub for the community,” said Emanuel Kokinakis, Development Principal, Mega Group. “Timbale Terrace in partnership with Belongo, with its state-of-the-art performance facility and educational spaces, stands as a testament to the generational impact we hope to achieve on all our projects.”  

“At Lantern Organization, we believe that every person and every neighborhood deserves a chance to grow. For almost thirty years, in the face of trauma and health challenges, Lantern’s residents have proven that a better future is possible. They have shown that when we invest in each other, when we believe in the possibility of growth, we can change individual lives and strengthen our communities,” said Dan Kent, President and CEO, Lantern Organization. “Their courage and perseverance inspired Timbale Terrace, and it inspires us every day to fight for homes and neighborhoods where all people can thrive. We are forever grateful to the City of New York and our project partners for making this incredible project possible.”  

“For nearly 20 years, Belongó has served as an unwavering and passionate steward of Afro-Latin jazz, enriching our cultural landscape and deepening our appreciation for this unique art form of the Americas. As a key component of Timbale Terrace, the New York State Council on the Arts is proud to support the construction of this new performance hall, further strengthening Harlem’s rich cultural bounty, amplifying Belongó’s extraordinary programming, and ensuring the joy and power of Afro-Latin jazz continues to enrich this community and all New Yorkers for generations to come,” said New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin.  

“Casa Belongó marks a historic moment for East Harlem and New York City. It is about creating a permanent home where music, education, and community can live together, rooted in the neighborhood that gave birth to Latin jazz. Timbale Terrace allows us to honor that history while investing in the future, ensuring that artists, students, and families have access to culture, learning, and belonging for generations to come,” said Marietta Ulacia, Executive Director, Belongó.  

“Timbale Terrace and Casa Belongó deliver the trifecta of affordable housing, a cultural hub, and pathways to opportunity for generations to take root and grow,” said Asahi Pompey, global head of Corporate Engagement and Chair of the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs. “This development anchors families in a vibrant neighborhood where community and economic prosperity go hand in hand. Together, they will build lasting legacy in East Harlem.”

MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION ISSUES CITYWIDE “SUBSCRIPTION TRAP” COMPLIANCE WARNING TO NEARLY 200 GYMS

Action targets hard-to-cancel memberships and deceptive advertising

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) launched a compliance blitz, sending warning notices to 187 gyms and health clubs across the city including PureGym, Planet Fitness and Equinox.   

“New Yorkers shouldn’t need a personal trainer to cancel a gym membership,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “If a company makes it easy to sign up but nearly impossible to walk away, we will enforce the law and protect your time and your money.”  

“Going to the gym is good for your health, but having to jump through hoops to cancel an unwanted membership is a waste of your time and money,” said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. “Our citywide warning to gyms makes it clear that DCWP will not hesitate to take aggressive enforcement action against gyms using deceptive tactics that hurt consumers, as well as honest businesses playing by the rules.”  

Gyms often force consumers through cumbersome and unnecessary hoops in order to cancel unwanted memberships. For example, a gym may offer a membership for free that turns out to be a bait-and-switch scheme where New Yorkers incur fees unexpectedly after enrollment. Others impose unnecessary hurdles without clear disclosure or burdensome administrative requirements before honoring cancellation requests. In 2025, the Department received dozens of complaints from consumers struggling to cancel their gym memberships.   

Mayor Mamdani’s subscription traps executive order directs DCWP “to monitor, investigate, and enforce violations related to subscription tricks and traps,” including practices such as making cancellation of subscriptions or memberships intentionally difficult.   

Mayor Mamdani Announces Opening of Upper East Side Early Childhood Education Center This Fall, Meeting Critical Demand in District

After years of delays under the prior administration, center will open in time for 3-K and Pre-K enrollment – quadrupling 3-K capacity and doubling Pre-K capacity in the ZIP code 

Families have until Feb. 27, 2026 to apply for Pre-K and 3-K

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the long-anticipated opening of the District 2 Pre-K and 3-K Center at 403 E. 65th St. on the Upper East Side, adding more than 130 Pre-K and 3-K seats this September.   

First announced in 2022, the site was completed in July 2025 and remained unused under the prior administration despite community need. It will now open as the first standalone, city-run early childhood center in the 10065 ZIP code, underscoring the administration’s commitment to fixing the City’s 3-K system and delivering universal child care in New York City.   

“While New York City families waited anxiously for child care options near their homes, the last administration refused to move with the urgency this crisis demands and let the District 2 Pre-K and 3-K Center sit idle for months. No longer,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Today’s opening will create more than 100 new seats for children as soon as this fall, and marks the beginning of our work to deliver universal child care by first delivering accessible child care. In the wealthiest city in the world, no parent should be forced to choose between raising their child and keeping their job.”   

“Every child deserves access to high-quality early childhood education, regardless of their zip code or circumstances,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “The opening of this 3-K and Pre-K center demonstrates our commitment to meeting families and communities where they are and providing the resources they need most. Early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning and success, and we’re working diligently to expand access across the city so that every family can give their child the strong start they deserve.”  

“This is a big win for families in our district,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Community Board 8 and I have been pushing for this center to open because parents were promised high-quality, accessible early childhood seats and they deserve nothing less. I appreciate the Mayor’s quick action in opening this facility. The building has been ready, and families have been waiting. I’m glad we’re finally moving forward after the delays of the previous administration so children can walk through these doors in Fall 2026. Expanding 3-K and Pre-K access is about opportunity, affordability, and giving working families the support they need — which is why for years I’ve been championing the expansion of early childhood education and putting New York City on the path to universal childcare. I’ll continue fighting to ensure our district and all New Yorkers get the early childhood resources they were promised.”   

This announcement comes amid a citywide campaign encouraging families in every corner of the city to apply for 3-K and Pre-K seats. Through LinkNYC advertisements in multiple languages, engagement with multilingual media and digital content creators and partnerships with faith-based and community organizations, the City is urging every family to apply before the Feb. 27, 2026 deadline.  

As part of the City’s commitment to universal child care, and with funding provided by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Mamdani will roll out an initial 2,000 2-K seats this fall – the first time 2-K will be offered in New York City. Earlier this month, the City issued a new request for information (RFI) for 2-K and 3-K providers to deliver early child care services. It marks the first time in five years that providers have been invited to join the 3-K program.   

In the coming months, the City will continue expanding 3-K capacity for fall 2026, including by partnering with community-based and home-based child care providers.  

Mayor Mamdani Provides Update on Action Plan for Jails, Migrant Shelters 

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani provided an update on the City’s plan to meet the Board of Correction (BOC) minimum standards and implement Local Law 42.   

The Mayor directed the Law Department and Department of Correction (DOC) to develop a plan in collaboration with the newly appointed remediation manager, the Nunez Monitor, the City Council and all parties involved in the Nunez case to improve conditions on Rikers Island for both staff and people in custody. The directive was issued through Emergency Executive Order 1.   

The plan requires ending 12-hour shifts for all correctional staff by spring 2026 and returning to eight-hour tours. It calls for a plan by summer 2027 to end commingling — the practice of housing people in custody of all ages together — through facility assessments and adjustments. It also calls for a plan to formalize pre-arraignment court security operations with the New York City Police Department through a renewed memorandum of understanding.  

The DOC will immediately return to standard procurement rules. The Mayor also signed Emergency Executive Order 1.9, which ends procurement-related suspensions, continues to suspend other provisions of the law, and directs the DOC and the Law Department to regularly update the mayor regarding additional suspensions that can be lifted as the City works to implement the action plan.   

“Today, we are taking a decisive step to improve conditions and move our jail system toward long-term stability and safety for those in custody and correction staff,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “For too long, city government allowed entrenched problems and operational breakdowns to persist. This plan shifts us away from temporary stopgaps and toward sustainable reform.”  

“At Mayor Mamdani’s direction, the Department of Correction and Law Department developed this plan to address long-standing issues in our jail system,” said Corporation Counsel Steve Banks. “We will begin implementing it in coordination with the remediation manager and, when required, with the approval of the remediation manager, the Monitor and the Court. Our goal is clear: achieve compliance with Board of Correction standards, implement Local Law 42, strengthen oversight and improve conditions at Rikers Island.”    

“This plan marks an important next step in addressing issues that have festered for far too long,” said DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards. “Under Mayor Mamdani’s leadership, we are moving from crisis-driven operations to safe, sustainable jail management.”  

Shelter Plan  

The City has produced a plan to return the shelter system to compliance with legal and regulatory standards that were suspended in response to the asylum-seeker humanitarian crisis.   

The plan focuses on three priorities: closing the last remaining emergency asylum seeker shelter site and transitioning residents into compliant Department of Homeless Services (DHS) facilities; bringing single-adult shelters into compliance with capacity limits; and meeting compliance standards for family shelters, with a focus on access to cooking facilities.   

The City will pursue these goals through phased transitions, accelerating exits to permanent housing and strengthening prevention and diversion programs to reduce the overall shelter census. 

Mayor Mamdani Announces Mayor Expansion of Protected Time Off for $4.3 Million Workers and New Data-Driven Enforcement Strategy  

Protected Time Off categories expanded to include child care; 32 hours of unpaid leave immediately upon hire  

Today’s event with Commissioner Levine, Councilmember Nurse and Amazon workers attempting to unionize was pooled, video will be available in the next two weeks and will be added to the next Mayoral update article. 

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani was joined by New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Sam Levine to celebrate the expansion of the City’s Protected Time Off Law, formerly known as the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, and to announce new enforcement actions, that including compliance warnings to 56,000 employers and a new data-driven strategy to ensure workers can use the time the law guarantees.  

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between doing their job and caring for their family, protecting their safety, or keeping their housing secure,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Today, we’re putting employers on notice — sending compliance warnings to 56,000 businesses and launching a data-driven enforcement strategy to make sure workers can actually use the time they’ve earned. When life happens, your job shouldn’t be the thing that falls apart.”  

Effective Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, Local Law 145 requires employers to make an additional 32 hours of unpaid protected time off immediately available upon hire and again on the first day of each calendar year. The update guarantees instant access to protected time off and protects employees from discipline if they have used their paid protected time balances.   

The law also expands the reasons employees may use protected time off to include:  

• Caring for a child, including school holidays and child care disruptions  

• Caring for a family or household member with a disability  

• Attending benefits or housing appointments or hearings  

• Staying home during public emergencies declared by the government, such as snowstorms or power outages   

• Addressing needs related to workplace violence  

“New York City has some of the nation’s strongest protected time off laws, and now they are even stronger. This makes all the difference for working New Yorkers facing a child care  emergency or anything else life throws at us,” said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. “By expanding protected time off and ensuring immediate access to additional hours, we are building an economy that puts people over profits.”  

The announcement was made at Angelo’s Deli in Maspeth, where Mayor Mamdani, Commissioner Levine, and Council Member Sandy Nurse joined 12 Amazon workers organizing with the Teamsters for a coffee roundtable conversation about the realities of taking time off in low-wage, high-pressure workplaces. The Mayor listened as workers described balancing child care, housing appointments, and unpredictable work schedules.  

Protected Time Off Law  

Under the City’s Protected Time Off Law, in effect since 2014, most employees have the right to up to 40 or 56 hours of paid protected time off per year. Employers must also provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave in addition to protected time off.  

In addition to the new reasons added under Local Law 145, employees may use Protected Time Off for:  

• Medical care or to recover from an illness or injury  

• Caring for a family member who is sick or has a medical appointment  

• Needs related to domestic violence and certain other crimes  

Enforcing the Protected Time Off Law  

Today DCWP also launched an enforcement blitz, sending letter to more than 56,000 employers across the five boroughs, including all city restaurants, prior DCWP enforcement targets and DCWP licensees. The letters outline the law’s requirements, employee notice obligations, compliance tools and consequences for violations.   

Employers that violate the law face employee relief and civil penalties ranging from $250 to $2,500 per employee, plus back pay.  

New Data-Driven Enforcement Strategy 

In tandem with Local Law 145, DCWP released a new report outlining a data-driven enforcement strategy to support companywide investigations when employers illegally restrict Protected Time Off. The approach compares employers’ paid sick leave use rates with national data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The report finds that the need to use sick leave is universal across industries and demographics. If employer records show unusually low use rates, DCWP will treat that as strong evidence of potential violations and, effective immediately, pursue enforcement on behalf of all affected employees.   

Employers that fail to offer compliant protected time off must pay each affected employee at least $500 per year, plus an equal amount in civil penalty. For example, an employer with 100 employees could owe $300,000 for violations over three years, divided evenly between employee relief and civil penalties. Subsequent violations may result in penalties of up to $1,000 per employee, per year.  

Employer Tools  

DCWP encourages employers to conduct self-audit and eliminate unlawful barriers to use. The agency has created a Protected Time Off Usage Compliance Tracker, available at nyc.gov/dcwp.   

Common violations that can lead to low use rates, include: Failing to offer a protected time off benefit.  

• Nonexistent or insufficient written policies  

• Unlawful administration systems. Absence control policies that discipline workers for last-minute callouts or “no call, no show.” Unlawful restrictions on employees’ use of sick leave   

Worker Protections  

Employers must provide written notice of workers’ rights to Protected Time Off and paid prenatal leave. Advance notice may be required only for foreseeable uses, such as scheduled medical appointments or court hearings. Workers do not have to provide advance notice for unexpected needs, including illness or child care disruptions, and do not have to disclose details about why they used leave. Documentation may be required only after four or more consecutive workdays of leave.   

“These expansions respond to the real challenges New Yorkers face – from the rising cost of childcare to extreme weather emergencies,” said Mayor Mamdani. “No one should have to choose between caring for themselves or their loved ones and keeping their job. In New York City, we are making sure they don’t have to.”  

Mamdani Administration Begins First-Ever Expedited Review of Affordable Housing and Resiliency Projects 

First project to use Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) plans to deliver more than 80 affordable homes in the Bronx 

City Planning to advance Staten Island resiliency project and Affordable Housing Fast Track

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani launched the City’s first Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) for 351 Powers Ave., a disposition of City-owned land that would create approximately 84 affordable homes.   

The Department of City Planning will also begin the review process for the City to acquire a parcel next to Saw Mill Creek Marsh Park on Staten Island as part of ongoing restoration and conservation efforts.   

Approved by voters in November, ELURP offers a streamlined public review process for modest housing and climate resiliency projects. Both reviews will conclude within 90 days, down from roughly seven months under the standard process.   

The Mamdani administration has also advanced the Affordable Housing Fast Track, which will accelerate public review for affordable housing proposals in the 12 community districts that produced the least affordable housing over the past five years. The City Planning Commission has proposed a transparent, efficient and accurate methodology to identify those districts and ensure the Fast Track fulfills its mission: making every neighborhood part of the solution to the city’s housing crisis.  

“Treating the housing crisis with the urgency it demands means moving at the speed of need,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The Affordable Housing Fast Track and these first expedited projects are about action. Mott Haven is just the beginning. We are using every tool available to build affordable housing projects faster, so working people can afford to stay in the city they call home.”   

“Delivering affordable housing more quickly is essential to building a city that New Yorkers can afford. With our first expedited ELURP projects, the forthcoming Affordable Housing Fast Track and other new tools, we’re ensuring that every neighborhood contributes to a more vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive New York City,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.   

“Soon, this parking lot will become more than 80 affordable homes, including approximately 30 apartments for currently homeless New Yorkers as well as new community space,” said Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy. “Our 351 Powers project is about using public land more responsibly and cutting through unnecessary delays so we can build more affordable housing faster. This is the new era of turning ready to build sites into quality, affordable homes at the speed this housing crisis demands.”  

“Last year, voters authorized new tools to tackle the housing crisis and we’re wasting no time putting them to work. Expedited review for this income-restricted housing proposal will help get shovels in the ground and people into homes faster than ever. And this is only the start — I look forward to seeing many more projects take advantage of last year’s reforms to create the housing we need across New York City,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.  

“351 Powers Avenue represents an important opportunity to expand housing options for our residents and families in the Bronx. As our city continues to face a housing crisis, it is critical that we invest in deeply affordable, high-quality, and safe housing that reflects the needs of our borough and preserves the character of our community. I want to thank Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the New York City Department of City Planning, and the New York City Housing Preservation and Development for their partnership and commitment to equitable growth,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Addressing our housing crisis requires collaboration at every level of government, and this project demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together to put families first.”  

By shortening public review from seven months to 90 days, ELURP will speed delivery of new homes at a time of historic housing shortage.  

The disposition of the 351 Powers Avenue site in Mott Haven, the Bronx would enable development of approximately 84 new affordable homes for low-income New Yorkers, including 30 for formerly homeless residents, on an undeveloped City-owned lot. Plans also call for a ground-floor workforce development training center, a theater and indoor and outdoor recreational space for residents.   

The project advances the priorities of Mayor Mamdani’s Land Inventory Fast Track (LIFT) Task Force, created by Executive Order 04, and signed on his first day in office. The task force is charged with identifying City-owned sites capable of supporting at least 25,000 new homes by July 1.  

On Staten Island, the proposed site selection and acquisition of land adjacent to Saw Mill Creek Marsh Park would strengthen local restoration and conservation efforts and expand climate resiliency infrastructure.   

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES LIFT OF TRAVEL BAN; NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OPEN FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION TUESDAY  

Hazardous travel advisory remains in place through midnight tonight

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani updated New Yorkers on the City’s response to historic winter weather conditions. New York’s travel ban has come to an end as of 12 p.m. on Monday, and all New York City Public Schools will be open for in-person instruction on Tuesday.   

While the travel ban has been lifted, the Mayor is still urging New Yorkers to stay off the roads and stay indoors. Drivers should exercise caution as conditions remain slick and icy and take public transportation whenever possible. New York remains under a local state of emergency, and a blizzard warning is in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday.  

“New York City continues to meet the urgency of this historic blizzard, and we will not stop until the storm has passed and our city is fully up and moving again,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “Though the travel ban has lifted, conditions on the road are still icy and dangerous, and we encourage New Yorkers to take public transportation if needed, stay indoors when possible and stay informed through Notify NYC.”   

As of earlier Monday afternoon, this storm has dropped 16 to 19 inches of snow on most parts of our city, with parts of Eastern Staten Island reporting over 24 inches of snow. As of 12:30 p.m., the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has spread roughly 50 million pounds of salt and plowed over 99.5% of city streets at least once. Updates on the City’s plowing efforts can be tracked at PlowNYC.  

Despite the active blizzard, DSNY was able to clear over 1,600 crosswalks, 419 fire hydrants and almost 900 bus stops overnight, and even more this morning. In addition to DSNY, the Department of Transportation has cleared over 1,300 sheltered bus stops so far.  

The forecasts show the worst has passed, conditions have begun to moderate and the coastal flood warning that had affected parts of the city expired at 5 a.m. But there is still more to come. Light snowfall is expected to continue through the afternoon.  

Total storm snowfall is currently projected to be around 19 to 21 inches citywide.  

Warming Centers:   

The City has deployed 22 warming buses citywide. Additional warming spaces are available at 11 NYC Health + Hospital facilities and 13 school locations. New Yorkers should contact 311 or visit a LinkNYC kiosk for the nearest site.  

Department of Social Services (DSS) continues to operate under enhanced continuous Code Blue protocols, and that Code Blue has been extended through Wednesday morning. During Code Blue, shelters operate under an open-door policy. Outreach teams are connecting unsheltered New Yorkers to safe, warm spaces. During a Code Blue, 311 is routed to 911 so first responders can mobilize quickly to reach the person in need. New Yorkers should call 311 if they see anyone in need of assistance.  

DSS has expedited the opening of 100 low-barrier stabilization beds to increase shelter capacity in smaller settings for New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness who may be resistant to congregate settings. DSS is working to ensure multiple options for shelter are available to vulnerable New Yorkers during this weather emergency.  

The City has directed all hospitals to exercise heightened caution when discharging patients, particularly vulnerable patients, during the cold weather. The City has also directed shelters and safe havens to monitor the areas around their buildings for any New Yorkers in need.  

NYC Health + Hospitals has deployed WARM (Winter Access, Relief and Medical) ambulettes and mobile units. The mobile warming outreach initiative provides clinical consultations and distributes essential supplies including blankets, warm clothing, socks, warm meals, and water. The units also drive unsheltered New Yorkers to a warm place of their choosing, including shelter and warming locations.   

New York City Public Schools (NYCPS):   

Over 8,000 facilities staff across NYCPS continue to prepare school buildings for safe use tomorrow, including removing snow and ice, checking heating systems and backup power readiness and confirming that emergency supplies are in place.    

School buses are preparing to operate tomorrow, ensuring students are able to travel to and from school safely.   

Communications are being made to families, educators and school communities through emails, SMS messages, social media and website postings.