Visit to 311 Call Center, LGBTQIA+ Affairs, 15MPH Slow Zones At All Schools, Columbia Student Released, Small Business Financing, NYPD BodyCam Policy, Ancillary Dwelling Unit Financing, ICE Detained High Schooler Released, Treating Cyclists As Motorists Not Criminals,: DSNY Commissioner: Mayor Mamdani

MAYOR MAMDANI VISITS NmpuYC311 CALL CENTER TO THANK STAFF, TAKE CALLS FROM NYC RESIDENTS   

To mark the 23rd Anniversary of NYC311, Mayor Mamdani worked the 311 line, fielding calls from New Yorkers across the city  

Mayor Mamdani was paired with a 311 agent to experience firsthand the conversations between agents and callers and to highlight the many ways New Yorkers can access 311 services.

While working the phones, Mayor Mamdani helped connect residents with city resources — from submitting a service request related to an abandoned vehicle to helping another resident navigate the City’s recycling rules.    

“Tens of millions of New Yorkers have relied on NYC311 over the past 23 years to navigate City services and connect with critical resources,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Every single day, 100,000 New Yorkers reach dedicated staff at 311, many of whom braved the winter weather to ensure New Yorkers nonemergency needs were being met 24/7. We are deeply grateful for the 311 agents who continue to show up for their city day in and day out.” 

“Happy 311 Day, New York City!” said NYC Chief Technology Officer and OTI Commissioner Lisa Gelobter. “Thank you to Mayor Mamdani for taking time today to celebrate with our remarkable NYC311 team and take calls from New Yorkers. Since its launch in 2003, 311 has served as an indispensable lifeline for millions of New Yorkers to access trusted information and engage with their government. Today, we are proud to make useful information from across all of City government just one call, text, or online click away. We look forward to continuing to be a vital resource for New Yorkers when they need us most.”  

“After 23 years and 650 million contacts from New Yorkers, Team 311 continuously brings the magic to our mission,” said Joe Morrisroe, Deputy Commissioner, NYC311. “Our people maintain an extraordinary level of dedication with the recent blizzard serving as a perfect example. Team members walked through snowdrifts to get here and be available to help. Serving our customers is inherent to what we do, and I could not be prouder to celebrate 311 Day!”  

About NYC311:  

Since its launch in March 2003, NYC311 has been the nation’s largest nonemergency government information hotline. The service has grown from taking 4 million calls in its first year to receiving 36 million customer contacts in 2025.  

NYC311 connects New Yorkers to nonemergency services from more than 200 City agencies and nonprofits, serving 8 million people, 24/7 every day of the year. Today, the service handles roughly 100,000 contacts daily across calls, texts, web, the 311 app and social media channels.  

In 2025, NYC311 received 36,510,581 contacts, including 17 million calls, 16.4 million online visits, 2.6 million app interactions, 278,000 texts and 11,000 social messages. So far in 2026, New Yorkers have contacted NYC311 more than 9 million times, including more than 800,000 contacts during the recent blizzard, from Feb. 21-24.  

To ensure access for all New Yorkers, NYC311 provides interpretation services in more than 175 languages. Residents can also text 311 at 311-692 to access translation services.  

In 2025, 311 call center representatives received a customer satisfaction score of 93 from New Yorkers.   

For more information on NYC311, New Yorkers can visit the NYC311 website. 

MAYOR MAMDANI SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF LGBTQIA+ AFFAIRS; APPOINTS TAYLOR BROWN AS DIRECTOR    

Brown, a nationally-recognized civil rights attorney, is the first transgender person to lead a New York City office or agency

Office will oversee and implement LGBTQIA+ initiatives, including developing legal resources to upholdsanctuary protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed an executive order establishing the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs and appointed Taylor Brown, currently an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General, as its director.

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES 15 MPH SLOW ZONES AT ALL ELIGIBLE NYC SCHOOLS BY END OF FIRST TERM IN LARGEST SAMMY’S LAW EXPANSION

City will implement 15 MPH School Slow Zones at an additional 800 school locations in 2026, bringing the citywide total to nearly 1,300 by the end of this calendar year

Every eligible public, private, parochial and charter K-12 school will see 15 MPH speed limits by end of first term

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner (NYC DOT) Mike Flynn today announced that NYC DOT will reduce the speed limit to 15 MPH at every eligible school location across the five boroughs by the end of Mayor Mamdani’s first term. The move is designed to protect children and their families on city streets and represents the largest increase to date in the city’s use of Sammy’s Law to reduce speed limits across the city.  

More than 800 additional school locations will see speed limits reduced to 15 MPH this year, bringing the total school locations with 15 MPH speed limits to 1,300 by the end of the calendar year. The administration plans to expand 15 MPH School Slow Zones where eligible at all 2,300 school locations across the five boroughs by the end of Mayor Mamdani’s first term. These 2,300 school locations house 3,200 schools citywide, with some schools co-located. Implementation will be prioritized based on available safety data and other planned street safety improvements. Mayor Mamdani announced the news at Flushing International High School, which is co-located with J.H.S. 189 Daniel Carter Beard, where NYC DOT will today install a new 15 MPH speed limit for its School Slow Zone on 147th Street between Barclay Avenue and Sanford Avenue. 

“Families spoke up after unimaginable loss to fight for Sammy’s Law and deliver our city the power to make our streets safer for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Today’s expansion of Slow Zones for schools across all five boroughs is just the beginning. Lower speeds save lives, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect our neighbors as they move about our city.” 

“Our school children and their families should feel safe and comfortable as they travel to and from class. Speeding is the leading cause of traffic deaths, and even a small speed reduction can mean the difference between life and death in a crash,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “These speed limit reductions will follow our data-driven Vision Zero approach to deliver the greatest safety impact.” 

This year, NYC DOT will implement 15 MPH speed limits at the roughly 700 school locations with existing 20 MPH School Slow Zones and establish about 100 new 15 MPH School Slow Zones at school locations with 25 MPH speed limits. NYC DOT will prioritize locations based on safety data. A pedestrian struck at 25 MPH is more than three times as likely to be seriously injured than a pedestrian struck at 15 MPH. 

At each school, the agency will provide the mandatory 60-day notice and comment opportunity to the local community board before implementation of the new speed limit. At the most dangerous locations near schools, the agency will continue to focus on upgrading street and intersection designs to help naturally slow vehicles and improve safety, including elements like speed humps, hardened daylighting and other safety upgrades.  

The City has so far lowered speed limits at just over 100 locations since the passage of Sammy’s Law in the spring of 2024, including a regional slow zone in each borough. In addition to today’s School Slow Zone expansion, NYC DOT will continue to explore additional opportunities to roll out lower speed limits across the city in the months ahead. 

“Sammy’s Law will save lives wherever it is implemented,” said Amy Cohen, Founder & President of Families for Safe Streets. “In 2013, my 12-year-old son Sammy was struck and killed by a speeding driver in Brooklyn, and ever since, I’ve been fighting for safer speeds on our streets. Thank you to every member of Families for Safe Streets that fought for this, every elected official that stood with us, and every coalition partner that joined us through a long battle — today would not have happened without each and every one of you. We’re excited that the Mamdani administration is beginning to implement Sammy’s Law, and we eagerly await their plan for an even wider implementation.”  

“I was proud to lead the fight in Albany alongside Assembly Member Rosenthal to pass Sammy’s Law because every New Yorker deserves streets that prioritize safety over speed,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “Lowering speed limits around our schools is one of the most effective ways to protect children and families. In Manhattan, where so many students walk, bike, and take transit to school every day, this step will make a real difference. I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for fully using the authority Sammy’s Law provides to slow traffic and save lives.” 

“Sammy’s Law will save lives, and I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and DOT Commissioner Flynn for using it to lower speeds around schools. I was proud to sponsor the home rule that enabled this legislation, and it is a relief to see the law deployed to protect our communities. This is the kind of step the Council envisioned when we passed it to protect pedestrians citywide. I look forward to seeing the impact,” said City Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu. 

“Sammy’s Law is an incredibly effective tool for making the streets near our schools safer for our children and their families,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I am thrilled we will be using Sammy’s Law to reduce speed limits to 15 MPH at so many locations across Queens and the rest of the city. We need to do everything we can to make our schools and the streets around them a safe environment for everyone.” 

“Expanding Sammy’s Law is a historic step toward making our streets safer for children and families,” said City Council Deputy Leader Sandra Ung. “Around schools, we see students walking, parents pushing strollers, and families crossing busy streets during the most hectic times of the day. Lowering speed limits to 15 miles per hour will help ensure that the streets surrounding our schools reflect that reality and create an environment where parents can feel confident that their children can get to and from school safely. I commend Mayor Mamdani for taking this important step to protect students and families in communities across the five boroughs.” 

“Lowering speed limits is a tool proven to save lives, and I commend Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for taking action to keep our communities safe,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. “The passage of Sammy’s Law, my legislation granting New York City the authority to lower its speed limits, was in honor of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who died tragically at just 12 years old in a crash that could have been prevented if there had been lower speed limits. With the expanded implementation of Sammy’s Law around New York City’s schools, we will make our streets safer and drastically reduce the chances of vehicle crashes turning fatal.” 

“After years of hard work, Sammy’s Law will be implemented directly in front of schools in New York City,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Slower speeds save lives, and Sammy’s Law can save countless lives across the five boroughs. This is a critical first step towards safety, and we’ll keep fighting for the safe streets all New Yorkers deserve. As always, we are proud and humbled to have fought alongside some of the strongest New Yorkers, members of Families for Safe Streets — New York City will be safer today and every day after that because of you. Sammy’s Law only works where it’s implemented, and we will join communities across the city fighting for full neighborhood and slow zone implementations to keep New Yorkers safe.” 

“We’re thrilled that New York City intends to use the authority granted by Sammy’s Law to lower the speed limit around all eligible New York City schools to 15 miles per hour,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC. “It’s impossible to know precisely how many lives this will save, but we’re certain that the safety benefits will be enormous. It’s a fitting way to commemorate Sammy Cohen Eckstein, for whom the law is named, and to honor the tireless efforts of his mother, Amy Cohen, and her Families for Safe Streets colleagues. We’re grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for moving quickly to make up for the previous administration’s foot-dragging.” 

“Speed is the single biggest factor in whether a crash is survivable. Children should never have to navigate dangerous traffic just to get to school. By lowering speed limits to 15 miles per hour near schools, New York City is using Sammy’s Law exactly as intended: giving the city the flexibility to protect people where safety matters most. We commend Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for taking this important step to protect students, parents, and school staff across the five boroughs. We hope it’s just the beginning of broader efforts to pair safer speeds with street designs that improve visibility at corners and create more people-first blocks around schools,” said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MAMDANI ON THE RELEASE OF LEQAA KORDIA 

NEW YORK – In response to the news of the release of Leqaa Kordia from federal detention, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement.

In my meeting with President Trump last month, we discussed ICE’s actions at Columbia University. I asked that the federal government release Leqaa Kordia and drop the cases against four others.

I am grateful that Leqaa has been released this evening from ICE custody after more than a year in detention for speaking up for Palestinian rights.

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES $80M NYC FUTURE FUND, EXPANDING AFFORDABLE FINANCING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Updated program builds on 2025 pilot with lower loan minimums, reduced interest rates and more flexible repayment terms

Applications open now at: nyc.gov/futurefund

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kenny Minaya announced the citywide launch of the revamped NYC Future Fund, a loan program designed to expand access to affordable financing for seasonal and growing small businesses. The program places a particular focus on better serving immigrant-, minority- and women-owned businesses that have long faced barriers to accessing capital.

“Small businesses are the backbone of New York City’s economy and the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Mamdani. “But many entrepreneurs – especially immigrant and working-class New Yorkers – have been locked out of the affordable capital they need to grow. Our revamped NYC Future Fund will change that. By lowering costs and expanding access, we are making sure small business owners across the five boroughs have the tools they need to grow and strengthen the communities they serve.”

The NYC Future Fund has been expanded to make financing more accessible to small businesses citywide. The Mamdani Administration strengthened the program by lowering borrowing costs, expanding eligibility to include businesses with lower operating revenue and making it easier for smaller businesses to access financing. Applications are available at nyc.gov/futurefund.

Based on feedback from the pilot, the NYC Future Fund now includes:

• Lower Minimum Loan Size: Minimum loan amounts have been reduced from $100,500 to $25,000.

• Reduced Interest Rate: Interest rates have been lowered from 9 percent to 7.5 percent.  

• Flexible Repayment Terms: Monthly repayment rates have been reduced from a flat 9.5 percent of revenue to as low as 2 percent of monthly revenue, depending on loan size and business needs.  

• Expanded Eligibility for Smaller Businesses: The minimum annual revenue required for eligibility has been lowered from $300,000 to $50,000. 

The launch also includes a targeted five-borough outreach campaign focused on communities that have historically faced the greatest barriers to affordable financing. 

“The NYC Future Fund shows what government can do when it listens to small businesses and acts on what it hears,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “These city-backed loans are designed to meet the real needs of businesses and expand fair access to the capital they need to grow.” 

“The revamped NYC Future Fund is a major milestone in the city’s efforts to tear down the barriers to financing that too many small businesses have faced for too long,” said SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya. “By offering more loan options, lower interest rates, and flexible repayment terms, the city – working alongside our CDFI partners – is expanding access to capital at a time when the affordability crisis is putting real strain on entrepreneurs. Through the leadership of Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Su, we are delivering a people-first economic justice agenda focused on making life easier for the small businesses that support our neighborhoods and the vibrant city we all live in and love.” 

The NYC Future Fund is a public-private partnership between the City of New York and local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), including Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), Accompany Capital, Grow America and Pursuit, to support long-term growth for small business owners.

Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Minaya also appeared in a video promoting the program online and encouraging small businesses to apply for NYC Future Fund loans. 

SBS piloted the program with philanthropic support that JPMorganChase provided to CRF, along with funding from TD Bank. The pilot delivered a combined $1.2 million to four small businesses. 

“At TD Bank, we believe access to affordable and flexible capital linked with ongoing technical assistance is critical to helping small businesses grow and succeed,” said Ralph Bumbaca, Executive Vice President, Regional President Metro NY, TD Bank. “We’re proud of our long-time support of the NYC Future Fund and working alongside CDFI partners to expand financing opportunities for entrepreneurs that strengthen the communities these small businesses serve.” 

“CRF is honored to work alongside the City of New York and other mission-driven lenders to bring the NYC Future Fund to life,” said Matthew Roth, President and CEO of CRF. “This initiative reflects what’s possible when public and private partners align around a shared goal of expanding access to responsible capital for small businesses. By working together, we can help more entrepreneurs access the financing they need to grow, sustain their businesses, and continue driving economic vitality in neighborhoods across New York City.” 

“When mission-aligned non-profit community lenders and CDFIs work together with our municipal partners to provide innovative new resources like the NYC Future Fund, more NYC small businesses benefit,” said President of Community Development at Grow America Ann Finnegan. “Working in partnership to expand access to capital across a broad spectrum of the city’s small business community, Grow America’s Community Impact Loan Fund is thrilled to offer a flexible revenue-based loan resource to qualified small businesses through the NYC Future Fund.” 

NEW YORK – TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has formally codified its practice of releasing body-worn camera footage within 30 calendar days of a critical incident.

The practice has been regularly followed during Commissioner Tisch’s tenure and is now a formal departmental requirement. The 30-day standard applies to incidents involving the discharge of a firearm by an officer that result in a member of the public being struck, as well as police use of force that results in serious injury or death. The Police Commissioner may also authorize the release of body-worn camera footage in other circumstances when doing so would help maintain public order or contribute to public safety.

“Transparency and accountability are the building blocks of public safety,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By codifying the timely release of body-worn camera footage, we are ensuring that New Yorkers receive timely information about critical incidents. This policy builds public trust and ensures our city receives answers while protecting the integrity of investigations.”

“Transparency is the key to maintaining trust between police and the communities we protect and serve,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Body-worn cameras provide clear and objective accounts of interactions involving the NYPD, showing the dangerous and difficult situations that officers often face while also ensuring we hold ourselves accountable when standards are not met. This formal commitment to release footage within 30 days of a critical incident is a continuation of my pledge to ensure transparency regarding the work of the Department.”

Uniformed members serving below the rank of Deputy Inspector are required to wear body-worn cameras. The NYPD’s body-worn camera program is the largest in the country, covering more than 29,500 officers. The program was launched and implemented when Commissioner Tisch previously served as NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology.

Officers are required to activate their cameras before taking police action.

MAYOR MAMDANI UNVEILS NEW TOOLS AND FINANCING TO HELP HOMEOWNERS ADD ANCILLARY DWELLING UNITS  

“ADU for You” guide and nearly a dozen pre-approved plans will help homeowners add backyard cottages and other small secondary homes to their property  

City to reopen applications for “Plus One ADU” program that provides financial assistance to homeowners

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani unveiled a new set of tools to make it easier for homeowners to stay in their communities and bring in extra income by adding an ancillary dwelling unit (ADU) to their property. The city’s new ADU for You website features an ADU Guidebook, a growing Pre-Approved Plan Library, and site feasibility analysis and cost estimating tools to help homeowners navigate bureaucratic and financing details when adding an ADU such as a backyard cottage or “in-law unit.”   

The City will also newly reopen applications for the Plus One ADU program, which offers financial and technical assistance to qualified homeowners to add an ADU. The Plus One ADU program, established with City funding and grants provided by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and operated in partnership Restored Homes HDFC, provides homeowners with up to $395,000 in financial support and technical assistance to add an ADU. The program saw overwhelming interest from New Yorkers when it first launched, receiving over 1,300 submissions within two weeks, but has been closed to new applicants since February 2024.  

“One of the solutions to the housing crisis can be found in our backyards, our attics, or our basements – in an Ancillary Dwelling Unit. That’s why our administration is making it easier and more affordable to build an ADU through a library of pre-approved plans and new financing options,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By making it easier for New Yorkers to turn their homes into an extra place for a loved one or a little more income, we’re allowing our city to grow while keeping the character of the neighborhoods we love.”  

“In the midst of a dire housing crisis, ADUs are an important tool for homeowners to add space, bring in extra income, and stay in their communities – but creating an ADU can feel out of reach for too many New Yorkers. These new tools will help ensure that any New Yorker who wants to add an ADU is able to do,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “Whether you are interested in adding a new backyard cottage or converting an underused garage or attic into housing, we have resources to help guide you through the process.”  

“Ancillary dwelling units have the potential of unlock thousands of safe, quality homes for New Yorkers in low density neighborhoods across the city,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “However, these homes will not get built if the permitting process places too many barriers in the way. Today’s announcement includes multiple tools that will help remove these barriers, including the new Pre-Approved Plan Library which gives New Yorkers a menu of potential design options that have already undergone an initial review by DOB for code-compliance leading to faster approvals.”  

“By making it easier to navigate rules and offering pre-approved designs, this new homeowner toolkit will help New Yorkers turn the idea of an accessory dwelling unit into a reality,” said Sideya Sherman, Director of the Department of City Planning. “Building on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, this is another smart step to unlock housing, allow working families to earn additional income, and help seniors afford to age in place.”  

Thanks to City of Yes for Housing Opportunity and subsequent regulatory changes, one- and two-family homeowners in much of the city can add an ADU to their properties – a change that will help add housing options in low-density areas while maintaining the existing character.   

In addition to helping homeowners understand the regulations and access financing to build an ADU, the Mamdani administration is also launching a simplified permitting process for pre-approved ADU plans. This pre-approved plan library is launching with eleven ADU designs that have already been reviewed and approved by the Department of Buildings (DOB). The city will connect homeowners who select an ADU option from this library with the registered design professional who created the design in order to obtain site-specific approval. DOB will review and add additional pre-approved plans as they are submitted by design professionals.  

“Governor Hochul’s Plus One ADU Program is increasing housing supply and providing an extra source of income for homeowners in New York City and across the state. The $85 million program was launched in 2023 with the city of New York and six other partners – the program has since grown and we currently have 14 partners working to create more than 550 ADUs throughout the state. HCR is looking forward to seeing all 37 projects in New York City completed, and we are confident these projects will have a transformative effect on the City’s housing landscape,” said RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner, New York State Homes and Community Renewal.  

“WXY was proud to lead the City’s innovative effort to move accessory dwelling units forward in New York. ADUs can create new opportunities for homeowners to age in place, generate rental income, and make space for family, all while adding new housing in a way that enables gentle growth and helps keep the overall character of neighborhoods intact. That balance is the type of housing model that more cities should be looking to implement, and I’m excited to see New York City lead the way,” said Adam Lubinsky, Principal, WXY Architecture + Urban Design.    

“Ancillary dwelling units, or ADUs, serve a dual purpose of increasing the stock of quality, affordable housing while providing supplemental income to homeowners seeking to remain in their homes and communities.” said Salvatore D’Avola, CEO, Restored Homes Housing Development Fund Corporation. “The new tools and resources being made available to the public through the “ADU for You” program will provide critical guidance and information for homeowners interested in adding an ADU. We continue to be proud of our participation in the City’s efforts to promote ADUs and are ready to respond to inquiries through our Resource Center.”  

“Accessory Dwelling Units are a smart way to expand housing while supporting the homeowners who anchor our neighborhoods. Programs like ADU for You make it easier to safely convert existing space into legal homes—creating new housing, helping families generate income, and allowing more New Yorkers to age in place. Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County is proud to help homeowners navigate the process and be part of the solution to our housing shortage,” said Sabrina Lippman, CEO, Habitat for Humanity New York City & Westchester County.   

“New Yorkers want the ability to grow older in the neighborhoods where they raised their families and built their lives,” said Beth Finkel, State Director, AARP New York. “We thank Mayor Mamdani for advancing tools that make it easier for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units. ADUs can help older homeowners remain in their communities by providing additional income that helps them afford to stay in their homes, while also making it easier and more affordable for family caregivers to live nearby. Expanding these options is an important step toward helping more New Yorkers age in place with dignity, independence, and the support they need.”   

“New York City doesn’t just need more housing — it needs more kinds of housing, at a wider range of price points,” said Howard Slatkin, Executive Director, Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “CHPC’s polling of low-density neighborhood residents found that they struggle to find housing within their communities, and that rental units are particularly important to homeowners of color. ADUs help fill in gaps in our housing stock, to the benefit of both renters and homeowners. Measures like the pre-approved ADU plan library are important to bring these opportunities within reach of a more diverse range of homeowners.”  

“This initiative is an important step toward making accessory dwelling units a more affordable and viable option for homeowners across New York City,” said Christie Peale, CEO and Executive Director, Center for NYC Neighborhoods. “By making ADU development more accessible, the City is giving homeowners a tangible opportunity to generate income, continue building intergenerational wealth, keep their families together, and stay in their communities. We commend the City for this commitment and look forward to seeing these tools reach the neighborhoods that need them most.”  

“The City took a big step last year when it allowed more creation of Accessory Dwelling Units. Now we need to make it easy and inexpensive to actually construct one. The Plus One ADU program does just that, helping homeowners create more housing options throughout parts of the Five Boroughs where they have often been hard to find,” said Moses Gates, Vice President of Housing & Neighborhood Planning, Regional Plan Association.  

“New Yorkers overwhelmingly agree we need to build more homes. City of Yes for Housing Opportunity began turning that broad consensus into policy—ADU for You puts that policy into action, helping homeowners and renters alike manage rising housing costs while adding homes in the neighborhoods of greatest need. A cottage for an aging parent. A first apartment for an adult child just starting out. A dedicated space for a caretaker or extended family. ADUs can help meet the housing needs of New York families of all cultures, life stages, and sizes. We are thrilled to see the Mamdani administration seizing this momentum to support more housing options for New Yorkers,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director, Open New York.  

“We applaud Mayor Mamdani and his administration for expanding housing options for New Yorkers through ADUs,” said Rachel Fee, Executive Director, New York Housing Conference. “ADUs will provide affordable, flexible living arrangements for intergenerational families, seniors and caregivers across the five boroughs. We are excited to see the administration build on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity by offering tools that provide clear guidance and financial support so more New Yorkers can access and benefit from more housing.”   

“ADU for You serves as a one-stop shop for homeowners, providing critical information to enable New Yorkers to take full advantage of the tools unlocked by City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” said Jesse Lazar, Executive Director, American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY). “The collection of pre-approved ADU designs showcases the opportunity to build various types of quality ADUs at different price points, utilizing a range of materials and creative design solutions that meet the unique needs of the homeowner.”  

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MAMDANI ON THE RELEASE OF DYLAN LOPEZ CONTRERAS 

NEW YORK – In response to the news of the release of Dylan Lopez Contreras, the first New York City public school student detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement: 

Our City is overjoyed that Dylan has finally been released from detention and will be back home with his loved ones in the Bronx.

What should have been a time for him to focus on finishing high school instead became ten long months of isolation, after he was taken into custody at what was supposed to be a routine immigration hearing last May.

Throughout this injustice, Dylan has shown remarkable strength, resilience, and courage. I wish him a smooth and joyful return to his life, his community, and his future here in New York City. He is a New Yorker, and our city is glad to have him home.

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES END TO CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT FOR MINOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES FOR CYCLISTS AND E-BIKE RIDERS; WILL DEVELOP LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE STREET SAFETY   

New York City Police Department will stop issuing criminal summonses for e-bike riders and cyclists for low-level traffic offenses

NEW YORK — Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced a sweeping set of policies to end criminal enforcement against e-bike riders and cyclists for low-level traffic offenses, expand safety training for all e-bike and bicycle delivery workers, enhance Citi Bike safety features and strengthen accountability for app-based delivery companies.

Beginning Friday, March 27, the New York City Police Department (NYPD)’s policy under the prior administration of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders and cyclists for low-level traffic offenses will be rescinded. Under that policy, riders could be criminally charged for minor violations such as disobeying a stop sign — forcing them to appear in criminal court, with failure to appear risking a bench warrant or arrest.

Under the Mamdani administration, these violations will instead be addressed through the same civil summons process as motorists. This change ensures accountability while ending a punitive system that has disproportionately burdened working New Yorkers.

In tandem, the Mayor and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) will launch a robust, comprehensive safety training program for delivery workers and work with the City Council to pursue legislation to address unsafe practices by third-party delivery app companies — practices that often incentivize dangerous riding through unrealistic delivery times.

Proposed legislation will require delivery platforms to share trip-level data with NYC DOT to inform safer delivery standards and comply with those standards. The City will also seek authority to mandate enhanced training for delivery workers who repeatedly engage in unsafe riding behavior.

“Every New Yorker on our roads, whether driving or biking, deserves to be treated fairly. By ending criminal summonses for low-level traffic offenses, we’re ensuring cyclists and e-bike riders — including those who deliver our food and groceries — are treated like others on the road,” said Mayor Mamdani. “At the same time, we’re making our streets safer for everyone. In partnership with the City Council, we’ll strengthen safety standards, hold app companies accountable and expand training for delivery riders. This balanced approach supports riders while protecting pedestrians and motorists — and moves us closer to making our streetscape the envy of the world.”

“Every New Yorker deserves a workplace where their safety and dignity are the top priority — including the delivery cyclists who serve our city day and night, through blizzards and downpours,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “For too long, third-party delivery companies have incentivized dangerous cycling behavior without proper oversight or accountability. To truly deliver safe streets for all New Yorkers, we will be taking a multipronged approach that holds delivery companies accountable for their impact on street safety, provides training and resources to delivery workers and expands bold new street designs that better accommodate e-bike riders and pedestrians.”

“Delivery workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the city, and I commend Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for these critical efforts to address unsafe corporate practices that play out on our streets,” said NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “When delivery apps push workers to speed through unreasonable quotas or unrealistic delivery times, it creates a dangerous streetscape for every New Yorker. DCWP will use any and every tool at its disposal to support our DOT colleagues’ street safety initiatives and ensure apps are held accountable.”

“I applaud Mayor Mamdani for taking a real step toward making our streets safer. If we’re serious about safety, we have to address the root causes of dangerous riding, and that includes the systems pushing people on bikes to take risks,” said City Council Majority Leader and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Shaun Abreu. “Our path forward must include holding delivery app companies accountable for unrealistic timelines, investing in real training for workers and continuing to redesign our streets so everyone has a safe place to be, whether you’re walking, biking or driving.”

“Better data is essential to understanding how delivery activity impacts street safety and to shaping effective policy,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “Safer streets require a clear understanding of how deliveries are happening across the city, and I appreciate the administration’s recognition of this legislation and the broader need to address e-bike safety. I look forward to working with the administration to move this forward.”

“The end of criminal enforcement for minor traffic offenses for cyclists and e-bike riders is a major step forward. For too long, app delivery companies have built business models that push workers to speed, work long hours and ride in unsafe conditions — making delivery one of the most dangerous jobs in New York City. One in five delivery workers has been injured on the job, and half have experienced accidents while working,” said Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director, Workers Justice Project / Los Deliveristas Unidos. “We applaud Mayor Mamdani and DOT Commissioner Flynn for taking bold action to hold these billion-dollar companies accountable. This is a crucial step toward addressing the root causes of unsafe delivery work, and we look forward to advancing a comprehensive worker justice platform that makes delivery work safer and creates safer streets for e-bike riders, pedestrians and all New Yorkers.”

“Finally, Mayor Mamdani is ending the previous administration’s wrongheaded and bizarre targeting of New Yorkers on bikes,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives. “We’re happy that criminal summonses are finally ending for bike riders, and the era of punishing bike riders criminally, while just giving drivers traffic tickets for the same infraction, has come to an end. Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets and sidewalks, and we look forward to working with the Mayor, the City Council and the entire bicycling community to make sure everyone is safe and respected as we get around. With thoughtful regulation of the delivery industry, higher quality infrastructure so there is a safe place for everyone on the road, and meaningful education and support for safe operation, we can realize Mayor Mamdani’s vision to make our streets the envy of the world.”

“We’re thrilled that Mayor Mamdani is directing the NYPD to reverse the discriminatory practice of issuing criminal summonses to cyclists that was implemented by the preceding administration,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director, StreetsPAC. “Criminally charging someone riding a bike for an infraction for which the driver of a 400-horsepower, three-ton SUV only receives a traffic ticket makes no sense and does nothing to improve safety, and we’re grateful that City Hall is righting that wrong. What does improve safety is reducing or eliminating the perverse incentives that lead to unsafe behaviors, like delivery-app algorithms that set unrealistic delivery expectations, and enhancing training and education. We’re excited to support the Mamdani administration and NYC DOT in moving forward with these important initiatives.”

As part of this initiative, the City will launch an enhanced safety training program in April for all bicycle and e-bike delivery workers. The program — accessible online through secure accounts and available in six languages — will cover workers’ rights and responsibilities, safe e-bike and bicycle operation and traffic laws. NYC DOT will oversee compliance and implement the program in partnership with delivery worker advocates to ensure that trainings are completed and workers’ rights are protected in the process.

The Mamdani administration will also partner with Lyft, operator of Citi Bike, to introduce hardware upgrades that deter multiple riders on a single bike and to amplify a forthcoming education and safety campaign in collaboration with Transportation Alternatives. The City will continue to work with Citi Bike’s operator and stakeholders to advance additional safety enhancements in the future.

Finally, the Mamdani administration will work with the City Council to develop legislation addressing the root causes of unsafe e-bike and cycling delivery practices. The legislation will:  

• Require third-party delivery companies to provide trip-level data on deliveries, worker penalties and safety incidents to NYC DOT; 
• Authorize the City to establish safe delivery time standards and regulate penalties imposed on workers;  
• Authorize NYC DOT to require enhanced training for delivery workers who repeatedly engage in unsafe e-bike and cyclist behavior; and 
• Expand commercial delivery safety and training requirements to cover all two-wheeled devices, including mopeds and motorcycles.

MAYOR MAMDANI APPOINTS GREGORY ANDERSON AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION 

A key architect of City’s “Trash Revolution” returns to lead New York’s Strongest

With nearly a decade at DSNY, Gregory willadvance transformative programs includingwaste containerization and curbside composting