Welcoming Dylan Home From ICE Detention, Deputy Mayor For Community Safety, DOF Cmr, City Electeds Compensation Review, Back Home Unit, Yankee Stadium Proximity Project, Fast Food Worker Restitution, Savings Plan Update, Affordable Housing On City Land, Street Vendor Project: Mayor Mamdani – UPDATED Repair Vote

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR MAMDANI JOINS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO WELCOME DYLAN LOPEZ CONTRERAS HOME   

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Good morning, everyone. I first just want to take a moment to thank everyone — both those who are here and those beyond this room who made this morning possible, [and] who made it such that it would be a good one. I want to thank the incredible advocates and legal team that worked to secure this day. If we can have a round of applause for all those we’ve heard from, all those who are here. As much as we have spoken about Dylan, we oftentimes forget in the conversation we are speaking about a high school freshman in our city.  

We are speaking about a young man whose year should have been defined by that which defines so many freshman years: learning about himself, the classes that he likes, the ones that he can’t wait until the bell rings for, the friends that he makes [and] the city that he now calls his home. And instead, he was taken from the city. He was put in detention for nearly a year. And he was robbed of what should have been his. Because above all else, Dylan is a New Yorker. He belongs in New York City.  

This city has been missing him. And we are so grateful. We are so grateful that you are home. This is your home. And we know that good things are not simply granted; they have to be fought for in a world like ours. And so, to his mother, who is here with us [and] to the family that grew around him: his lawyers, his advocates, his guidance counselor, the elected officials that are here with us, [and] those that ensure, like Murad, that we always understand that to be an immigrant and to be a New Yorker is not, however, to have two identities in tension.  

They are, for myself and for more than 3 million who call this city home, one and the same. I say thank you. Because this is a city that does not stand for our children being snatched from their home. It is a city that does not stand for high school students being taken away from the life that they should have. And as Dylan has reminded us, this is but a glimpse into something that is affecting so many across this city, across this state, and across this country.  

And we will not rest until every single person is where they deserve to be. We will not rest until our students can focus on school. Until our parents can focus on their lives. Until we do not have to fight for the most basic of things, like freedom, like dignity, like our rights. And I want to thank the New Yorkers who are here alongside me, because it is their hard work that ensures we remember that above all else, these should be realities in our city, in our state, and in our country.  

And I want you to know, Dylan, and I want our whole city to know, that [the] City government here today, whether from the governor at the state level, myself as the mayor, [or] the speaker that is here, [has] elected officials, public advocates, borough presidents, City Council members, every single level of government. We are united in our belief that New Yorkers deserve to be in New York, and their rights are things that must be respected. And we will say that every single day until it does not have to be said any longer.  

Because this is a city, this is a city that is proud of its heritage, it’s a city that is proud of the many immigrants who call it home, and it’s a city that is proud of a future that will have not just New Yorkers like Dylan studying in school, but New Yorkers like Dylan helping to shape the future of this place that we all call home. Thank you all so much. 

MAYOR MAMDANI APPOINTS THREE RENOWNED PUBLIC SERVANTS TO QUADRENNIAL ADVISORY COMMISSION   

Independent commission will review compensation for New York City elected officials  

Carl Weisbrod to serve as Commission Chair, joined by Dr. Lilliam Barrios-Paoli and Larian Angelo

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of three experienced public servants to the Quadrennial Advisory Commission, which will review compensation levels for New York City elected officials.   

This independent commission will be chaired by Carl Weisbrod, former Commissioner of the Department of City Planning Commissioner and Founding President of the Economic Development Corporation. He will be joined by Dr. Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Former Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services, as well as Larian Angelo, former First Deputy Director at the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget and New York City Council Finance Director. Together, Weisbrod, Barrios-Paoli and Angelo bring decades of experience in City government and public sector leadership.  

The Commission will conduct an independent, comprehensive review of compensation for elected officials and issue recommendations to the Mayor within 120 days of its appointment, in accordance with the City’s Administrative Code. The review will cover salaries for City Council Members, citywide elected officials, Borough Presidents and District Attorneys. Any proposed changes must be approved by the City Council.  

“The Quadrennial Commission is tasked with the important work of reviewing compensation for elected officials and ensuring that New Yorkers’ hard-earned tax dollars are spent responsibly. Carl, Lilliam and Larian have each spent their careers serving this city with integrity. I am confident they will approach this responsibility with the seriousness and independence it demands, and I look forward to carefully reviewing their recommendations,” said Mayor Mamdani.  

“The Quadrennial Commission plays an essential role in ensuring that any compensation decisions are made independently and transparently,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “I’m encouraged by the Mayor’s appointment of Carl Weisbrod, Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, and Larian Angelo, who each bring significant experience and credibility to this process.”  

“I am honored by Mayor Mamdani’s appointment and proud to serve as Chair of this Commission. Public trust in government depends on accountability, and we will work to ensure compensation levels are fair, transparent and aligned with public interest,” said Chair Weisbrod.   

Under the City Charter, a Quadrennial Commission must be convened every four years, during the third year of a mayoral administration, to review compensation for public officials. No such commission has been convened since 2015.   

Quadrennial Commissioners Bios  

Carl Weisbrod, Chair:  

Carl Weisbrod has led numerous public initiatives focused on revitalizing New York City neighborhoods. Beginning in the 1970s, he led the successful New York State and New York City efforts to revitalize Times Square. From 1990 to 1994, he served as the founding president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. From 2014 to 2017, he was Chair of the New York City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning.  

He is currently a Senior Advisor at HR&A Advisors. He has served as a Director of the Trust for Governors Island since 2012 and as a Trustee of New York Public Radio since 2017. His past roles include Trustee of the Ford Foundation and the Urban Land Institute, and Chair of the New York State Health Foundation. Weisbrod holds degrees from Cornell University and New York University School of Law.  

Dr. Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Commissioner:   

Dr. Lilliam Barrios-Paoli has held senior leadership roles in New York City government and the nonprofit sector for decades. She chaired the board of New York City Health + Hospitals and served as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. Her work in City government includes serving as Commissioner of the Department for the Aging, Department of Employment, Department of Personnel (now DCAS), Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Human Resources Administration.   

In the nonprofit sector, she was President and CEO of Safe Space NYC and Senior Vice President and Chief Executive for Agency Services at the United Way of New York City, where she was instrumental in establishing the September 11th Fund. She also served as Executive Director of Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx. Dr. Barrios-Paoli holds a degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City as well as a Masters and Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research.   

Larian Angelo, Commissioner:   

Larian Angelo is an economist with nearly 30 years of public service experience. She served in the New York City Office of Management and Budget under two administrations, including as Deputy Director for Education and Intergovernmental Relations under Mayor Bloomberg and as First Deputy Director under Mayor de Blasio. She also worked for the New York City Council as Chief Economist under Speaker Peter Vallone and later as Finance Director for Speaker Gifford Miller.  

Angelo served as Vice President at CUNY’s Guttman Community College and as a Senior Fellow at the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance. She has taught public finance at the Milano School of Public Policy and has served on multiple public bodies, including the Mayor’s Charter Revision Commission, the New York City Audit Committee, the COVID-19 Fiscal Impact Task Force for Suffolk County and the New York City Panel for Education Policy. 

Earlier in her career, Larian was research director for the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America. She holds a Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research. 

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES BACK HOME UNIT AND GUIDE TO HELP NEW YORKERS RECOVER AFTER EMERGENCIES 

New unit will coordinate services for residents displaced by fires and other disasters

AHEAD OF OPENING DAY, MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON PROJECT TO IMPROVE BRONX CROSSTOWN BUS SERVICE AND SAFETY NEAR YANKEE STADIUM  

Project will deliver faster, safer and easier commutes for more than 25,000 daily bus riders 

Bx6 Select Bus Service at East 161st Street and Sherman Avenue

Mayor Mamdani kicks off ‘Tackle Corruption and Waste Week’

Mamdani administration has secured more than $8.5M in restitution since taking office

NEW YORK – TODAY, over YouTube Live while eating a Crunchwrap Supreme, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the filing of an enforcement petition against QSR Management LLC, a Dunkin’ franchisee that operates locations in Staten Island, seeking monetary relief for workers and civil penalties.   

The petition alleges that QSR Management LLC and managing corporate officer Ronny Nader violated the rights of approximately 1,000 workers under the Fair Workweek Law and Protected Time Off Law.  

The Mamdani Administration also announced settlements with two companies that will provide more than 830 workers with more than $1.8 million to resolve violations of the Fair Workweek Law. In addition to restitution, Dunkin’ & Taco Bell franchisee Salz Management LLC and premium fashion retailer Theory will pay more than $176,000 in civil penalties and costs. 

“Today’s settlements are about more than financial compensation for working New Yorkers —though that relief matters. At their core, these actions are about restoring dignity on the job. Every worker deserves a predictable schedule — something stable enough to plan a life around, to care for family, to show up for the people who depend on them,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This city will not tolerate any corporation or franchisee that violates our Fair Workweek laws, or any of the labor protections that workers fought for and won. We will keep enforcing those laws, so that every New Yorker knows their rights and can count on this city to defend them.”  

“When we talk about economic justice, we mean protecting New Yorkers’ time. A fair economy is one where working people have the right to a predictable schedule, allowing them to plan and enjoy life outside of work. This lawsuit and these settlements are further evidence that the Mamdani Administration is fighting on behalf of workers and for employers who follow the law,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su.  

“Today’s actions kick off the Mayor’s Tackle Corruption and Waste Week with a clear message. If DCWP sees you break the law, we will not hesitate to bring you to court – especially when it comes to repeat scofflaws, like QSR Management and Mr. Nader,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protections (DCWP) Commissioner Sam Levine. “Compliance is not optional.”  

The Mamdani Administration is urging all workers who believe their rights have been violated to file a complaint by visiting nyc.gov/workers or by calling 311. Since Jan. 1, 2026, the Administration has secured more than $8.5 million in restitution for New York City workers, including more than $500,000 for freelancers ripped off by production company Splashlight and nearly $5 million for Uber Eats, Fantuan and HungryPanda delivery workers.  

Details of the Enforcement Actions  

On Monday, DCWP filed a petition at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) against QSR Management LLC and Ronny Nader. The petition alleges that approximately 1,000 workers across 21 Staten Island locations experienced thousands of violations of the Fair Workweek Law and Protected Time Off Law. Under the law, each worker is owed between $200 to $500 per violation, and workers may be entitled to relief for multiple violations per week. 

DCWP previously resolved a 2022 case involving one of Nader’s locations, securing $187,000 in relief for 112 workers. Subsequent complaints led to the broader, company-wide investigation. 

Salz Management LLC will pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to more than 760 workers and more than $155,000 in civil penalties and costs. The investigation found violations at 24 locations across Manhattan and Queens, including failure to provide schedules 14 days in advance, failure to obtain consent for schedule changes and failure to pay required premiums. 

Theory LLC, a premium fashion retailer, will pay more than $277,000 to more than 60 workers and more than $21,000 in civil penalties and costs. At two Manhattan locations, the company failed to provide advance schedules, obtain consent for added hours and provide adequate notice for shift cancellations. Workers do not need to file a complaint to receive a payment. Checks or direct deposits will begin in April 2026 for Theory workers and August 2026 for Salz Management workers.  

NYC Worker Protection Laws  

DCWP enforces the City’s Fair Workweek Law, which guarantees predictable schedules and protections for fast food and retail workers, and the Protected Time Off Law, which ensures workers have access to paid and unpaid leave for illness, caregiving and other needs.   

Workers and employers can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 for more information to file a complaint. Complaints may be filed anonymously, and retaliation is illegal.  

Under the law, fast food employers in NYC:  

• Must give workers regular schedules that stay the same week-to-week;  

• Must give workers work schedules 14 days in advance of the start of the schedule;  

• Must pay premiums for schedule changes and “clopenings”;  

• Must give workers a chance to say no to extra work and to “clopenings”;  

• Must give current workers the opportunity to work more regular hours before hiring new employees;  

• Cannot fire or reduce the hours of a worker by more than 15% without just cause or a legitimate business reason;  

• Must reinstate laid off employees by seniority when hours become available.  

Under NYC’s Fair Workweek Law, retail employers:  

• Must give workers their work schedules 72 hours before the first shift on the schedule;  

• Cannot schedule employees for on-call shifts;  

• Cannot cancel a scheduled shift with less than 72 hours’ notice;  

• Cannot require an employee to work with less than 72 hours’ notice, unless the employee agrees.  

DCWP also enforces the Protected Time Off Law, in effect since 2014 and formerly known as the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. Under this law, covered employees have the right to protected time off and paid prenatal leave:  

• Most employees have a right to up to 40 or 56 hours of paid protected time off per year.  

• Employees also have 32 hours of unpaid protected time off from the beginning of employment.  

• Employees can take protected time off for many reasons, including childcare, illness, medical appointments, and more.  

• Employers must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave in addition to protected time off.  

MAYOR MAMDANI RELEASES UPDATE ON SAVINGS PLAN  

NEW YORK – TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani provided an update on the City of New York’s savings plan, as part of the City’s effort to drive down the budget gap inherited from the former Administration.  

“Government must deliver for working people — and every dollar in our budget must work as hard as they do. That’s why I directed every agency to find real savings and cut waste to close our budget gap. This is just the beginning of our work to improve service delivery and make city government the most efficient it can be,” said Mayor Mamdani.  

Mayor Mamdani proposed a prudent, fiscally responsible preliminary budget that identifies aggressive saving measures and operational reforms. Years of underbudgeting, unfunded mandates and fiscal mismanagement under the prior Administration left New York City facing a massive deficit, described by City Comptroller Mark Levine as “the biggest budget gap since the Great Recession.” Prior to the last Administration, actual spending tended to exceed projections by approximately 3%; through the Adams Administration, underbudgeting averaged 10%.   

In January, Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Order 12, establishing a Chief Savings Officer (CSO) at every City agency to review performance, eliminate waste and streamline service delivery. Agencies were required to identify savings of 1.5% for Fiscal Year 2026 and 2.5% for Fiscal Year 2027. City agencies submitted their proposals on Friday, March 20, identifying more than $1.7 billion in savings. City Hall and the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget have begun reviewing these proposals for inclusion in the Executive Budget.   

In this initial review, the Mamdani Administration has grouped savings into five categories: efficiencies in public services; contracting efficiencies; technology modernization; space consolidation and lease management; and financial adjustments and new revenue. The following highlights represent an initial list of approved items:  

• Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: DOHMH will renegotiate its naloxone contract based on lower costs achieved in other states. This will save $1.15 million in FY27.   

• Department of Sanitation: DSNY will vacate underutilized office space and relocate staff to space which is being upgraded to accommodate additional employees. This will save $194,000 in FY27.   

• Economic Development Corporation: EDC will in-source a marketing contract, saving $626,000 in FY27.    

• Fire Department: FDNY has negotiated lower rates with telecommunications providers saving $700,000 in FY26 and $2.2 million in FY27. It will also begin billing Medicaid for “Treat No Transport” services following recent State and Federal approvals, saving $10.1 million in FY27.  

• Health + Hospitals: H+H will negotiate contract rebates, reduce reliance on temporary staffing agencies through in-sourcing, cut overtime and improve revenue collection. This will save $14.1 million in FY26 and $25.7 million in FY27.   

• Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services: MONS will eliminate a consultant contract and in-source these services, saving $400,000 in FY26.   

• NYC Aging: Aging will in-source a consultant contract, saving $411,000 in FY27.   

• NYC Emergency Management: NYCEM will in-source a software maintenance contract. This will save approximately $63,000 in FY27. The agency will also transition certain software programs to a more cost-effective platform. This will save approximately $70,000 in FY27.   

• New York City Public Schools: NYCPS will terminate underutilized contracts and implement spending caps, generating $30.3 million in savings in FY27. In addition, NYCPS will introduce controls on central office spending across supplies, equipment, professional development and travel, resulting in $27.5 million in savings in FY26.  

• Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget: OMB will reduce office lease costs, saving $90,000 in FY27.   

• Office of Technology and Innovation: OTI will renegotiate its’ technology contracts, eliminate duplicative hardware and software and right-size consultant agreements. These actions will save $1.3 million in FY 2026 and $1.2 million in FY 2027.  

• Office of Labor Relations: OLR will conduct a full audit of dependent eligibility in employee health plans. Ineligible dependents will be removed from coverage. This is expected to save approximately $100 million in FY27.   

• Taxi and Limousine Commission: TLC will cancel its Slack subscription, saving nearly $20,000 in FY27.   

MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM TO DELIVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CITY-OWNED LAND FASTER  

New “Neighborhood Builders” Fast Track Will Pre-Select Qualified Developers to Cut Pre-Development Timeline by Nearly Half   

First Three Sites to Use New Fast Track Could Deliver As Many As 300 New Affordable Homes

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Dina Levy announced the new Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, an expedited process to speed the delivery of affordable housing on City-owned land. With Neighborhood Builders, HPD will pre-qualify affordable housing builders and shorten the pre-development Request for Proposals (RFP) process by eight months for certain projects – cutting the time to select an affordable housing developer by nearly half. Together with the new Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), which the Mamdani administration has moved quickly to implement following its approval by voters in November, these programs will cut the pre-development process by more than two years.  

“Our city is facing a historic housing crisis — the last thing we need to do is tie ourselves in red tape,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The Neighborhood Builders Fast Track will speed up housing development and make it faster to build on city-owned land. This administration is willing to move at the speed of need to make this a city New Yorkers can continue to call home.”  

“New Yorkers deserve a government that doesn’t just deliver high-quality, affordable housing – but that also delivers it efficiently and effectively. I am proud to launch the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track alongside the HPD team who are working to deliver affordable housing across the five boroughs,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “I’m also excited to be advancing affordable housing projects at 784 Myrtle Ave, 1337 Jerome Ave, and 109-43 Farmers Blvd that will help create more vibrant, affordable neighborhoods, including new homeownership opportunities.”  

“New York City needs more affordable housing, built faster and at lower cost — and HPD is not waiting to deliver it,” said Dina Levy, Housing and Preservation Commissioner. “The Neighborhood Builders Fast Track will reduce costs, speed up timelines, and maximize affordability. Public land is a public good — and we will not let city-owned sites sit idle while New Yorkers struggle to find an affordable home.”  

HPD is releasing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) due May 8th for affordable housing developers who will pre-qualify for the Neighborhood Builders program, with a focus on nonprofit organizations and minority- and women-owned businesses. Once development teams have been qualified, the faster Neighborhood Builders process will be used at sites such as 784-800 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, 1337 Jerome Avenue in the Bronx and 109-43 Farmers Boulevard in Queens, which will together deliver as many as 300 new affordable homes, including around 100 affordable homeownership opportunities at the Bronx and Queens sites. HPD expects to use the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track to advance development of as many as 1,000 new homes over the next two years.  

The Neighborhood Builders Fast Track advances the Mamdani administration’s critical goals of creating affordable housing, especially on City-owned land, and speeding up the delivery of housing across the city. On the first day of the administration, Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Orders 4 and 5, establishing the Land Inventory Fast Track (LIFT) and Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (SPEED) task forces, both of which will deliver recommendations this spring. The LIFT Task Force is working to identify opportunities for housing on City-owned sites, and the SPEED Task Force is working to reform the affordable housing production process, including pre- and post-construction approvals, project financing, and lease-up.  

“I look forward to working with Mayor Mamdani on the Neighborhood Builders program to deliver urgently needed affordable housing,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “Since taking office, I have made one priority clear: build more housing and keep our neighbors here. The inclusion of 784-800 Myrtle Avenue in our district is both an honor and a recognition of Bed-Stuy’s need for deeply affordable homes so longtime residents and low-income New Yorkers can continue to contribute to our shared Brooklyn heritage. I’m proud to have approved thousands of units — spanning deeply affordable, middle-income, and supportive housing — that meet the diverse needs of my constituents. With Neighborhood Builders accelerating this work, we can move faster to confront rising rents and prevent displacement, because the people who give this city its life deserve to remain part of its future.”  

“With the highest loss of black residents in the city, Mayor Mamdani picked the perfect place to start – Bed Stuy. Transforming vacant city-owned land to 100% affordable housing. This is what we have been calling for. This is hope. This is a downpayment of what is to come – building thousands of affordable homes in Bed Stuy and Central Brooklyn so the people who live here can stay here. Moving from words to action,” said Rev. Dr. Adolphus Lacey, Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Bedford Stuyvesant and Co-Chair of East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC).  

“Today, Mayor Mamdani is showing us what is possible. Metro IAF called on the Mayor to do what others thought was impossible – develop 50,000 affordable units each year. We said it takes three things – sites, staff, and subsidy. Metro IAF showed him the sites. His staff quickly and thoroughly reviewed the sites. And today, the Mayor is acting to make city-owned land live again,” said Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley, Pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in East New York and Co-Chair of Metro IAF. “We are in a 9-1-1 moment. Mayor Mamdani is showing what leaders do in an emergency. They act. They streamline. They expedite. They cut the red tape. We can’t wait to come back here and welcome the families who will have a brand-new home. We will do it again and again. We are not stopping. Metro IAF will stand with Mayor Mamdani and we will fight. We will fight for affordability. We will fight for maximizing density. We will fight for expediting. We will fight for all New Yorkers to keep New York home.”  

“With a 1.4% vacancy rate, New Yorkers need more affordable housing, and fast,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “We need to use every tool to speed up the creation of new homes, and the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track is a powerful new one. By cutting 8 months of process, affordable housing will get built faster, enabling more New Yorkers to access homes they can afford. We’re excited to see the Mamdani Administration, Deputy Mayor Bozorg, and Commissioner Levy prioritize the fast delivery of more affordable housing.”

MAYOR MAMDANI, SBS COMMISSIONER KENNY MINAYA NAME CARINA KAUFMAN-GUTIERREZ AS FIRST-EVER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF STREET VENDOR SERVICES

Executive Director Kaufman-Gutierrez brings more than a decade of experience supporting small businesses and street vendors  

Kaufman-Gutierrez previously served as co-director of the street vendor project

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kenny Minaya announced the appointment of Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez as the first Executive Director of the new Office of Street Vendor Services (SVS) at SBS. The Mamdani Administration is launching the SVS more than four months ahead of schedule, following the New York City Council’s passage of Intro 408-A.  

SVS will advance economic justice by serving as a central hub for citywide street vendor education and assistance within SBS. As the Mamdani Administration plans implementation of the “Street Vendor Reform Package” and issues the first new street vending licenses since the cap set in 1979 was lifted, the office will launch a citywide outreach campaign to ensure vendors are aware of opportunities to transition into the formal economy.   

The office will also work closely with interagency partners, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders to support a more vibrant and equitable street vending ecosystem across all five boroughs.  

“Our street vendors are not a problem to solve — they are a community to support. They feed us, they employ us, and they give our streets life at every hour. Many New Yorkers’ fondest memories are of grabbing late-night food at their local taco truck or halal cart. But City Hall has too often made their work harder instead of helping it thrive. That changes now,” said Mayor Mamdani. “With this office and with Carina’s leadership, we will fundamentally transform the relationship that street vendors have with the City. By streamlining bureaucracy and working closely with street vendors themselves, we can lower costs for vendors and their customers alike.”  

“Street vendors may be some of our smallest businesses, but they have an outsized impact on our local economies and the cultural fabric of our city. As we build a more just economy, street vendors play a vital role by creating jobs and offering affordable goods for New Yorkers. This new office marks a new era in how City government supports them,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su.  

“Street vendors are essential to the fabric of New York City, powering our local economy, shaping our culture, and bringing vibrancy to our commercial corridors,” said SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya. “With the launch of the Office of Street Vendor Services within SBS, we will deliver long-overdue support, resources, and guidance street vendors deserve. Many vendors are immigrants and entrepreneurs working tirelessly to support their families, and they deserve a city government that works for them. I’m proud to partner with Executive Director Kaufman-Gutierrez as we build this office and ensure street vendors across all five boroughs have the tools they need to succeed.”  

“From the tamaleras of Corona to the portrait artists of Times Square, street vendors fold our city’s unrivaled diversity into our streets and sidewalks. Today, more than ever, our city’s smallest businesses, 96% of whom are immigrants, need resources, advocacy, and protection,” said Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Office of Street Vendor Services. “Street vendors have long fought for both recognition and support from city government, and I’m honored to join SBS and the Administration in centering the needs of our city’s smallest businesses at Office of Street Vendor Services. Together with street vendors, interagency partners, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders at the table, we can build a more vibrant, and equitable street vending ecosystem across the five boroughs.”  

“We’re thrilled that SBS created the first ever Office of Street Vendor Services and hired an exceptional Executive Director, Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez. For nearly 7 years Carina has worked with the vendor community, created programs that provided essential services to thousands of vendors and led strategic initiatives that made substantial marks in the street vendor movement. We’re so thankful for the agency and their selection of such a phenomenal leader to run the office and looking forward to the great work this office will accomplish under Carina’s leadership,” said Mohamed Attia, Co-Director at the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.  

Kaufman-Gutierrez will lead New York City’s first dedicated team to support street vendors and will build the office from the ground-up within SBS. The office will provide education, outreach and programming and coordinate across agencies to better serve both food and general vendors citywide. The executive director will also work closely with the partner agencies to recommend policy, legislative and rule changes to reduce unnecessary penalties and advance fair enforcement.  

“Street vendors are the heartbeat of neighborhoods like Parkchester and communities across New York City—working-class entrepreneurs who contribute to our economy and culture every day. The creation of the Office of Street Vendor Services, and the appointment of Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez as its first Executive Director, is a major step toward bringing structure, dignity, and opportunity to this workforce,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “The Council passed Int. 408-A to advance transparency and equity, and launching this office ahead of schedule shows real commitment to that goal. Under Carina’s leadership and deep experience working alongside vendor communities, the office is well positioned to connect vendors with the resources and support they need to succeed. I applaud Mayor Mamdani in this important step toward ensuring every New Yorker has a fair shot to build something of their own.”  

“Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez is one of the biggest champions for street vendors. While we worked to pass my law to ensure street vendors don’t face jail time for putting food on the dinner table, Carina’s leadership and expertise at the Street Vendor Project was invaluable. Her persistent advocacy had landed historic wins for the vendor community. I’m excited to work with Carina in her new role and to continue protecting our city’s smallest businesses with her,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.  

“I worked closely with the Street Vendor Project to pass my bill establishing this office, and to have one of its leaders now head the office we created together is an exciting indicator of what’s to come for New York City’s smallest businesses,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “In speaking with vendors about the barriers they face, I hear stories of long hours and longer weeks, livelihoods being threatened, merchandise being seized, of pain and penalties – and at the same time, I saw the spirit, drive, and hope of people looking to carve out their space on the sidewalk to serve New Yorkers and support their families. We can help. Street vendors provide some of the most affordable options for New Yorkers facing an increasingly unaffordable city, and in establishing this office we hope to provide them the support they need to survive and thrive.”  

“Every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to work with dignity—and after decades of a broken system, we finally delivered real street vending reform in New York City,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “I was proud to lead this effort in the Council, and with Mayor Mamdani’s support, I am hopeful we can now deliver on strong implementation. Appointing Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez as the first-ever Executive Director of the Office of Street Vendor Services is an excellent choice. Carina has been at the heart of this movement—bringing sharp policy insight, deep relationships with vendors, and a strong understanding of how to navigate government systems. I look forward to working with her and the administration to fully implement the Street Vending Reform Package, including Local Laws 53, 54, and 59 of 2026, and Local Law 122 of 2025.”  

“As Chair of the Committee on Small Business, I’ve seen firsthand how street vendors power our local economies and bring life to our corridors, despite a system that has too often worked against them. They are small business owners, job creators, and culture bearers,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry. “With Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez’s leadership, we are turning years of advocacy into action and building a more just, coordinated, and community-centered approach to street vending, one that brings vendors, brick-and-mortar businesses, and residents into better alignment, and recognizes vendors as essential to New York City’s economic future.”  

The establishment of SVS follows the first challenge-based procurement in SBS history, “Venture Forward,” launched in late 2025. The initiative will promote economic opportunities for street vendors through innovative programming to address gaps in the street vending ecosystem. Selected partners will be announced soon.   

About Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez  

Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez is the first Executive Director of the Office of Street Vendor Services. Prior to joining the Mamdani Administration, Carina served as the Co-Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a member-led organization that builds power among vendors through legal representation, small business training and leadership development.  

Kaufman-Gutierrez has spent more than a decade supporting small businesses and the public realm in New York City, including work with Grow NYC Greenmarkets, the Community Service Society of New York, and SBS. Her leadership has been recognized by City & State NY’s Labor 40 under 40, the Neighborhood Leadership Award from the New York Women’s Foundation and the Hispanic Leadership Award from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on urban social policy and conflict resolution.  

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosts families for his first Eid-al-Fitr celebration on the lawns of Gracie Mansion on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Eid Mubarak! Kara McCurdy | Mayoral Photography Office