NYC Mayor Mamdani: Rent Guidelines Vote, Child Care Educator Month, NYCHA Engagement, Psychiatric Discharge Policy Review, Soccer Streets, Budget, Affordable Housing, Neighborhood FIFA Events

Mayor Mamdani’s Statement on the Rent Guidelines Board’s Preliminary Vote    

NEW YORK – Tonight, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement on the Rent Guidelines Board’s vote to set a preliminary range for rent adjustments on rent-stabilized leases: 

“New Yorkers are being crushed by the cost of living, and they need real relief. I’m encouraged to see the Board taking seriously the data around affordability, operating expenses, and the pressures facing both tenants and small property owners as it sets this preliminary range. 

As the RGB begins its public hearings, tenants, owners, and New Yorkers from every borough should make their voices heard and speak directly to what this housing crisis looks like in their lives. I’m confident the Board will weigh those perspectives carefully and arrive at a decision later this summer that reflects the urgency of this moment.” 

Mayor Mamdani Designates May as Child Care Educator Appreciation Month  

Video showcasing the work of child care educators available to watch here.  

NEW YORK— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced that New York City will recognize May as “Child Care Educator Appreciation Month,” honoring the child care workers and educators whose labor supports families across all five boroughs.

By expanding national Provider Appreciation Day into a monthlong recognition, the City is spotlighting the essential role child care educators play in New Yorkers’ lives and affirming their place as partners in shaping the future of universal child care.

“There is no child care without our child care educators,” said Mayor Mamdani. “For too long, educators have been pushed aside and taken for granted. If we are serious about delivering universal child care in New York City, we must do more than recognize educators’ contributions. We must center them as decisionmakers in building sustainable programs. This month is just the start. The City has critical work ahead to ensure child care educators receive the respect and compensation their essential labor deserves.”

“Every day, like many parents across the city, I leave my children in the loving and capable hands of early childhood educators,” said Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. “For decades, child care educators have shaped the lives of New Yorkers while receiving far too little formal recognition. The Mamdani Administration is committed to uplifting the critical work of our educators while advancing the economic justice needed to truly sustain this workforce. As we continue building a stronger child care ecosystem, today’s announcement is an opportunity to recognize the providers whose dedication keeps our city running.”

“The earliest years of a child’s life are the most formative, and we have our child care educators to thank for laying the foundation of which all future learning is built on,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Before a child ever begins kindergarten, they have already been shaped by the dedication of the educators who held their hands, spoke their names, and believed their potential is limitless. So in May, and every day, we want to show how appreciative we are to all the child care educators across the city and beyond.”

This monthlong recognition highlights the leaders and educators working in the City’s more than 10,000 licensed child care programs, most of which are small businesses run and staffed by women of color. Child care providers operate in every New York City neighborhood, caring for hundreds of thousands of children every day and making it possible for parents to participate in the workforce.

Today, the city also released a video showcasing the work of child care educators, available to watch here.

Earlier this week, to kick off Child Care Educator Appreciation Month, the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su hosted a roundtable with child care program leaders to hear directly from providers and discuss opportunities to strengthen the system.

In the coming weeks, Mayor Mamdani will host a child care educator appreciation dinner at Gracie Mansion, administration officials will visit child care programs across the city, and the city will launch a provider listening tour.

In tandem with providers across New York City, the Mamdani administration has taken historic steps towards universal child care. On Day 8 of his tenure, the Mayor announced a partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul to fully fund 3-K and launch 2-K for the first time in city history. Since then, the Mayor has partnered with providers to expand 3-K access to 56 new zip codes and announce the first four communities to receive 2-K seats. Most recently, at the end of April, the Mayor opened applications for “The Little Apple,” New York City’s first free child care pilot program for municipal workers.

Mayor Mamdani and NYCHA Announce First-of-its-Kind “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” Engagements for Public Housing Residents  

Events will continue the administration’s work to bring resident voice into public policy

NEW YORK — Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt announced a series of “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” events in May and June, marking a first-of-its-kind engagement for NYCHA residents to speak directly with senior leaders and connect with services from a range of City agencies in communities near where they live.

Each “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” forum will give residents opportunities to discuss issues affecting developments across the city, including repairs, community programming, pests and waste, elevators, mold, lead and public safety. The events will invite residents from across each neighborhood to participate in small-group discussions with senior City and NYCHA leadership, creating a new level of engagement for New Yorkers to share feedback, help shape policy and receive assistance.

Each forum will cover a neighborhood-wide area of NYCHA developments, rather than focusing on a single property, and discussions will cover a variety of policy topics and programs. The first three forums will be held in the Bronx on May 20, in Brooklyn on June 3 and in Manhattan on June 17. NYCHA residents can register to attend HERE.

“As we work to deliver the investments and improvements residents deserve, NYCHA in Your Neighborhood will help put public housing residents at the center of policymaking. These forums will give residents a new opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter most to them and access services from a range of City agencies,” said Mayor Mamdani.

“NYCHA serves more than 500,000 New Yorkers – their voices and experiences are critical as we collectively shape and implement a vision for a more affordable city. With NYCHA in Your Neighborhood, senior City and NYCHA leaders will meet public housing residents in their communities, to listen and discuss how we can be more responsive to community concerns and ideas, while making connections to existing resources,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.

“The ‘NYCHA in Your Neighborhood’ forums are a natural progression in how NYCHA engages with residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Drawing on a broad array of resident engagement programs and services, we will be bringing senior NYCHA staff and subject matter experts directly to residents to discuss their visions for their homes and campuses. We’re very excited to take this next step alongside the Mamdani administration, as we work with NYCHA residents face-to-face, on an individual basis, to hear concerns and develop meaningful solutions together.”

“NYCHA is continuing to evolve in how we engage residents,” said NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble. “Building on a wide range of resident engagement platforms and services, the ‘NYCHA in Your Neighborhood’ forums will provide residents and senior leadership alike a new opportunity to connect on the day-to-day issues affecting their homes, buildings, and communities. Residents will also be able to learn about useful resources from other city agencies. Our goal is to bring services and benefits to our residents by meeting them where they are and building genuine connections.”

The events build on the Mamdani administration’s commitment to bringing the day-to-day work of City government to New Yorkers. At the events, City officials will hear directly from public housing residents and use their input to shape housing policy and improve housing quality at properties across the city.

Each forum will offer residents the opportunity to participate in small-group discussions with NYCHA and City Hall leadership, as well as visit resource tables where residents can engage one-on-one with NYCHA staff about apartment repairs, tenancy concerns, environmental issues and more. The forums will also include support and resources from NYCHA, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and other City agencies including the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Department for the Aging (DFTA).

NYCHA in Your Neighborhood builds on existing engagement with public housing residents, including regular resident leadership and tenant association meetings, board meetings, resident roundtables, surveys and more. Residents at each development also have a direct line to the Authority through a Property Management Office and dedicated on-site staff, in addition to specialty teams responding around the clock to emergency heating, elevator, and skilled-trades repair needs. NYCHA residents in need of assistance are also encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application.

“Residents have consistently voiced concerns regarding mold, leaks, pests, heat, lead conditions, public safety, delayed repairs, and lack of accountability. These forums provide an avenue for residents to speak directly with decision-makers and obtain one-on-one assistance regarding unresolved issues impacting their homes and families,” said Daniel Barber, Chairman, Citywide Council of Presidents.

“We are glad to see the administration expanding its tenant engagement efforts to include NYCHA residents. NYCHA in Your Neighborhood is a meaningful step toward acknowledging the expertise within public housing communities and centering residents’ voices in shaping solutions, while also creating a space for residents to connect directly with leadership and access the services and support they need,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York.

“Too often, NYCHA residents are left navigating serious tenancy and housing issues on their own. We thank the City and NYCHA for creating this important opportunity for residents to connect directly with leadership and services. The Legal Aid Society looks forward to meeting with NYCHA residents, helping connect them to critical legal resources, and supporting tenants in protecting their rights and maintaining safe, stable housing,” said Lucy Newman, Supervising Attorney in the Public Housing Unit at The Legal Aid Society. 

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced an immediate investigation into NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s handling of a psychiatric evaluation connected to the fatal assault of 76-year-old Ross Falzone in Chelsea on Thursday, alongside a broader review of psychiatric evaluation and discharge protocols across the public hospital system.  

“I am horrified by the killing of Ross Falzone and the circumstances that led to it. I extend my condolences to his loved ones,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “New Yorkers deserve answers. That is why I’ve directed NYC Health + Hospitals to conduct both an immediate investigation on what steps should have been taken to prevent this tragedy and a comprehensive review of their psychiatric evaluation and discharge protocols.”  

Mayor Mamdani directed NYC H+H to conduct a root cause analysis and a full internal review of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric evaluation procedures, with a particular focus on protocols related to psychosis, crisis assessment and discharge decisions.  

The Mayor took the additional step of asking the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the handling of this specific psychiatric evaluation, as well as a broader review of similar cases at Bellevue, to determine whether existing protocols were followed and identify any gaps in the system.   

In response to his request, effective immediately, NYSDOH agreed to launch a full-scale review of NYC H+H psychiatric evaluation and discharge procedures to ensure appropriate safeguards and protocols are in place and being followed. State officials will remain on-site throughout the investigation and work with hospital leadership to establish any necessary corrective actions.    

According to preliminary New York City Police Department (NYPD) information, the alleged assailant — a 32-year-old-man — was brought on Thursday afternoon by NYPD officers to Bellevue hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. The individual remained at the hospital for approximately one hour before being discharged. Roughly five hours later, he allegedly pushed Falzone down a flight of stairs in Chelsea. The suspect is now in police custody.  

Soccer Streets: Mayor Mamdani Transforms 50 School Blocks Across New York City Into World Cup Field Days for Students  

Mayor Mamdani’s ‘Soccer Streets’ series will travel to 50 schools across the five boroughs, turning car-free blocks into day-long soccer pitches, block parties and community celebrations leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup™

NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today launched “Soccer Streets,” a traveling series of field days visiting 50 public schools across the five boroughs ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At each stop, car-free streets outside schools will be transformed into soccer pitches, art stations and block-party celebrations. The activations began May 1 and will continue school to school through the last day of school on June 26.  

As part of Soccer Streets, students will play pickup matches, run drills, paint team flags and celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event coming to New York City this summer.   

“The World Cup is coming to New York City, and we want every kid in this city to experience the joy of the game,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Soccer Streets takes that energy directly into our neighborhoods — closing streets to cars, opening them to play and making sure this celebration isn’t reserved for people who can afford a ticket. Open Streets is one of the best tools we have to reclaim public space for the public and these activations are another step toward bringing the World Cup to our city’s young people.”  

“For so many schools, the street outside their door is the only outdoor space they have. Soccer Streets shows what’s possible when we give that space back to kids — for play, for learning, for community,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We’re thrilled to partner on this celebration, and we want every school in the city to know the door is open to join Open Streets year-round.”  

“Outdoor play and physical activity are essential to the whole child,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Initiatives like this remind us that the street right outside a school door can be just as powerful a learning environment as the classrooms inside it. I’m grateful to all partners who had a hand in making this possible and can’t wait for our students to have this experience.”  

“Growing up I loved soccer. It was more than just a game. I learned it has the power to unify all of us, create belonging, and teach skills that go far beyond the field,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani. “From supporting the U.S. National Team to youth clubs across the country, we’ve seen that when you feed people’s dreams they grow. Teaming up with Mayor Mamdani to bring that spirit to neighborhoods across New York City feels truly magical. Seeing streets filled with kids playing, families cheering, and communities connecting through this beautiful game—that’s what makes soccer so special. Especially ahead of the World Cup, there’s no better way to celebrate.”  

“The World Cup is about more than the games in the stadium. It’s about sparking the joy of the game in young people and bringing communities together around this historic celebration,” said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “Every borough will participate and every neighborhood should benefit from the World Cup coming to our city.”  

“Open Streets for Schools hold a special promise for the future of the city,” said Leslie Davol, Executive Director of Street Lab. “We’re seeing students, families, teachers, and neighbors, working side-by-side to transform streets into places to gather, bringing learning from out behind the walls, and inspiring the whole community. It’s a grassroots movement, rising from the ground up and from the boroughs in. We’re excited to be working with this administration to help bring this new vision of NYC streets to life.”  

The City is partnering with the nonprofit Street Lab and Chobani to bring Soccer Streets to schools across the five boroughs.   

Schools interested in participating can contact Street Lab to learn more and get involved. Soccer Streets is a part of NYC DOT’s Open Streets for Schools program, which allows schools to close an adjacent street to traffic for recess, outdoor learning and safer pickup and drop-off. Several Soccer Streets locations are already Open Streets schools. Applications for the 2026–27 school year are open now and the City is encouraging more schools to join the program.  

Soccer Streets builds on Mayor Mamdani’s broader effort to ensure every New Yorker — not just tourists — can participate in and enjoy the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Last month, Mayor Mamdani, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee announced a free, citywide slate of Official NYNJ Fan Events across all five boroughs, including live match viewings, cultural programming, engagements at local businesses and interactive experiences for New Yorkers.  

With new State funding and assistance, Mamdani Administration will officially close New York City’s budget gap 

Delivers an additional $4 billion in new support for New York City, growing on previously announced funding

NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced new state support and actions to help New York City close its budget deficit ahead of the release of Mayor Mamdani’s Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget. Governor Hochul, in partnership with the state legislature, has secured an additional $4 billion in gap-closing support, bringing the total new state assistance to nearly $8 billion over two years.   

With this latest agreement, the Mamdani Administration will officially close the more than $12 billion deficit it inherited from the previous administration, stabilizing the City’s finances while advancing investments that make New York more affordable for working people. These new investments build on the $1.5 billion in assistance announced in the Governor’s 30-day amendments in February and funding for universal childcare.”  

“From day one, I have been committed to ensuring New York City succeeds, because a strong and stable City means an even stronger New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we are fulfilling the promise to make free universal child care a reality, making significant investments in education, public safety, and infrastructure while providing the city the resources they need to continue to fund critical services for New Yorkers. This is what a results-driven, responsible partnership looks like and I’m proud to work with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for working New Yorkers.”   

“For years, the relationship between City Hall and Albany has been defined by dysfunction and infighting,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Governor Hochul and I, however, share a belief that government works best when we work together on behalf of the people we serve. We have partnered through every step of this process to protect the fiscal health of our city. I am thankful for her collaboration and deep commitment to securing a future for our city that working people can afford.”  

This budget agreement reflects a renewed partnership between City Hall and Albany rooted in a shared commitment to protect public goods and deliver the resources that keep libraries open, schools funded and streets safe and clean.  

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Releases $124.7 Billion Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2027

After inheriting a historic $12 billion budget gap, Mayor restores New York City’s fiscal health through aggressive savings, taxing the rich, partnership with Albany and critical new investments  

Mayor balances budget without slashing services, raising property taxes or draining long-term reserves  

Mayor refuses to let working New Yorkers foot the bill — secures historic tax on the rich

NEW YORK – TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the $124.7 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Executive Budget, putting New York City on firm financial footing while protecting the services working people rely on. Through strong fiscal management, Mayor Mamdani balanced the budget through a combination of aggressive savings, new tax revenue, partnership with Albany and critical new investments in the needs of working class New Yorkers. 

The budget is balanced without raising property taxes, slashing services or drawing down the City’s Rainy Day or Retiree Health Benefit Trust reserves and makes the largest City capital commitment to NYCHA in recent history.  

“For too long, working New Yorkers have been told that austerity was the answer to adversity,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This budget rejects that failed politics. We are restoring fiscal stability without slashing the services people depend on, without raising property taxes and without asking working families to pay for a crisis they did not create. Instead, we are making government work for the people of this city: securing support from Albany and taxing the rich so we can invest in housing, safety, child care, parks, libraries and the public goods that make New York the greatest city in the world.”  

Mayor Mamdani inherited budget gaps larger than those seen during the Great Recession. Both the City and State Comptrollers agreed the prior administration had substantially underbudgeted core City services and obligations, increasing budget gaps to more than $12 billion.   

As part of the administration’s efforts to restore fiscal transparency and public excellence to City government, the Mayor ordered every agency to appoint a Chief Savings Officer. Through this effort, the administration achieved $1.77 billion in gap-closing savings across Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.   

The Mayor identified an additional $1.2 billion in savings by addressing systemic inefficiencies in critical programs, including improving access for special education students, reaching class size compliance and strengthening CityFHEPS. The City will also create a more predictable debt payment schedule, resulting in $1.64 billion in savings in Fiscal Year 2027 alone without impacting retirees, their benefits or current and future employee benefits.  

Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the City secured an additional $4 billion in state support and actions to help stabilize the budget. That includes $352 million in direct aid, $3.2 billion in state authorizations — including pension liability restructuring and class size flexibility mentioned above — and $500 million in new revenue through a pied-à-terre tax on second homes valued above $5 million.  

In addition to the pied-à-terre-tax, the Mayor will work with Speaker Julie Menin and the City Council on their proposal to reduce the UBT tax credit, which overwhelmingly benefits millionaires. Reducing the UBT tax credit will raise an additional $68 million.

The Mayor also made critical investments to reduce the cost of living, strengthen public services, improve public safety, expand worker protections and support the health and well-being of New Yorkers across all five boroughs.  

Investment highlights include:  

Baselined Annual Investments

• Libraries: $31.7 million  

• Fair Fares: $25 million  

• NYC Department of Parks and Recreation: $15 million  

• City University of New York: $15 million  

• Department of Cultural Affairs: $10 million  

Child Care for All and Supporting K-12

• Increasing Provider Rates: $40 million in FY27   

• Expanding NYC Reads and Solves: $17.3 million in FY27   

• Launching the Little Apple, the City’s first Municipal day care system: $2.3 million in FY27 and $2 million annually beginning in FY28  

Investing in a Safer New York

• Office of Community Safety: $40.9 million in FY27 and $40.2 million annually beginning in FY28   

• Office of Hate Crime Prevention: $26 million annually beginning in FY27  

• Counsel for Vulnerable New Yorkers: $22 million in FY26   

• Right to Counsel: $14.3 million in FY27 and $40 million annually beginning in FY28  

• Supervised Release Intensive Case Management Pilot: $7.7 million in FY27, $5.7 million in FY28 and $1.2 million in FY29   

• 20 Civilian Complaint Review Board Staff: $3.2 million annually beginning in FY27  

• 84 New FDNY Civilian Staff: $0.8 million in FY26, $9 million annually beginning in FY27  

Safer Streets

• Safer Streets and Sammy’s Law: $34.9 million in FY27, growing to $65.1 million in FY30  

• DCAS Pedestrian Alerts: $900,000 annually between FY27 and FY29  

Keeping our City Clean

• Waste Containerization: $14.8 million in FY27, growing to $162.2 million by FY30  

Improving New Yorkers’ Health & Wellbeing

• Access to Mental Health Care: $47.3 million annually beginning in FY27  

• Supporting Survivors: $16.7 million in FY27  

• Disease Testing and Surveillance Capacity: $11.3 million annually beginning in FY27  

• Supporting Seniors: $3.4 million in FY27  

Under the Mamdani administration, the City’s Executive Five-Year Capital Plan has also grown to $117.1 billion, including $8.2 billion in new investments from this administration alone.   

New investments include:  

Building the Affordable Housing New Yorkers Need

• The Executive Budget invests $4 billion in capital funding for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development across the five-year plan, plus an additional $500 million in FY31 — one of the largest capital additions in the entire budget and a reflection of the administration’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis. These investments will create deeply affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.  

Investing in Livable Housing for NYCHA Residents

• The budget includes an additional $500 million in FY28 for comprehensive NYCHA renovations. Combined with existing commitments and investments made in the FY27 Preliminary Plan, these funds will allow NYCHA to rehabilitate and modernize thousands of homes across FY27 and FY28.    

• The City is also investing $256 million over FY26 through FY28 — in addition to expense budget funding — to restore vacant NYCHA apartments and return them to tenants. This represents the largest capital commitment to vacant unit turnover in the City’s history. 

Mamdani Administration Releases “SPEED” Reforms to Deliver Affordable Housing Faster   

Environmental review, permitting and lease-up reforms will cut development timelines by as much as two years  

Reforms include overhauling housing lottery system and changes to environmental review 

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson released the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (“SPEED”) report, a sweeping set of reforms to deliver affordable housing faster across New York City.

The reforms target every stage of the development process, including pre-development, permitting and lease-up, and will cut timelines for all affordable housing projects by eight months. For projects that require a zoning change, the reforms will reduce timelines by as much as two years.

“These delays are not inevitable. They are the result of broken systems and a failure of political will,” said Mayor Mamdani. “New Yorkers cannot afford to wait years for affordable housing while projects sit trapped in bureaucracy. SPEED is about making government deliver – faster, fairer and at the scale this crisis demands.”  

“Our administration is tackling the housing crisis with the urgency that New Yorkers deserve. With these investments and procedural changes, we will cut months or even years off of the affordable housing development timeline – months that New Yorkers can spend in permanent housing instead of instability,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “I’m grateful for the work of the SPEED Task Force, agency partners, and everyone who helped identify ways to build a more effective government.”  

“This administration is clear-eyed in our mission to prove that government can deliver quickly and at scale,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “Whether overhauling permitting through SPEED or pursuing Alternative Delivery contracting, we’re slashing project timelines in half. Faster, more efficient execution means more families in homes and better outcomes for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”  

“With the housing crisis impacting New Yorkers every day, we must do everything we can to deliver affordable homes more quickly — and streamlining regulations through SPEED will help us do exactly that,” said Department of City Planning Director Sideya Sherman. “By reducing the pre-certification timeline for many projects from two years to six months, we will get shovels in the ground and New Yorkers into homes faster — while maintaining a fair and thorough review process. These commonsense reforms are a critical part of our broader effort to meet the urgency of the moment and build a more equitable and affordable New York City.”  

“Our housing crisis demands that we move faster. The SPEED report lays out a vision for overhauling our affordable housing lease-up process that will significantly improve the timeline and user-experience for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on the Housing Connect lottery system. By cutting application approval times in half — to under 100 days — families can move in sooner,” said Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. “Together with permitting and development changes, we’re cutting 8 months off the timeline from inception to move-in day. This will help us get more families into affordable housing faster, making a real difference for thousands of New Yorkers. We won’t let red tape and outdated systems stand between families and the affordable housing they deserve.”  

“In the face of the ongoing affordability crisis and the city’s anemic rental vacancy rate, this administration must continue to be unapologetically pro-housing,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The Mayor’s SPEED report is a comprehensive blueprint that will unlock strategies to facilitate the efficient and safe construction of more badly needed housing for New York City families. More than just reshaping the development process so that we are responsive to the challenges of construction while taking advantage of new opportunities, today’s announcement sends a message to the industry that the five boroughs are the best place to plan their next building project.”  

“We are proud to be part of this whole of government response to tackle the housing crisis with creativity, urgency and bold initiative,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton. “We are cutting the red tape, reducing administrative burdens, and collaborating with key stakeholders to streamline processes and expedite connections to deeply affordable housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. We applaud the Mamdani Administration’s commitment to creating affordable housing at an unprecedented speed and scale by leaving no stone unturned to create efficiencies across agencies and prioritizing the needs of housing insecure New Yorkers across the city.” 

The SPEED reforms will make City processes faster and more accountable across four stages of development: environmental review and planning; pre-development and financing; permitting and approvals; and marketing and lease-up.   

As a part of the overhaul, the administration will cut the “pre-certification” process for many projects requiring zoning changes from roughly two years to six months. The City will also reduce the permitting timelines for both new construction and office-to-residential conversion projects by approximately five months.  

To move New Yorkers into completed affordable housing more quickly, the City will also overhaul the City’s housing lottery system. The Mamdani administration will implement immediate improvements while building a more flexible long-term system that is fair, transparent and easier to navigate.  

The reforms will cut the time between construction completion and move-in in half – from 210 days to fewer than 100 days.  

The reforms were developed by the SPEED Task Force, which Mayor Mamdani created by executive order his first day in office. The Task Force held roundtables with more than 100 industry experts, advocates, developers, builders and trade organizations and received more than 500 recommendations that informed the final reforms.   

None of the reforms require legislative action or change the City’s discretionary approval process for projects.   

These reforms build on additional housing initiatives launched by the administration, including the City’s first-ever Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) and the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track program. Together, those initiatives will reduce the pre-development timelines for affordable housing projects by more than two years.   

“We can’t build the New York City of 2050 with an environmental review process from the last century,” said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Reforming how we study the impacts of new rezoning initiatives and development projects on our transportation network will speed up the process of getting much needed housing built, and it will help us better understand the multi-modal transportation needs of New Yorkers.”  

“NYC Parks was proud to collaborate with sister agencies on the SPEED Task Force to increase efficiency for developers working near parkland or conducting tree work,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “With the rollout of these reforms, this administration continues to ensure that government is delivering results for working New Yorkers.”  

“Solving our housing crisis will require reducing barriers at every stage of the pipeline, from permitting to lease-up,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine. “These reforms target key points along the housing creation timeline to do exactly that. Recent efforts to spur housing creation in New York City—from last year’s City Charter changes, to my office’s NYC Housing Investment Initiative to finance new construction and preservation, to the SPEED reforms—are mutually reinforcing. I applaud this Administration’s focus on addressing the housing crisis, and I look forward to continuing this work together to ensure New Yorkers can afford to live in the city we all love.”  

“It has long been clear that the only way out of our city’s generational housing crisis is to build our way out. So any measure to responsibly shorten the time between the crafting of blueprints and the day a family moves into their new home is a measure we must take in order to meet this moment,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I applaud the mayor’s office for its efforts to build affordable housing all across this city as quickly as possible and I look forward to working with our city partners to continue delivering the kind of high-quality housing that Queens residents in all ZIP codes and of all socioeconomic statuses deserve.” 

“The SPEED Task Force recommendations announced today are the result of months of work informed by the expertise of more than a hundred outside experts and more than a hundred City staff representing over twenty agencies,” said Pascale Leone, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York (the Network). “We are excited to continue to help review progress, so that supportive and affordable housing can be built more quickly for the New Yorkers who need it most.”  

“Every month of delay in our housing crisis means higher rents, longer waitlists, and more New Yorkers priced out of the city they call home,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “The SPEED reforms recognize that bringing down timelines at every stage of development—from environmental review to permitting to lease-up—is essential to meeting the scale and urgency of this moment. Fixing the broken systems that have slowed housing production for decades is exactly the kind of work this crisis demands, and we commend the Mayor and his team for taking it on.”  

“We’re encouraged to see the SPEED Task Force advancing recommendations that recognize the urgent need to modernize New York City’s affordable housing systems,” said Rachel Fee, Executive Director of the New York Housing Conference. “From housing lottery administration to homeless referrals and costly delays, these are issues that have long created barriers to getting New Yorkers into affordable homes faster. Every month of delay increases costs and makes it harder to address the housing crisis at the scale required. We appreciate the Task Force’s focus on streamlining processes and look forward to working with the City to deliver more efficient housing production, leasing, financing and more.”  

“Given the scale of our crisis, no existing process should be safe from a deep examination with one question in mind: is it helping or hurting the efficient supply and preservation of affordable housing?” said Kim Darga, Vice President and Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “From pre-development to permitting and approvals to housing placements, that is what the city has done with these SPEED recommendations. We applaud the effort, including the robust stakeholder engagement that culminated in such a sweeping set of reforms, which include key recommendations from Enterprise’s Let’s Move lease up report. This is a major step in the right direction, one that we must build on in the years ahead.”  

“New York’s housing crisis is a crisis of speed as much as supply. Mayor Mamdani’s SPEED reforms directly address that with streamlining permitting, slashing timelines, and modernizing the lottery system. This is the right approach, and Mayor Mamdani deserves credit for moving decisively and for committing to measurable results,” said Steven Fulop, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City.  

“Many actions are needed to improve affordability in New York City, but none will be truly effective unless we can also make it less time-consuming and costly to approve, build, and move people into affordable housing,” said Howard Slatkin, Executive Director of Citizens Housing & Planning Council. “To their great credit, this administration has made this a priority from day one, and it is great to see not only the first concrete steps emerging from the SPEED task force, but also a commitment to sustain an ongoing focus on improvement. CHPC looks forward to continued collaboration on ways to ensure that government processes advance our affordability goals rather than unintentionally impeding them.”  

“The City’s SPEED initiative is a smart and necessary step forward, and we commend the Mamdani administration for taking action to cut red tape, modernize outdated building requirements, and improve how city agencies operate,” said James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. “By streamlining permitting and administrative processes, SPEED has the potential to significantly accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing and support a more efficient, responsive city government for New Yorkers.”  

“Every month matters in a housing crisis. The SPEED Task Force is taking on the exact delays that make it harder, slower, and more expensive to build affordable housing in New York City, from approvals and permits to financing, and everything in between. Cutting more than two years from the process is a big deal. It means more homes delivered faster, more jobs created sooner, and lower costs for the public and building industry professionals doing this work,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq. President & CEO, New York Building Congress. “We applaud Mayor Mamdani and his team for focusing on the nuts and bolts of housing production. Building Congress members are ready to help turn these reforms into shovels in the ground and keys in the hands of New Yorkers.”  

“ANHD has long called for the city to prioritize affordable housing through the permitting process, to reduce development timelines by adding capacity at HPD and other agencies, and to remove administrative roadblocks that leave affordable units waiting vacant. That’s because every delay means more New Yorkers waiting in shelters, living in overcrowded homes, and struggling in unsafe conditions,” said Barika X. Williams, Executive Director, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). “With the recommendations in the SPEED report, the Mamdani administration has taken strides to streamline the process of affordable housing development across dozens of agencies, ultimately helping to ensure that more New Yorkers will have access to safe, stable affordable housing.”

Mayor Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and Team Wonder Launch New Initiatives to Help New Yorkers and Visitors Explore the Five Boroughs During the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, Including “NYC Neighborhood Passport”

“NYC Neighborhood Passport” will encourage participants to explore neighborhoods across New York City and collect artist-designed stamps  

New events calendar and digital map will help New Yorkers and visitors find free and low-cost events across the five boroughs 

Effort builds on administration’s commitment to make the World Cup affordable for New Yorkers

NEW YORK – Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and Team Wonder today unveiled a series of new initiatives to help New Yorkers and visitors alike explore the five boroughs and find free and low-cost ways to celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event.  

As part of the initiative, Mayor Mamdani and Team Wonder, with support from the New York Community Trust, will launch the “NYC Neighborhood Passport,” a citywide program encouraging people to explore New York City’s immigrant communities, cultural institutions, small businesses and community events throughout the tournament. 

Participants will be able to collect stamps from hundreds of community organizations and public events across the five boroughs while also sharing stories about what the World Cup means to them as part of a nationwide storytelling initiative.  

Mayor Mamdani and NYC Tourism + Conventions will also launch a new events calendar and interactive digital map on nyctourism.com to help New Yorkers and visitors discover free and low-cost programming, local promotions and neighborhood events throughout the tournament. Developed alongside the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee, the platform will help drive visitors to local businesses, cultural institutions and community events across all five boroughs.  

These initiatives build on the Mamdani administration’s broader effort to ensure every New Yorker can take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, including plans for free official NYNJ fan events in every borough, World Cup field days for students at 50 public schools and investments in public spaces across the city ahead of the tournament. 

“The World Cup isn’t just coming to MetLife Stadium. It’s coming to Corona and Flatbush, Astoria and Sunset Park, and every neighborhood that makes New York the most diverse, dynamic city in the world,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Whether you’re arriving at JFK for the first time or you’ve lived in the five boroughs your whole life, we want every New Yorker and every visitor to experience the full breadth of this city during the World Cup. The NYC Neighborhood Passport, events calendar and digital map will help people discover fun, free and accessible ways to explore New York through the world’s game.” 

“This World Cup, people should get to scavenge for fun passport stamps, not be forced to scavenge for affordable ways to join the celebration. With these new initiatives, we’ll make it easy for New Yorkers and visitors alike to explore the five boroughs, find free watch parties, visit small businesses, and enjoy the historic tournament coming to our community,” said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “Thank you to all of our partners across the public and private sector who are making these initiatives — as well as the lifetime memories they will create — possible.” 

“New York City’s diversity is our greatest strength, and the FIFA World Cup presents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the people, neighborhoods, and cultural institutions that make the five boroughs unlike anywhere else in the world,” said NYC Tourism President and CEO Julie Coker. “NYC Tourism is proud to lead the development of this citywide events calendar and mapping experience with Neurun, helping New Yorkers and visitors alike discover free and affordable programming, support local businesses, and explore communities across all five boroughs throughout the tournament. From iconic attractions to neighborhood celebrations, these tools will help ensure the excitement and economic impact of the World Cup are felt in every corner of our city.” 

“The World Cup is an opportunity to showcase New York City on the global stage while highlighting the communities, cultures, and small businesses that define our region,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee. “These initiatives will help connect fans and visitors to neighborhoods across all five boroughs while creating meaningful opportunities for local organizations and businesses to be part of the biggest sporting event in history. We’re proud to support efforts that encourage people to explore the city, engage with local communities, and experience the authentic energy that makes New York unlike anywhere else in the world.” 

“Ask any soccer fan about the World Cup, and you’ll hear stories that span generations, bridge borders, and inspire dreams,” said Betsy MacLean, Partner at Team Wonder. “This summer, we have the chance to lean into the joy, belonging, and solidarity of it all — to celebrate immigrant communities, explore the magic of NYC neighborhoods, connect with each other, and lead with love on a global stage.” 

Beginning June 11, NYC Neighborhood Passport booklets will be available at every public library branch across the five boroughs and at select events. Participants will be able to collect stamps from hundreds of cultural institutions, community organizations and public events. 

Each stamp has been designed by New York City-based artists with roots in India, Colombia, Iran, Korea, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Vietnam, Ghana, Mexico and Argentina, reflecting both the countries participating in the World Cup and the cultural diversity of New York City.

Stamps will be distributed across designated locations throughout the city, encouraging participants to explore dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits, book talks, block parties and more across all five boroughs in order to collect every stamp. Locations were also selected to highlight immigrant communities, including Little Senegal, Little Colombia, Little India and others. 

For a full and updated list of participating organizations and stamp locations, visit team-wonder.com/alreadyhome  

The Mamdani administration and Team Wonder are also launching the NYC Neighborhood Passport alongside “Already Home,” a nationwide storytelling campaign inviting soccer fans and nonfans alike to share what the World Cup means to them. Participants will be encouraged to submit video or audio recordings of their World Cup stories, which will become part of a national collection spanning cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Albuquerque and El Paso. 

On May 27, NYC Tourism + Conventions will also launch a new World Cup events calendar through its World Cup hub at nyctourism.com. Built by Neurun, the platform will feature events, special offers and promotions from businesses and organizations across all five boroughs, helping New Yorkers and visitors discover neighborhoods, cultures and communities. 

Businesses and organizations across New York City are welcome to submit events and promotions for consideration free of charge.  

As part of Small Business Month, Mayor Mamdani and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) are expanding outreach efforts to help local businesses prepare for the influx of visitors expected during the World Cup. Through promotion of the NYC World Cup 2026 Business Tool Kit, the City is helping entrepreneurs take advantage of increased tourism and foot traffic.  

To date, SBS has reached more than 56,000 New Yorkers and will continue outreach through its “Mobie” (Mobile Outreach Unit) tours, targeted email campaigns, social media outreach and industry roundtables.  

Upcoming SBS outreach events include:  

• May 13 – Jackson Heights, Queens 

• May 15 – 161st Street, Bronx  

• May 19 – Little Haiti, Brooklyn
• May 19 – Sunset Park, Brooklyn

• May 20 – Port Richmond, Staten Island  

• May 26 – Koreatown, Manhattan 

• June 4 – Little Senegal, Manhattan 

“New York City is home to the world’s most diverse, international, and vibrant arts and cultural organizations in the world – and they are celebrating the World Cup!” said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij. “With hundreds of programs from cultural organizations participating in the map and Neighborhood Passport, every New Yorker – soccer fan or not – will have the opportunity to experience and engage with the intersection of culture and sports, marking this exciting global moment for our city.” 

“New York City was built by immigrants and the NYC Neighborhood Passport is a celebration of the communities that continue to shape the heart and soul of our city,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza Ali. “As the World Cup brings people from around the globe to New York, this initiative encourages everyone to explore our immigrant neighborhoods, support local businesses, and experience the languages, cultures and traditions that make New York City unlike anywhere else in the world. We hope this passport inspires New Yorkers and visitors alike to walk these streets, connect across communities, and experience the richness and diversity that define our city.”  

“Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is a tremendous opportunity that will attract visitors from around the world and encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of all that our city has to offer,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. “NYCEDC looks forward to activating several of our assets to ensure a historic summer for New York City. We encourage visitors and residents to explore new neighborhoods across the five boroughs, visit iconic cultural institutions, support small businesses, and participate in the administration’s free and low-cost offerings that will enhance the World Cup experience, making it affordable and accessible to all.”  

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will not only showcase New York City on the world stage, but also the people, neighborhoods, and public spaces that make our city so vibrant and unique,” said NYC Parks Tricia Shimamura. “NYC Parks is excited to bring New Yorkers together through free programming across the five boroughs, including soccer clinics, a soccer film festival, and fan zones in some of our incredible parks. We are proud to work alongside our fellow city agencies and partners to create welcoming public spaces and experiences that celebrate our diversity, connect communities, and ensure every New Yorker can take part in this historic moment.” 

“The World Cup is an opportunity to celebrate all the diverse neighborhoods and cultural institutions New York City has to offer.  And there’s no better way to explore our city than on a bicycle; I encourage locals and visitors alike to hop on a bike or take advantage of our great public transit to visit the five boroughs and fill their NYC Neighborhood Passport — you’ve gotta stamp ‘em all!” said New York City Department for Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. 

“Working with the New York New Jersey Host Committee and regional partners on both sides of the Hudson has been a fantastic way to put our technology to the test,” said Cade Netscher, Neurun Founder and CEO. “We greatly value the partnerships we’ve built with these organizations and with the City, and we’re excited to make this technology available to everyone visiting and living in the region this summer.”   

“In every corner of the world, right now, there is a child kicking a soccer ball, dreaming of playing for their country,” said Natalia Aristizabal, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. “When immigrants cross borders, we bring our culture, our family, and — yes — our game with us. The World Cup isn’t for millionaires with box seats. It’s a celebration of the people and for the people, and a moment for us to be together in solidarity with the community that sustains our joy even in dark times.” 

“The NYC Neighborhood Passport program is a wonderful opportunity to connect New Yorkers and visitors alike with the extraordinary cultural institutions that define our city. On behalf of the Cultural Institutions Group, we are proud to support an initiative that encourages exploration across neighborhoods and communities while celebrating the vital role that arts and culture play in the civic life of New York City,” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel Director and President, Museum of the City of New York, and Chair, Cultural Institutions Group. “The program reflects the spirit of discovery, exchange, and civic pride that cultural organizations foster every day, and we are excited to help extend the energy of the World Cup beyond the stadiums and into the city.”  

“Every one of the 48 World Cup nations has a community here in New York — and in Brooklyn in particular,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library. “We’re excited to partner with Mayor Mamdani this summer to celebrate that heritage, with free World Cup screenings at dozens of libraries and a Neighborhood Passport to guide New Yorkers through the rich cultural opportunities right outside their door.” 

“As a neighborhood made up of hard-working immigrant-owned businesses from nearly every Central and South American country, the World Cup is a chance for us to bring people together, celebrate our cultures, and showcase everything Fulton Street has to offer,” said Katty Garces, Executive Director, Cypress Hills Fulton BID. “A lot of our small businesses have been navigating difficult times, and we’re excited to welcome new visitors into our community and give our small businesses the visibility and support they deserve during such a historic moment.” 

“City buses connect every New York neighborhood and community institution and small businesses across all five boroughs. While our subway is famous, millions of people depend on our buses every single day,” said Betsy Plum, Executive Director, Riders Alliance. “When you ride the bus, see the city New Yorkers know, collect your stamps and fill your Neighborhood Passport, be sure to let people know, ‘I got here by bus.’”  

“Prospect Park has always been at the center of Brooklyn’s melting pot,” said Morgan Monaco, President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “Neighbors representing the full breadth of New York’s diversity gather here to celebrate cultural traditions and enjoy accessible outdoor activities. We are excited to welcome visitors to the park’s LeFrak Center at Lakeside for rollerskating, boating, and summer fun as part of the NYC Neighborhood Passport program, encouraging everyone to enjoy our shared natural oasis.” 

“We believe that cultural exploration strengthens community connection and shines a light on local histories that are often overlooked,” said Ran Yan, Executive Director of the Lewis Latimer House. “This program is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity and creativity that define our city. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to engage with legacies of innovation and community in Queens and beyond!” 

“La Colmena is proud to welcome visitors to Staten Island and highlight the borough’s vibrant immigrant communities, small businesses, and cultural diversity. As the world comes to New York for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, we want people to experience Staten Island’s unique neighborhoods and the community organizations that make our borough strong,” said Arlette Cepeda, Interim Executive Director of La Colmena. “This is a unique opportunity to showcase Staten Island on a global stage and ensure the borough benefits from the excitement, tourism, and cultural connections the tournament will bring.”  

“The Staten Island Museum is proud to partner on the Neighborhood Passport Program to welcome visitors from around the world in experiencing NYC’s culture as part of their World Cup experience,” said Janice Monger, President & CEO of the Staten Island Museum. “We are excited about this cultural exchange, generating fun, excitement, and unity around a globally loved sport.” 

“New York City is home to more than 4,000 cultural organizations across all five boroughs and in every neighborhood,” said Gonzalo Casals, Co-Director of Culture and Arts Policy Institute. “Every day, artists and cultural organizations animate community centers, libraries, parks, plazas, and local gathering places, inviting New Yorkers to explore the extraordinary cultural richness of the city they call home. Already Home: World Cup ’26 builds on that foundation by encouraging residents to discover the many cultures represented in this global tournament, collect a lasting memento of their journeys, and contribute their own stories to a living mosaic of wonder, memory, and belonging that only New York City can create.” 

“We are proud to partner with the City on NYC Neighborhood Passport, a program that encourages cultural engagement and exploration of New York’s many immigrant enclaves, local library branches, and so many other arts and culture venues and businesses,” said New York Public Library President and CEO Anthony W. Marx. 

“BRIC is excited to take part in Already Home. We are a gathering place and an amplifier for people creating culture and community,” said Wes Jackson, President of BRIC Arts Media. “Fans of the world’s beautiful game are always welcome at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! and at BRIC House, where we demonstrate radical joy for all people, all the time.”

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani joins the Bergen Bike Bus in Brooklyn as he participate in National Bike & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office