World Cup Prep, Panoramic Views Reservations, Manhattan Community College Commencement, More Field Lights For Later Sports Games, COGE Meetings, Battery Coastal Resistance Project: Mayor Mamdani

City and state agencies working hand in hand to keep city moving safely during the World Cup  

New Yorkers and visitors urged to text SUMMER26 to 692-692 to receive emergency alerts and updates on summer events

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul today outlined sweeping multiagency plans to keep New Yorkers and visitors safe, informed and moving throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Today’s briefing focused on transportation, infrastructure and emergency preparedness. An additional public safety briefing will be held next week to detail the City’s plans to ensure a safe and successful tournament.  

“We have spent months coordinating, drilling and preparing so that when the world arrives at our doorstep, we are ready,” said Mayor Mamdani. “From the first kickoff to the final whistle and long after, our job is clear: keep residents and visiting fans safe, informed and supported during every moment of this busy summer.”  

“New York’s transit system safely and reliably moves millions every day, and we are ready to shine on the world stage,” said Governor Hochul. “The World Cup will be a once-in-a-generation event for our state, and whether you’re traveling from Brazil or Bed-Stuy, we have a plan to get you to where you need to go safely.”  

“After months of planning, we are adding trains wherever fans are going to watch matches while helping to keep them safe,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Moving millions is what we do, and not just when the World Cup is in town.”  

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“With kickoff just days away, our region is ready to welcome the world. This level of preparation doesn’t happen overnight — it is the result of years of collaboration among transportation agencies, public safety officials and government partners across New York and New Jersey,” said NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, the MTA and countless partners, fans will have safe and reliable ways to travel throughout the tournament while residents continue to move around the region. We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to delivering an unforgettable World Cup this summer.”  

Interagency Transportation Planning  

The City and State are coordinating with the NYNJ Host Committee, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), NJ TRANSIT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to direct World Cup-related traffic through designated Midtown Manhattan corridors, helping fans travel to and from matches while minimizing disruptions for New Yorkers.  

On match days, dedicated travel corridors will operate along 42nd Street and portions of Fifth and Sixth avenues and 40th and 41st streets. Beginning six hours before kickoff and ending three hours after the final whistle, access will be limited to NYNJ Stadium shuttles, MTA local buses, official World Cup vehicles and emergency response vehicles. 

The City will also designate each match day a “Gridlock Alert Day” to discourage unnecessary driving, work with businesses to limit truck deliveries in Midtown during peak travel periods and encourage both residents and visitors to use public transportation.  

NYC DOT will deploy more than 100 staff members throughout Midtown to manage traffic operations. Personnel will coordinate transportation logistics with FIFA, inspect routes, install and remove temporary bus lanes, adjust signal timing in real time and provide travel guidance to the public, drivers, the trucking industry and local businesses.  

Full details on match day bus lanes, street closures and travel guidance can be found in the Mayor’s Midtown Transportation Plan.   

Additional MTA Service  

The MTA plans to run full service throughout the region on all match days and throughout the tournament to support visitors to the region and the millions of New Yorkers who rely on mass transit to get around every single day.   

The MTA will run extra subway service on match days and fully scheduled commuter rail service at both Penn Station and Grand Central on both its railroads to ensure that the region continues to move.  

The New York City Subway has prepared additional service to meet demand on match days and for major events during the tournament. To get fans to and from shuttle buses and trains to the games, extra local service will be added on the 1, C and F lines. 1 and C frequencies will be increased all day on weekend match days between 10 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. In addition, 1, C and F train service will be increased for post-match travel to help move fans returning from matches.   

To improve access to the free Fan Zone at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, the MTA will run additional 7 train service on Mets game days where crowding is greatest. This added service will reduce crowding and improve customer wait times.  

To ensure smooth travel, the MTA has suspended all planned subway work in and around Midtown Manhattan on match days.  

For fans traveling to matches via Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, both railroads will provide connections to nearby shuttle bus service near Grand Central and trains to the game at Penn Station. Both LIRR and Metro-North have ample weekend capacity to meet the expected demand on match days.  

To aid travelers, the MTA will deploy customer ambassadors at major shuttle bus hubs, including Grand Central, Times Square-42 Street and 59 Street Columbus Circle, to help guide travelers to the street level where they can connect to the stadium-bound bus service.   

For commuter rail travelers there will be extra LIRR, MTA Police Department, New York City Transit staff and MTA volunteers on site to support with wayfinding and customer assistance to navigate the station and provide directions to connecting rail service for the matches.  

Emergency Preparedness  

NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) has activated a unified citywide coordination structure — including the City’s Emergency Operations Center — that will expand as the tournament approaches and in response to severe weather events such as extreme heat and flash flooding.  

Built on the same Citywide Incident Management System used for hurricanes, blackouts, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square, the framework brings together hundreds of City, State, federal and private-sector partners under shared objectives.  

Working groups are focused on public safety, health and medical services, transportation, infrastructure, events, human services, community engagement and regional coordination.  

NYCEM is also operating a Joint Information Center to ensure New Yorkers and visitors receive clear, accurate and multilingual information before, during and after any incident.  

The City’s public information strategy is anchored by Notify NYC. This week, NYCEM launched a dedicated summer 2026 opt-in text service, allowing New Yorkers and visitors to receive real-time emergency notifications during major events taking place throughout the city.   

New Yorkers and visitors can text SUMMER26, SUMMER26ESP or SUMMER26FRE to 692-692 to receive alerts and updates in English, Spanish and French.  

Updates are also available through the Notify NYC WhatsApp Channel at on.nyc.gov/NNYCWhatsApp.

Health and Medical Preparedness  

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and NYC Health + Hospitals have spent the past year conducting tabletop exercises and multiagency drills — including a weeklong simulation involving medical demand exceeding capacity — to strengthen preparedness across the city’s health care system.  

Both agencies have activated the Incident Command System to enhance coordination with NYCEM, FDNY and health care partners. They are collaborating on disease surveillance efforts to rapidly detect and respond to infectious disease threats.  

NYC Health + Hospitals has established a Special Pathogen Response Team for high-consequence incidents, while its Office of Biopreparedness and Emergency Management has led operational planning efforts to strengthen readiness and train staff on best practices.  

Eleven NYC Health + Hospitals acute-care facilities are prepared to serve as cooling centers during Code Red heat emergencies, and the system will intensify outreach during periods of extreme heat.   

As the City’s primary safety-net provider for heat-related illnesses and respiratory emergencies, including wildfire smoke events, NYC Health + Hospitals will play a central role in the City’s summer response efforts.  

FDNY is deploying specialized units throughout the city to strengthen hazard detection and emergency response capabilities.   

To prepare for increased medical call volume associated with large crowds and extreme heat, EMS has requested mutual aid support from New York State and will deploy additional field tours for full-duty EMTs, paramedics and officers.  

The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will increase cleaning operations around transit hubs and public event locations throughout the World Cup.  

“For years, the City has convened partners across all levels of government to ready us for this summer,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “We have the plans in place to ensure New Yorkers and visitors alike can move about our city safely, efficiently and reliably. With the World Cup and so many other events right around the corner, we are ready to welcome the world to New York City.”  

“As thousands of fans flock to New York City for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, protecting the health and safety of everyone in the five boroughs, both visitors and residents alike, is this administration’s top priority,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “Alongside our agency partners — in particular, DOHMH and H+H — the Mamdani Administration strengthened its healthcare systems, disease surveillance and emergency response units to prepare for the surge of visitors, and after months of careful planning, the City is more than ready to address any issue and keep New Yorkers safe.”  

“The World Cup is here, and New York City is ready to celebrate the beauty of the people’s game. Enjoy the matches, find a watch party near you and, if you’re planning to visit Manhattan on local match days, take transit to avoid delays,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We have worked across agencies to develop a transportation plan that moves fans quickly and efficiently to and from matches while minimizing disruptions for New Yorkers across the City.”  

“New York City is thrilled to welcome visitors from all over the country and the world, to enjoy ‘the beautiful game’ and all the festivities that go along with the biggest sporting event on the globe,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. “Over the last year, New York City Emergency Management has worked side by side with our local, state, federal and private partners to coordinate staff and resources to support all the events. We want soccer fans and visitors to the Big Apple to enjoy our annual summer events, and all that NYC has to offer.”   

“The FDNY has been preparing for this historic summer for more than a year,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “Our members have been working closely with our public and private partners to make sure we have the resources, staffing and operational plans needed to respond to whatever comes our way. The FDNY is ready to meet the demands of this event while continuing to protect New Yorkers every day.”  

“The entire world is coming together for this tournament, and the entirety of New York City and State governments will come together to make it a success,” said DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson. “From cleaning before and after watch parties to blockades that protect celebrations, New York’s Strongest will be visible at every part of the World Cup, and we remind everyone visiting our City of what all New Yorkers already know – littering can earn you a red card.”  

“Many World Cup visitors will want to experience a ride in an iconic New York City taxicab, and we encourage that when hopping around within the city,” said NYC Taxi & Limousine Commissioner Midori Valdiva. “Our taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers are safe, professional and among the city’s most knowledgeable ambassadors. TLC Police and their enforcement partners will be prominent at the airports and other high-traffic locations to help ensure that trips are going to TLC drivers and not unlicensed hustlers. Anyone offering visitors a ride, attempting to negotiate a price or refusing to engage the meter is engaging in illegal conduct and anyone who experiences overcharging or illegal conduct should report it through 311.”  

“From monitoring for infectious diseases to safeguarding mental health, the NYC Health Department has been preparing for over a year to ensure we are ready for the World Cup,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. “Like a world-class goalie, our job is to anticipate challenges, block threats, and defend the health of our city. Through rigorous planning and teamwork with our partner agencies, we’re ready to protect New Yorkers so they can focus on enjoying the games. The only thing we can’t save is a penalty kick in the knockout stage.” 

Mayor Mamdani Opens Reservations for Free Public Panoramic Experience Atop the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building

After $6 million restoration, historic cupola opens for first-ever public visits beginning June 11  

Cupola will welcome up to 200 visitors each week ahead of first local World Cup match  

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR MAMDANI DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE — CUNY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY     

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Hello, Class of 2026! I know we’re at Barclays right now — but you know what I’m going to ask. Can we make some noise for the New York Knicks?

That’s right. Now, let’s hear it for our graduates. Do we have Brooklyn in the house? The Bronx? Staten Island? Come on Staten Island. Manhattan? And last but not least, let’s give it up for the borough that gets the money — make some noise for Queens.

Chancellor Rodríguez, President Monroe, Provost Jones, deans, faculty, staff — thank you for all you have done to help these graduates get to this moment. To the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, cousins, friends, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, even the situationships here today: Thank you.

You saw your loved one with their textbooks cracked open at the kitchen table in the middle of the night. You saw them juggle school with work and childcare and too-long commutes, with bills due and rent that only goes up.  And you were there with a home-cooked dinner at the end of a long day. With a word of encouragement when it was needed most. And with the unwavering belief that they would make it to today. They are here in no small part thanks to you. Give yourselves a round of applause.

For the past few weeks, all across the country, commencement speakers like me have stood in borrowed robes at lecterns like this one and delivered hard-won pieces of advice to the Class of 2026. Some of these speeches are funnier than others. People quote Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Jefferson and Thomas the Tank Engine.

And if there’s one thing these speeches share, it’s the guidance they offer to a group of graduates who, at this point, are pretty ready to go home. The wisdom usually plays on a certain theme:  Take risks. Dig deeper. Dream bigger. Sometimes the suggestion is a little more practical: Wear sunscreen. Never trust a Scorpio. Don’t run for office without first scrubbing the internet of all evidence of your short-lived rap career. Or do. What can I say: Once Mr. Cardamom, always Mr. Cardamom.

After dispensing their advice, these well-meaning commencement speakers will explain why it’s worth taking. It typically boils down to this: Breaking off from the straight and narrow, zigging and zagging, detouring off the beaten path — that’s where the fun, the growth, the real life is. A lot of graduates need to hear this. But not the BMCC Class of 2026. Real life is not something you need to seek out.

Because try telling Amreeta Jeena to dream bigger. She arrived in New York from Guyana at age 19. She was always a good student, but she postponed college after having her first child. Years later, she decided to pursue her degree, despite the challenges that would deter less-determined people: family, work, long commutes. Today, Amreeta is graduating with her degree in accounting with plans to one day open her own firm.

Or try telling Vireak Hom to go the road less traveled. He grew up as an orphan in Cambodia, moving from home to home. His first time on a plane was to come to New York City to attend BMCC. Today, Vireak is graduating with a degree in mathematics.

Or try telling Cynthia Kugbedgt to dig deeper. She enrolled at BMCC after giving birth to her third child. Monday through Friday, she commuted to the lower tip of Manhattan from the Bronx after changing diapers, making breakfast, and dropping her kids off at school. Her days were packed, but she found a groove—setting her alarm for 3am to study before her kids woke up. Today, Cynthia graduates with a degree in respiratory therapy.

Today’s graduating class is made up of more than 2,000 New Yorkers. That is 2,000 people whose paths have zigged and zagged but still led right here, to this moment. Together, you represent more than 110 countries and speak 28 languages. More than half of today’s graduates are the first in their family to go beyond a high school diploma. And 14 percent of this graduating class attended school while caring for children.

Every one of today’s graduates has a story as full of setbacks and triumphs as the ones I’ve shared. But here is the thing: No matter how many times it would have been easier to quit, to stay home, to say “it’s all too much” — you still showed up. Each of you made the choice to pursue your education — not because it was expected of you, not because it was the next logical step — but because you expected it of yourself.

You already have the drive that commencement speakers spend whole speeches encouraging graduates to go out into the world and find. You wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t. Each of you walked a road that was anything but traditional. Leaving the beaten path is hard — but if you’ll allow me to be corny for a second — it also has the best views.

And I know a thing or two about a nontraditional path. I’m Indian. And I’m also African. And I’m also American too. Muslim, with a Hindu family. I am a Drake fan, and I can still recognize that “Not Like Us” is a banger. We exist. Representation matters. I ran for mayor when a lot of people told me I shouldn’t. They told me I wasn’t the right age, that I didn’t know the right people, that I didn’t have the right credentials. You all might know something about that too. Some people say that when I entered the race, I was polling at one percent. That’s not quite true. When I entered the race, they weren’t even polling my name.

My opponents couldn’t say my name right. Even some of people supporting me couldn’t say my name right. But I did it because like each of you, I expected something of myself. With the help of many, many New Yorkers who knocked doors in the pouring rain and scorching heat, we built a campaign on the belief that a dignified life shouldn’t be so far out of reach in the city we love.

Today, I have the immense honor of standing before you as your mayor. It’s a nice story, isn’t it? But it doesn’t capture the fullness of the anxiety, the doubt and the crushing failures that dotted the way. So instead of boring you with the traditional graduation advice today, I want to offer you something simpler and more straightforward: recognition. Because while this is a day worthy of pomp and circumstance, celebration and triumph, I know there were days, months, even years — when your dreams felt impossibly out of reach.

Now, I am wary of drawing too straight a line from my experience to yours. I went to college in Maine, at a school where ultimate frisbee is a lifestyle. I’ve been able to take risks in my life, because I knew that even when I failed or fell, I’d still have a home to return to, a bed to sleep in, a safety net to catch me. But like every single one of the more than 8 million people who call our city home, like every single one of you — I have chased a dream. And like every one of you, there have been moments where I felt down and out. A few years before I ran for state Assembly, I was living at home with my parents, unsure of what to do with myself after my last song couldn’t break 1,000 listens on SoundCloud.

It seemed the more music I made, the fewer people wanted to listen. But I wasn’t ready to give up my music dream just yet. To paraphrase Schoolboy Q, “I was just sitting in the studio.” Studio time was not cheap, so I took a job tutoring. One of my students went to a private school in the Bronx. To get there, I took the same 1 train to transfer at the same Bx10 bus that I rode to get to high school, a decade earlier. Except the bus I used to ride south I now rode north. In almost every way, I felt like I was going backwards. Ten years out from high school, I was still writing high school papers — except they weren’t even my own.

Every night, as I lay my head down in my childhood bedroom, I’d fall asleep looking at the tower of CDs I’d accumulated in my teenage years: Common, Lupe Fiasco, Jay-Z [and] Talib Kweli. All rappers who spoke of being down but getting back up anyway.

When I was in middle school, I loved going to the Tower Records on 66th and Broadway. I had only been in New York City for a few years after arriving from Uganda and I liked the energy of the guys hustling bootleg CDs out front. I bought my first ever CD from them. And yes, it was Eiffel 65. At that time, my music taste was still very much developing. I listened to a lot of The Offspring’s “Pretty Fly for a White Guy.” Then I graduated to “The Blueprint” — the clean version. And then I found my anthems on “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” an album I listened to more times back to front than I can count.

I bought a jog-proof Walkman and threw it on the ground at school just so the kids knew it didn’t skip during “Many Men.” I still remember walking down the street with 50 Cent blasting in my ears, really feeling myself: “And if they hate then let them hate and watch the money pile up.” That line still hits. It hits because it captures the ambition of our city — the ambition in this room, right now.

It captures the can’t-tell-me-nothing, don’t try to stop me energy of a New Yorker with something to prove. In my lowest moments, that energy fueled me to get up and get on with my day. To take the next step. Each of you know something about that too — about what it means to be a New Yorker. It’s not just the swagger and the triumph and the train crossing the bridge at sunset. It’s trying to make rent and afford groceries. It’s the days when that train’s running late or caught in the tunnel. It’s the resilience this city demands. Being a New Yorker means showing up anyway, day after day, week after week, year after year.

So today, as we celebrate your highs, I want to give recognition to your lows. This is a room full of people who showed up. That isn’t automatic. That isn’t given. But that is — to quote a man who hates my tax policies — “how the money piles up.”

That hunger that every single graduate here knows, that drive that lives deep in your belly, to go after your dream even when everything is standing in your way — that is New York City.  You are New York City. In a traditional commencement speech, this is the part where I would tell you: “Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your lives.” But I can’t do that. You’ve all been living the rest of your lives for a long time. So, to the Borough of Manhattan Community College class of 2026: what I will say instead is thank you.

You are the beating heart of the greatest city in the world.  Thank you for being the New Yorker that some middle-school aged kid, or some guy feeling like he’s on a bus going backwards, can see and think: Maybe I can make it here too. Congratulations to the BMCC Class of 2026. You made it. 

Mayor Mamdani Announces Justine Olderman as Criminal Justice Coordinator

NYU Law professor and former Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders will advance administration’s criminal justice agenda

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced today that Justine Olderman will serve as Criminal Justice Coordinator. Olderman currently teaches at New York University School of Law as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence and spent 23 years at The Bronx Defenders, including six years as Executive Director. She will report to the First Deputy Mayor.

“Justine Olderman has spent her career standing alongside New Yorkers as they navigate a criminal legal system that too often falls short of the fairness and dignity every person deserves,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Her commitment to justice and accountability reflects the values our administration is fighting for every day. We’re proud to welcome Justine to our team, where she will help build a city in which justice is accessible to every New Yorker.”  

“We are excited to have Justine Olderman join our administration as Criminal Justice Coordinator. She has fought tirelessly to make our city’s criminal justice system fairer and more equitable throughout her entire career – uniquely qualifying her to oversee this critical work for the administration,” said First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan.  

“It is an honor to be joining Mayor Mamdani’s administration to oversee criminal justice efforts,” said Justine Olderman. “From the moment he stepped on the campaign trail, the Mayor has advocated for a more just version of New York City. A criminal legal system that is just and fair does more than respond to harm after the fact — it helps advance community safety. Delivering on that vision means bringing defenders, prosecutors, courts, city agencies and the communities most impacted to the table to align around shared goals. I have spent over 20 years working to improve our criminal legal system and am eager to bring that experience toward implementing the Mayor’s agenda.”  

Olderman will advise the First Deputy Mayor on criminal justice policy and strategy. She will develop initiatives to reduce incarceration, improve outcomes for New Yorkers moving through the criminal justice system and evaluate policies and practices related to case processing and systems operations in partnership with stakeholders across the city.   

About Justine Olderman  

For more than two decades, Justine Olderman has worked to improve the criminal justice system and strengthen community safety. During her 23 years at The Bronx Defenders, she expanded access to legal services for more than 13,000 clients annually. In her final six years as Executive Director, she led a staff of 425 and managed a $65 million budget.   

At the time of her appointment, Olderman served as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NYU School of Law, where she directs the Pretrial Freedom Lab, an initiative focused on reducing unnecessary pretrial detention. She previously worked as a Senior Research Scholar at NYU’s Marron Institute of Urban Management, helping develop best practices for alternatives to incarceration.  

Olderman graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from New York University School of Law, where she received the George P. Faulk Memorial Award for Distinguished Scholarship. She clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Ward of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from the University of Michigan, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  

“Justine has dedicated her career to advancing fairness, strengthening communities, and improving outcomes for New Yorkers,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “I personally had the benefit of working with her and know she is a collaborative leader who understands the power of government and community partnering to solve complex challenges and build lasting public safety. I look forward to working with her to continue advancing a safer, more just New York City for all.”  

“This appointment is a tremendous win for a fairer legal system and a safer city,” said New York City Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards. “Justine’s years of experience in the community and the courtroom give her a 360-degree view of public safety. She knows that addressing people’s needs before they result in arrest and incarceration will both reduce crime and decrease the number of people in jail and prison. She will be an essential partner in helping us close Rikers and create a justice system that is centered on the humanity of everyone involved.”  

“I am thrilled at the appointment of Justine Olderman as the Criminal Justice Coordinator. Her mission to improve fairness and equity in our city’s criminal legal system while improving public safety and reducing the jail population is critical, and she has the track record that shows her dedication to get this done,” said Close Rikers Czar Dana Kaplan. “I look forward to working with her as a close and key partner in the administrations commitment to close Rikers and for a new vision of public safety in New York City.”  

“I look forward to working with Justine Olderman in her new role as Criminal Justice Coordinator. As Bronx District Attorney and former Judge, I have seen firsthand her executive leadership, deep understanding of the impact of public policy, and passionate advocacy on behalf of defendants,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. “I am confident that her past commitment to public service will now extend to victims of crime and communities across New York City that rely on a fair and effective criminal justice system for safety and well-being. While we serve different roles, we share the common goals of advancing equity, promoting accountability, and ensuring that public safety and justice are administered with both compassion and integrity.”  

“Justine Olderman brings to this role something that cannot be taught — a career defined by a deep commitment to the people most impacted by the criminal legal system and an unwavering belief that public safety is built from the ground up through community, trust, and human dignity,” said Tina Luongo, Chief Attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “Throughout Justine’s career as a dedicated public defender, she has been a thoughtful and effective leader, advancing bold ideas while bringing people from differing viewpoints together to tackle some of the most difficult challenges facing our criminal legal system. Her values, vision, and creativity make her exceptionally well-suited for this role and for the work ahead. New Yorkers will be well served by her leadership, and I look forward to working with her in this critical role.”  

“Justine is an extraordinarily capable manager who is fair-minded, far-seeing and patient, indispensable qualities for this important and complicated position. Her past accomplishments demonstrate her deep commitment to justice and her creative spirit that will ensure New York City is always on the leading edge of making the city both safe and vibrant,” said Elizabeth Glazer, founder of Vital City and former Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.  

“I have had the pleasure of working with Justine Olderman for many years on criminal justice issues. Justine is extremely knowledgeable and talented, with an unswerving commitment to the pursuit of justice. I have every confidence that she will make an outstanding Criminal Justice Coordinator for the City of New York,” said Honorable Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge of New York and Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.  

“On behalf of The Bronx Defenders, I am thrilled to congratulate Justine Olderman on her appointment as Criminal Justice Coordinator,” said Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders. “Throughout her career at The Bronx Defenders, from criminal defense attorney to my predecessor as Executive Director, Justine fought to make the legal system see what it too often ignores: the dignity, humanity, and potential in every person. That experience matters deeply in a role charged with helping the City deliver both justice and safety. Justine understands how one arrest can affect a person’s family, housing, health, and future, and she has spent more than two decades building approaches that respond to people’s full lives, prevent unnecessary system involvement, and create pathways to stability. At this critical moment for New York City, we are proud to see a lifelong public defender bring those values to City Hall, and we look forward to working with her to build a safer, fairer, and more just city for all New Yorkers.” 

Mayor Mamdani Extends Field Lighting This Summer, Adding 4,000 More Hours of Play on Basketball Courts, Soccer Fields and Athletic Fields Citywide

Sports lighting will stay on for an extra hour at 50 free and low-cost recreation sites across the five boroughs

NEW YORK – As the Knicks carry New York City’s hopes into the NBA Finals and the city prepares to welcome the world for the World Cup, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today announced that sports lighting will remain on for an additional hour at 50 locations citywide this summer, extending permitted use until 11 p.m.   

Beginning June 11, 2026, through Labor Day weekend, New Yorkers will be able to apply for extended permits at select fields and courts in every borough.   

The expanded hours will create more than 4,000 additional hours of evening recreation, giving New Yorkers more opportunities to stay active, connect with their communities and enjoy neighborhood parks. With many residents only able to access athletic fields after work or during cooler evening temperatures, the program will help meet growing demand for recreational space while supporting youth sports, adult leagues and community programming.  

“My hope is that twenty years from now we have world-class strikers and power forwards whose journeys began right here in New York City when they found their neighborhood pitches and courts lit up late at night,” said Mayor Mamdani. “These 4,000 additional hours of play time will unlock opportunities for neighbors to enjoy the cool night air, for young New Yorkers to imitate the skills they just watched on TV, to both live in our city and play in our city. Our parks are our backyards, and local sports fields are our stadiums.”   

“By adding 4,000 hours of free and low-cost recreation, NYC Parks prove it is one of the City’s most important affordability agencies,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “Extended lighting means more people can spend more time outdoors, building community and enjoying their local parks. And for those perfecting their jump shot, it means a little more time under the lights.”  

“After the school year ends, summer should be a time when young people — and all New Yorkers — have safe, fun places to gather with friends and family,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. “Too often, we tell kids what not to do with their free time without creating enough opportunities for what they can do. By expanding access to well-lit athletic fields and courts across the five boroughs, the Mamdani administration is investing in places where young New Yorkers can stay active, and most importantly, have fun.”  

“New Yorkers are feeling the excitement of an historic sports summer — from the Knicks’ run to the NBA Finals, to the anticipation of this year’s World Cup. At NYC Parks, we’re making sure that excitement translates into more opportunities for people to get outside, stay active and play the sports they love,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “By extending lighting hours at select fields and courts across the city this summer, we’re creating more access for young athletes, adult leagues and neighborhood groups who rely on our parks after work or school and during the cooler evening hours. These additional hours mean more than just time on the field — they mean stronger communities, healthier New Yorkers and more opportunities for people to enjoy their local parks. We’re grateful to Council Member Hankerson for his advocacy to ensure our parks and recreational spaces are the best they can be.”  

“New York is at the top of the sports world right now. The Knicks have the whole city locked in, FIFA is coming here and you can feel that excitement in every borough,” said Council Member Ty Hankerson, Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation. “Our parks are the outlet for that excitement, giving New Yorkers a safe place to carry it from the screen and the stadium into their own neighborhoods. Studies show that safe, active nighttime park programming can help people feel safer and reduce crime, so extending sports lighting is a smart public safety investment. I thank Commissioner Shimamura for listening to our call and giving communities more time and more access. Parks are for everyone, and this summer, New Yorkers will have even more time to enjoy them safely.”     

A full list of participating fields is available through NYC Parks permitting offices in each borough.    

Translations available in Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Yiddish. 

Meeting Notice
Citywide Public Input Sessions 

TIMES AND LOCATIONS:

Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
New York Law School
185 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fordham University
McShane Campus Center
441 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458

Thursday, June 11, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Brooklyn Law School
250 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
NYC Department of Design and Construction
1st Floor Multipurpose Room
30-30 Thomson Avenue (enter on 30th Place)
Queens, NY 11101

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Staten Island University Hospital North
(enter via the Dr. Regina McGinn Education Center)
475 Seaview Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305

Mayor Mamdani Announces “Winners” of New York City’s 2K for 2-K Event 

Ready, Set,Go; more than 1,000 runners joined Mayor Mamdani toencourage families to apply for 2-K by the June 26 deadline

NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, and Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith today announced a free watch party in Central Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19. 

Mayor Mamdani Releases Welcome Video for World Cup Visitors  

Administration films welcome video for millions of incoming World Cup visitors 

NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released a welcome video yesterday for the millions of visitors expected to arrive in New York City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, offering practical guidance on how to get around, what to see and how to live like a New Yorker — if only for a few weeks.  

“New York is unlike any place on earth — 800 languages, 300 neighborhoods and at least one chatty yellow cab driver who will inshallah get you to the Museum of Natural History,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether you’re here for a week or the start of something bigger, this city has a way of becoming yours. We want every visitor — and every New Yorker looking to rediscover the city this summer — to feel that.” 

The video was filmed across all five boroughs by the administration’s own team, capturing the street-level texture of daily life in the city: the subway platform, the sidewalk, the park, the cab. It features Richard Chow — a member of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance who joined the now-Mayor during the hunger strike of 2021 — who picks up the Mayor mid-video and drives him across town.  

The video will air across the administration’s digital channels, on taxi cab screens citywide and at World Cup watch parties. Additional placements are forthcoming. Visitors are directed to NYCtourism.com for more information.