Hear From The Mayor, 3,000 Firearms, Safeguarding Immigrant Status, Flushing Airport Homes, New Delivery App Rules, 14th Street Corridor, Keeping Seniors Housed, Americans With Disabilities Act, Downstate Gaming Licenses: Mayor Adams

Hear From The Mayor, 3,000 Firearms, Safeguarding Immigrant Status, Flushing Airport Homes, New Delivery App Rules, 14th Street Corridor, Keeping Seniors Housed, Americans With Disabilities Act, Downstate Gaming Licenses: Mayor Adams

Editor’s note: Last week, readers learned about Mayor Adams’ animal care center investment, along with licensing new after school childcare sites around the city.  Free Wifi for NYCHA residents and new hotel licensing requirements, shutting out the possibility for people to individually rent out their homes temporarily using such services as AirBNB.  For most, the cost of licensing would be prohibitive, although these rules also serve to protect hotel guests and others served by the hospitality industry.  

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS HOSTS “HEAR FROM THE MAYOR” RADIO SHOW

New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts an episode of his “Hear from the Mayor” radio show on WBLS 107.5 FM. Gracie Mansion. Sunday, August 22, 2024. Image Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

Gary Byrd: Well each and every second Sunday of the month as you know, normally we have a chance to welcome the brother joining us next but this is a special time that we are in and WBLS is proud to welcome him back this month. The 110th mayor of New York City, the second mayor of color and the first hip-hop mayor in the city’s history as well as our brother Eric Adams. It’s time to Hear from the Mayor with Mayor Eric L. Adams right here from 107.5 WBLS. Good morning mayor and welcome.

Mayor Eric Adams: Hey Gary, good morning. Good morning to the listeners as well. Welcome back to another episode Hear from the Mayor. This is your Mayor Eric Adams. If you’re a first time caller this morning, there’s many ways to communicate with you and everyday New Yorkers. 

The listeners should give me a call and hear directly from me as we talk about important topics that impact our city. You can also sign up to hear more from me by visiting nyc.gov/hearfromeric. You can sign up on our website to text with Eric and talk with me on WhatsApp. But you also can call in today at 212-545-1075, 212-545-1075. 

We would love to hear your thoughts and your questions. Happy Sunday. Today we’re going to talk about a deadly trap that is endangering our young people. Something many of you may be familiar with called subway surfing. It may sound like an adventure or a game, but it is the furthest thing from the truth and furthest thing from fun. 

It is a deadly trap that is endangering our young people. And when you look at it, the average age of a subway surfer is 15. 15 years old. The youngest we have identified is 11 years old. 11 years old. It’s unimaginable that an 11-year-old or 15-year-old or any of our children are on top of a train. 

And so I want to just really humanize this conversation by bringing a woman that I’ve learned to just respect and just appreciate her courage. It is so hard to turn darkness into light or pain into purpose. But my guest, Norma Nazario, she’s doing just that. She lost her son, Zach Nazario, who tragically died subway surfing on the J train on the Williamsburg Bridge in 2023. 

And her story is just so powerful. And she refused to just sit back, allowing him to have died in vain. She just has really touched so many of us, particularly on our team, and people often stop me on the street and talk about seeing her on the street after seeing her interviews on talking about this topic. 

So Norma, I wanna bring you into the conversation. And can you just bring us into Zach, his whole life, just a charming, smart, intelligent young man. Just share– first tell us that. Tell us who Zach actually is and who he was to us.

Norma Nazario: Good morning. Thanks for having me. Zach was a very brilliant son, very loving son, loved to spend time with his family and friends. Very bright student. He impacted his high school that he– they just honored him last month with an actual diploma. It was very hard to be there, but I’m pretty sure he deserved that, being an honors kid and very smart. 

Mayor Adams: What did he enjoy doing? 

Nazario: He enjoys sports, he enjoys video games. The school used to call him the historian because he’s always wanted to research old stuff, like old stuff– 

Mayor Adams: Old soul. That’s it. Our seniors used to say, you know, old soul.

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Nazario: He did. We called him the historian. He always liked to do the history of World War II, Korean Wars, 1800s, 1900s.

Mayor Adams: He sounded like me when I was a child. I used to like looking at all of those old stories. There was a show that came on Mutual of Omaha. He talked about animals when I was a little child. All my friends used to say why are you watching that all day? 

But you know, we old sweet old souls like old [soul] things. Now, was your only son? 

Nazario: No, he’s not. He wasn’t. 

Mayor Adams: Okay, so you have other children?

Nazario: I have an older son, yes. 

Mayor Adams: How has this impacted the family?

Nazario: [It’s impacted] the family very very hard. His oldest brother was the only little brother that he ever had and he’s not doing well still. You know, the more he hears me on the radio [and] on the TV and all that. The more he’s rubbing for his mother but at the same time he can’t believe it how nothing has been done in two years and plus and he’s continuing.

Mayor Adams: And Zach, he was your youngest?

Nazario: Yes. 

Mayor Adams: Where were you when you got notification of what happened to him?

Nazario: I was at home because it was President’s Day. It was a holiday.

Mayor Adams: And how did you find out? Were you reaching out to him? Did you guys communicate often? 

Nazario: That day we communicated a couple of hours before he passed. 

Mayor Adams: Okay. He called you [or] he texted you?

Nazario: Yes, he called me [on] FaceTime. 

Mayor Adams: So now he was subway surfing on the J line. Do you know if that was the first time he ever tried?

Nazario: No, I didn’t know that.

Mayor Adams: Okay, he was an adventurous young man. I think of some of the things that I did as a child, boys are always exploring and you look back later, I look back later at some of my adventures and I would say to myself, “You know, wow, what was I thinking?” But that’s what a young child does, and it’s particularly boys. We’re always getting into some form of mischief. 

You know, we have started to use drones, a new technology that we started in November 2023. And since then, we have had over 200 rescues. When we say rescues, that is when our drones identify a child on top of the train. And we’re able to get there before something tragic happens like what happened to Zach. 

And this has been extremely successful. We use 4K cameras and the zones monitor those lines where you see frequent subway surfers. Some of the frequent locations we have witnessed are on the number 7 line in Queens. 

It’s often used by young people to subway [surf]. And you know, the state manages the subway system as well as the MTA manages the subway system. What have parents like you, what have you asked of the state to do to sort of prevent the subway surfing?

Nazario: Well, starting with social media. I’ve been with some organizations, the MAMA organization, and I’ve been to the White House. I asked at the beginning, we went as a group and we went to Senator Schumer, Chuck Schumer, and he stated that he was gonna help us. 

Letitia James, she also was there involved. Governor Hochul ended up signing two bills, the [Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation] Safety Act bill and [New York Child] Data Protection bill. She signed those on June 20, 2024.

Mayor Adams: Do you know what those bills would change? Those are the things that you and the other parents have advocated for?

Nazario: Yes, I believe they passed. And as you know, she’s gonna ban cell phones this September. So I’m pretty sure that the bill’s passed and I’m pretty sure she’s doing what she needs to do best for all the social media– people to stop dragging the kids, even throughout school.

Mayor Adams: Right, no, well said. And no, that bill did pass. For the listeners out there, I announced on [Wednesday], that we now have a cell phone ban in our schools. All of our school children will have to lock up their devices when they come into school and the schools are required to have some form of storage. 

Because as you stated, you know, we sue social media companies for the subway surfing as well as other ways that are impacting our children. And when our children are seeing and watching this, there are millions of views. You could only imagine a young person receiving millions of views for doing something. 

It’s an adrenaline rush, and we wanted to make sure that social media companies are no longer using these tools to be harmful to our children. Now, you mentioned a coalition of parents that are also part of this push. Do you guys meet regularly? Do you communicate?

Nazario: Unfortunately, no. This MAMA program is Mothers Against Media Addiction. They reached out to me. I’m really encouraging all the parents that have gone through what I’m going through to step up and come visit me, come look for me. Let’s do this. 

I’m also looking forward to going after the MTA. I haven’t even heard from them. They don’t, I don’t know, they don’t want to take accountability. They don’t want to face anything, anybody. And the main one, this is their trains.

Mayor Adams: Right, right, no, well said. And we have to find ways to prevent children from climbing on the train. If we identify how they climb on, we have to find preventive ways to stop them from climbing on. And I think the MTA really needs to step up in this area because you’re having too many cases where children are becoming seriously injured. 

And it’s cases like Zach actually losing their lives. What can parents do? You know, when you think about it, what are some of the things you believe parents can do that could assist?

Nazario: Well, first of all, parents need to first educate themselves about subway surfing, about social media, how it works, how they hide their identity sometimes. Like [an] example with Zach, I was on his feed and never ever saw anything of no subway [surfing], but also only him searching their history. 

So they need to educate themselves with the subway surfing trend, social media, what they see, what they look [at]. You know, they need to also be aware of where the children go, who they relate with. And that’s about it, keep them away from the cell phone. Spend time with them, talk to them, travel, anything that has not to do with social media.

Mayor Adams: That’s interesting. You said when you looked on his feed, you didn’t see anything about subway surfing. 

Nazario: Anything. 

Mayor Adams: You know, there needs to be a whole course for parents on how to look through a feed and how to understand exactly what your child is searching. Because if you identify that, you can take a lot of preventive steps, you know, dealing with your child. If they are being bullied, when you look at even children meeting individuals online. 

We have a number of cases where a young child would meet a person online and interact with an adult. And so by taking a look every once in a while, periodically at their feed, knowing what they are searching and what they are viewing is an indicator of probably a potential problem beforehand. 

And so, I think that we look at these devices, these cell phones, as useful tools, which they are, but if they are used incorrectly, they can become an abusive tool at the same time. 

I notice you often carry around Zach’s photo, and it’s a powerful moment when we do any announcement on this issue, when people see the photo and what it represents. What did he want to do later in life? Did he ever share that with you?

Nazario: Of course. He wanted to join the Marines. 

Mayor Adams: Wow. 

Nazario: And this is what I tell everybody. The reason that he– I don’t know if he was introduced when, while he was at summer school, he was going to Stuyvesant High School summer school, but he was to gain early credits and extra credit to finish and graduate early and then join the Marines to, of course, help his country. 

Mayor Adams: Wow. Wow. 

Nazario: And I believe that he got introduced there or before, like I said, I have no idea how long he was doing it for, when he got introduced, but I know that definitely he was introduced by the TikTok challenge.

Mayor Adams: Right. Right. By a TikTok challenge. Wow. What about his friends? Were any of his friends with him that day or was he by himself?

Nazario: He was with a little girlfriend that he used to hang out with.

Mayor Adams: Okay, okay. It must have been traumatic for her as well. 

Nazario: Yes, it was. 

Mayor Adams: Do you communicate with her as well?

Nazario: No, not anymore. But I was communicating with her at the beginning and she was very devastated. You know, she saw it all, unfortunately.

Mayor Adams: So why do you think children are still subway surfing? Because they read some of the stories, so many cases. Why do you believe they are still doing it?

Nazario: For the likes. I guess peer pressure, who does it better, who can climb better, who can hang more, etc. And then social media is just the number one 

Mayor Adams: Wow wow. A really powerful story. That’s the music. We’re gonna take a break and we’re gonna be back with your calls and to continue this very important conversation. 

Really just wanna thank Norma for being here and sharing this painful moment. So why don’t we take a break and we’ll be right back on the other side of the break.

Byrd: The program is Hear from the Mayor and yes, the mayor wants to hear from you. 212-545-1075. Once again, 212-545-1075. Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester, wherever you are. 

You get a chance this morning to not just hear the mayor, but to talk to him on WBLS. We’ll take a break and come back with more right after this from 107.5 WBLS.

[Commercial Break.]

Byrd: The program is Hear from the Mayor, and the mayor wants to hear from you. 212-545-1075 is the number to call. Let’s get back to the mayor and his special guest this morning on 107.5, WBLS.

Mayor Adams: Thank you, Gary. It’s great to be back. I look forward to hearing from our callers. You can call in and speak with me, the mayor, or to Ms. Norma Nazario, who lost her son, Zach Nazario, to subway surfing.

Caller you’re in the air. 

Question: Good morning. 

Mayor Adams: Morning.

Question: My name is Pedro. For Ms. Nazario, I’m sorry for your loss. When I was young and stupid, my friends used to do what they call [elevator surfing], which is actually to ride on the project elevators and my friends got injured in reference to that, one of my friends–

Mayor Adams: Was that on top of the elevator? 

Question: Yeah, of course, of course. Yeah, it was on top of the elevator. You know, so that unfortunately happened. I never did that because I was too scared and I was wondering why you guys do that.

But my question for you, Mayor Adams, I know that they’ve filed a lawsuit from the Trump administration against you being a sanctuary city. My problem is, talking about the New York City Housing Authority, since those are federally funded, do you think it’s going to try to take away those funds and mess with the housing for all those people that are living there?

Mayor Adams: No, no I don’t. I believe that this lawsuit is sort of misguided. And what many people don’t know brother is that our city has taken the administration to court more than any mayor in the country to protect the rights of New Yorkers. 

Everything from when we lost $80 million dollars in clawback to when young people go to court following the procedures that we help them get, to have them removed from, by ICE in court, we think that is unfair. 

We should be going after dangerous gang members only. We don’t collaborate or coordinate with any civil enforcements. But I don’t think this is going to impact, and I don’t think they’re going to come after federal NYCHA fundings over this.

Question: Well, you know, because you never know with this guy. It’s a continued distraction. And I know you were put in a bad situation by accepting a lot of these migrants that were sent to you from Texas and other states. 

I don’t know if you were able to ever sue Texas for actually doing those actions, because it was all political, and you and other sanctuary cities were dealing with this issue. 

So you were put in a bad situation for that. I’ll say that, but again, we’re in New York, you know, so we have to try and take care of what we can and hopefully make it work.

Mayor Adams: Yeah, well said. And, you know, your thoroughness of understanding the whole situation is appreciated. Yes, we had [237,000] migrants and asylum seekers. The federal government did not allow us to stop the buses from coming in, would not allow us to let people work, but we were successful. 

90 percent of those who came in our care, they are now taking the next step on the American journey. And not one child or family slept on the streets of the City of New York. 

And, you know, this city should be really proud of what we did and were able to get those to move forward to the next step of their journey. Thanks so much for calling in. Next caller, you’re on the air.

Question: Hello?

Mayor Adams: Yes, how are you?

Question: Good. In the school system, would it be very nice of you to start implementing courses in civics? Because I talk to a lot of young people, and they don’t even know how the government you live in a democracy so-called, but you don’t know how the government works, and the importance of voting, and also economics. 

I mean, a couple of months ago you had somebody going around the city teaching about economics. Well, why can’t you teach this in schools, civics in schools?

Mayor Adams: Sorry, brother, finish your thought.

Question: Go ahead. I just want to know, how is it that we can’t teach civics in schools?

Mayor Adams: No brother, we actually do. And there’s a number of things that we do to teach our young people civics because you’re right having them engaged in civic instruction goes a long way. What we believe we need to do is to make sure that our young people stay engaged in not only financial literacy, civic structures, how to vote, when voting takes place. 

The whole gamut is so important and we’re very much front and center on that. That music is an indicator for me. I really want to thank Norma for being on today and sharing her story and turning pain into purpose. And family, I look forward to speaking to you the next time you Hear from Eric. Thank you very much. 

Byrd: Well this morning our thanks to the mayor of New York City, Brother Eric Adams and his special guest coming to us live from City Hall. And our condolences of course to her and her family from the WBLS family. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visits the site of a mass shooting which occurred early this morning at a nightclub in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Adams Administration’s Focus on Interagency Collaboration and Targeted  Public Safety Efforts Has Resulted in Six Consecutive Quarters of Crime Reductions, Record Lows for Shooting Incidents and Shooting Victims Through First Half of 2025

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced that the NYPD has removed more than 3,000 illegal firearms from New York City streets since the start of 2025 alone. This year’s seizures bring the total number of illegal firearms seized since the start of the Adams administration in January 2022 to over 22,700. This success has helped drive a 54 percent decrease in shootings and a 36 percent reduction in homicides citywide under the Adams administration.

“Nothing makes me prouder than the records we are setting in the fight against gun violence that are making our city safer,” said Mayor Adams. “With six straight quarters of crime reductions and over 22,700 illegal firearms seized since 2022, we’re making real progress — one gun at a time. Each gun seized represents a life saved, a family protected, and a community made safer. Public safety is the prerequisite for everything else we do in this city, and, over the last three and a half years, we have worked to create safer streets, safer subways, and a safer city for all New Yorkers and their families. We will keep pressing for more officers, more safety, and more results to ensure that New York City remains the safest big city in America and the best place to raise a family.”

“When 3,000 guns are taken off the street, the impact on public safety is unquestionable — and we are already seeing the results,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “During the first half of 2025, New York City had the lowest number of shooting victims in recorded history and tied the all-time low for shooting incidents. It’s the NYPD’s strategic plan in full effect: relentlessly following the data, taking down violent gangs, and deploying resources to our summer zones. Gun arrests are one of the most dangerous aspects of policing — and our officers have put themselves in harm’s way to keep us all safe. Thank you to Mayor Adams for ensuring our department had everything it needed to make this milestone possible.”

The NYPD is one of New York City’s first lines of defense against gun violence, and officers continue to save countless lives every day by continuing to take illegal firearms off the streets. The department’s focused enforcement helped make 2024 the fourth-lowest year for shootings in the city’s recorded history. In the first six months of 2025, New York City saw both the lowest number of shooting victims ever recorded in a six-month span and a tie for the fewest shooting incidents on record, matching the previous recorded low set in 2018. In June 2025, shooting incidents decreased by 30 percent compared to the same month last year, representing 125 fewer shooting victims. That decrease followed a 23.1 percent decrease in shootings during the first quarter of 2025, which marked the lowest number of shooting incidents for any quarter in the city’s recorded history.

Overall, major crimes also continue to trend downward across the five boroughs. In June 2025, major crime declined 6 percent citywide, driven by decreases in all seven major crime categories, with additional notable reductions in transit crime, housing development crime, hate crimes, and retail theft. From January through June 2025, major crime citywide dropped 5.5 percent compared to the same period last year, resulting in 3,348 fewer victims of major crimes across the five boroughs.

These successes have been supported by the NYPD’s targeted investigations into violent gangs, which have resulted in 48 gang takedowns year-to-date, leading to the arrests of 347 gang members and associates, as well as the seizure of 236 firearms. These efforts are directly contributing to fewer illegal guns on city streets and safer communities across the five boroughs.

Out of the more than 22,700 guns seized since the beginning of the Adams administration, over 1,500 of them have been identified as ghost guns — unserialized, and therefore untraceable, firearms that are assembled through components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces or manufactured using 3-D printers. These weapons are fully functioning firearms and often end up in the hands of criminals as well as underage purchasers. Incidents involving ghost guns reflect a dangerously escalating trend — one that the NYPD is leading the charge against. The NYPD recovered 17 ghost guns in 2018, 48 in 2019, 150 in 2020, 263 in 2021, 585 in 2022, 394 in 2023, 438 in 2024, and already 137 so far in 2025.

In July 2024, Mayor Adams led a charge supporting an effort urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold commonsense ghost gun regulations. Along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., Mayor Adams announced the filing of an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Garland v. VanDerStok, in support of federal regulations issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that require ghost gun parts to have serial numbers and compel background checks for prospective buyers of ghost gun home-assembly kits.

Every firearm taken off a city street is only one part of the equation. Ensuring meaningful consequences for the small percentage of New Yorkers who carry illegal firearms and commit acts of violence is equally critical. The 2019 state legislative changes to discovery were necessary to improve the fairness of the criminal justice system, however, some of the consequences have crippled the system, leading to case dismissals for technical violations and increased case processing times, including for firearm charges. Prior to discovery reform, local district attorneys declined to prosecute or dismissed 32 percent of non-violent felony cases in New York City — that number increased to nearly 52 percent in 2024.

Ending gun violence continues to be Mayor Adams’ top priority. In his first month in office, in January 2022, Mayor Adams released the “Blueprint to End Gun Violence,” which laid out his priorities to immediately address the crisis of guns on New York City streets. Pursuant to the blueprint, in March 2022, the NYPD launched its Neighborhood Safety Teams to focus on gun violence prevention in areas that account for a disproportionate amount of citywide shootings.

Mayor Adams’ comprehensive gun violence strategy also includes upstream solutions guided by the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force he established in June 2022, which focuses on diversion programs, prevention efforts, and expanded opportunities for young people — all targeting the root causes of gun violence to ensure a safer environment for all New Yorkers. The task force’s commitments are formalized in the “Blueprint for Community Safety,” an investment of nearly $500 million to create safer, more resilient communities, with a focus on intervention and prevention.

The Adams administration also leads the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership, a 30+ multi-agency law enforcement partnership focused on strengthening investigations and prosecutions of the most severe gun offenders who drive violence in New York City. Members of the team meet every weekday morning to review felony gun violence arrests from the previous 24 hours and share intelligence to ensure perpetrators are held accountable and New Yorkers are kept safe. The partnership reviewed more than 700 cases in 2024, resulting in 85.5 percent of individuals being held on bail or remanded.

“New York City is seeing record lows in shootings and homicides, and that progress reflects our multi-pronged approach to public safety, including close law enforcement collaboration, focused prosecutions, and strong community engagement,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “I commend the NYPD for their outstanding work taking thousands of illegal guns off of our streets and our prosecutors for holding traffickers and shooters accountable. In Brooklyn, this strategy is working: shootings are down more than 20 percent and homicides nearly 40 percent this year, improving on last year’s historic lows.”

“There is no greater priority for my office than to rid this borough of lethal firearms and the danger they pose in our communities,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we have meticulously targeted gun runners, investigating and prosecuting commercial gun trafficking rings as well as personally manufactured ghost and 3D-printed guns. We will continue to ensure the safety of every Queens resident, tourist and worker.”

“Simply put, the preponderance of illegal firearms, ghost guns, and assault weapons make New York City less safe,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon. “Although Staten Island is witnessing record lows in shootings and shooting victims, more must be done to prevent these senselessly violent acts and to ensure the safety of our neighbors. From taking nearly 800 firearms off our streets through our gun buyback partnership with the NYPD to implementing precision prosecution in the courtroom, the men and women of my office are committed to removing illegal firearms from our communities and holding those who dare use these dangerous weapons accountable in the courtroom. I commend our partners in the NYPD for their heroic work and incredible efforts to remove over 3,000 illegal guns from our streets since the beginning of this year and look forward to continuing our work together to keep Staten Island the safest community of its size in the country.”

“I applaud the announcement by Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Tisch that more than 3,000 illegal firearms have been removed from our city’s streets since the start of this year,” said New York State Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. “This milestone is a clear demonstration of the city’s commitment to enhancing public safety and saving lives. Each firearm taken out of circulation represents a potential act of violence prevented and a step toward safer communities, in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs, where the toll of gun violence is felt most deeply. This progress reinforces what we know to be true: targeted, consistent action makes a real difference. As we celebrate this achievement, we must also continue building on it by expanding access to the resources and opportunities that strengthen our communities, from education and workforce development to mental health and youth engagement programs. Public safety is not only about enforcement; it is about ensuring our communities are supported, heard, and equipped to thrive. Together, we can continue making strides toward a safer, stronger New York.”

Mayor Eric Adams hosts an older adult town hall. James Monroe Older Adult Center, Bronx. Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

CITY OF NEW YORK TAKES ACTION TO SAFEGUARD TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HONDURAN, NEPALI, AND NICARAGUAN IMMIGRANTS

Amicus Brief Outlines How Ending Temporary Protected Status Could Erode Trust in Law Enforcement, Making Cities Less Safe

Under Adams Administration, New York City Has Helped Complete More Than 111,000 Applications for Temporary Protected Status, Work Authorization, and Asylum

NEW YORK – The City of New York — as part of a coalition of 13 local governments from across the United States — has taken action to safeguard Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduran, Nepali, and Nicaraguan immigrants by filing an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs in National TPS Alliance v. Noem. The brief opposes the effort by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strip TPS status for these groups — threatening their legal status in the U.S. — and highlights the devastating consequences to TPS holders and the communities in which they live.

“Our administration has skillfully managed a humanitarian crisis that has seen over 237,000 asylum seekers and migrants come to New York City seeking care, and we managed this crisis by showing dignity and respect, including by helping over 111,000 apply for work authorization, asylum, and TPS,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Temporary Protected Status is one of the crucial tools the federal government has to help asylum seekers and migrants contribute to our society lawfully. We are proud to stand up for the immigrant communities who are the fabric of our society and ensure that New York City continues to be a safe city for all.”

“Temporary Protected Status holders are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “As detailed in this brief, abruptly ending their Temporary Protected Status will sow chaos among thousands of families and undermine the safety and economic well-being of the broader community.”

“Generations of immigrants have built the New York City we know and love,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro. “Revoking TPS would devastate tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have lived, worked, and raised families here for years. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and essential community members. Stripping them of legal status and work authorization would not only be cruel, it would destabilize our city. We urge the federal government to act with urgency to protect families impacted by this, including passage of long overdue comprehensive immigration reform.”

DHS has moved to terminate Nepal’s designation for TPS protection, revoking TPS from approximately 7,200 Nepali immigrants who have lived and worked in the U.S. for the decade since the catastrophic 2015 earthquake in the South Asian nation. DHS also announced it would terminate TPS designations for Honduras and Nicaragua, revoking the status of 51,000 and 2,900 immigrants, respectively. TPS holders from Honduras and Nicaragua were first granted TPS status in 1999 due to the devastation left by Hurricane Mitch. In total, the three TPS terminations strip more than 60,000 people of the legal status that has enabled them to participate in and contribute to the economic well-being of their communities in the United States, including here in New York City.

The brief — submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California — argues that ending TPS for these communities would cause significant harm to local economies, public health systems, and public safety, and would result in widespread family separation with devastating human consequences. Additionally, the coalition argues that TPS holders are critical to local economies, with labor force participation rates exceeding national averages, and ending TPS would erode trust in law enforcement, forcing immigrant communities into the shadows and making them less likely to report crime.

Further, the coalition notes that over 260,000 U.S. children who are U.S. citizens live with TPS-holders, and ending the program could result in these families being separated, as well as lasting psychological harm to children. Finally, the coalition asserts that loss of legal status will lead to loss of health insurance for TPS holders, resulting in more emergency room visits and reliance on public health systems, which would lead to increased costs for local governments.

The amicus brief was filed in support of the plaintiffs’ motion to delay the implementation of TPS, currently set to expire for Nepal on August 5, 2025, and for Honduras and Nicaragua on September 8, 2025.

Since the first asylum seekers arrived in the spring of 2022, New York City has continued to focus on the support needed to help migrants take their next steps towards self-sufficiency. The city’s Asylum Application Help Center — a first-in-the-nation entity — helped complete more than 111,000 applications for TPS, work authorization, and asylum. Additionally, the New York City Department of Small Business Services and workforce development teams have connected this population to hundreds of job opportunities. The Adams administration’s case management and resettlement teams — in conjunction with teams across multiple city agencies — continue to find creative ways to assist recent arrivals through direct outreach, resource fairs, and onsite English as a Second Language courses at shelters, to name a few examples.

Over 90 percent of eligible adult asylum seekers or migrants who are in the city’s care either have or have applied for work authorization thanks to the Adams administration’s efforts. The city has also purchased more than 65,000 tickets to help migrants exit the shelter system and reach their preferred destinations, as it also helps reduce the long-term costs for New York City taxpayers. Additionally, staff have conducted nearly 1 million case management meetings with migrants, dedicated to helping them identify self-sufficient pathways out of city shelter, in addition to implementing the city’s 30- and 60-day notice policies.

As a result, more than 200,000 migrants who requested services from the city in the last three years have taken the next steps in their journeys towards self-sufficiency. Since intensive case management services began in October 2023, 71 percent of families with children in humanitarian centers have left the shelter system. Additionally, Mayor Adams successfully reduced the city’s asylum seeker spending over Fiscal Year 2024 through Fiscal Year 2026 by more than $5.2 billion.

The City of New York joined the brief — which was led by the Los Angeles County — alongside the following jurisdictions: Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Monica, San Francisco (city/county), and West Hollywood, California; Boulder County, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; Sommerville, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland Oregon; and Providence, Rhode Island.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams participates in Forum Fireside Chat with Kevin Johnson at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture – New York Public Library on Friday, August 15, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS, NYCEDC KICK OFF HOUSING WEEK BY UNVEILING AMBITIOUS PLAN TO TRANSFORM FORMER FLUSHING AIRPORT INTO 3,000 NEW HOMES

Proposal Will Deliver Thousands of New Housing Units and Roughly 60 Acres of Open Space, Create 1,300 Union Construction Jobs and 530 Permanent Careers 

Announcement Part of Mayor Adams’ Historic Executive Order to Build More Housing on City-Owned Sites 

Plan Will Help New York City Reach Mayor Adams’  Moonshot Goal of 500,000 New Homes by 2032

Project Built by Building Trades Members Using Union Pension Fund Dollars

Announcement Kicks Off Mayor Adams’ “Housing Week,” Showcasing Administration’s Relentless Focus on Creating More Homes, Connecting More New Yorkers to Homes, and Keeping More New Yorkers in Homes They Already Have

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball today kicked off “Housing Week” by unveiling a sweeping proposal to build approximately 3,000 homes and 60 acres of public space on the site of the former Flushing Airport in College Point, Queens. The development — led by New York City-based firms Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR Incorporated — is projected to generate $3.2 billion in economic activity over the next 30 years, creating over 1,300 union constructions job and 530 permanent careers. Cirrus-LCOR’s proposal also includes sustainable design elements and high-quality, park-like landscaping to integrate the buildings into the surrounding wetlands environment. Following the completion of a successful Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and a robust environmental review, construction is expected to begin in 2028. After Mayor Adams issued a historic executive order last year requiring city agencies to review their portfolios and identify potential sites for new housing, NYCEDC led a competitive request-for-proposals process to identify a developer for the former Flushing Airport. As a result of the historic partnership established in March 2024 between Cirrus Workforce Housing, Mayor Adams, and the New York City Building Trades to develop workforce housing on public lands using union labor, this project will be built by Building Trades members using union pension fund dollars. Along with proposals to build thousands of new homes on city-owned sites like 100 Gold Street and Gansevoort Square, five neighborhood plans to create jobs and new housing across the city, and the first citywide housing zoning reform in 60 years, today’s announcement will help New York City reach Mayor Adams’ moonshot goal of creating 500,000 new homes by 2032.

“For too many decades, this valuable land has sat vacant, but our administration said it was time to change that. We issued a landmark executive order to build housing on city-owned sites like this one and now, we are excited to announce we will create around 3,000 new homes at the site of the former Flushing Airport,” said Mayor Adams. “Whether it’s building record amounts of affordable housing two years in a row, passing the first citywide zoning reform in six decades, or transforming old offices, garages, and airfields into new homes, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history — and by using every tool at every level of government to build housing on every block in every borough, we continue to prove that point every day. We are advancing generational projects to deliver the housing New Yorkers need and fighting every day to make our city more affordable and the best place to raise a family.”

“The redevelopment of the former Flushing Airport will deliver thousands of affordable and accessible homes that are financed by, built by, and lived in by union workers, as a result of our partnership with Cirrus and Mayor Adams,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Thanks to this generational program, this project and others like it will continue to reinforce labor’s historic role in boosting the middle class, generating family-sustaining careers, and providing our communities with economic stimulus. Hardworking New Yorkers, like our tradesmen and tradeswomen, deserve to live comfortably and raise their families in the city they serve. We are grateful for the collaboration from Mayor’s Office, NYCEDC, Cirrus, and LCOR on forging a path for this particular development and look forward to seeing this unique approach to housing continue to come to fruition and improve the lives of countless New Yorkers.”

“We thank Mayor Adams and NYCEDC President Andrew Kimball for their vision and partnership in the Flushing Airport project, which is positioned to deliver more than 3,000 homes to working middle class New Yorkers,” said Joseph McDonnell, managing partner, Cirrus Workforce Housing. “Cirrus looks forward to collaborating with local elected officials, labor unions, community organizations, and residents to bring this transformative project to life.”

“The redevelopment of the former Flushing Airport is finally ready for take-off, and we are thrilled to work with Cirrus and LCOR to transform this long-vacant site into a mixed-use project that will deliver thousands of workforce housing units, new public green space, and other community amenities all while protecting and preserving the wetlands,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “Under the leadership of Mayor Adams, the city remains committed to addressing our housing crisis and looks forward to working with our city partners, elected officials, the College Point community, and the development team to deliver a project that creates good-paying jobs, drives economic growth, and strengthens the fabric of our city.”

The former Flushing Airport has not been active since the airport was decommissioned in 1984 and has largely reverted to nature. Cirrus-LCOR’s proposal will utilize sustainable design elements, including a commitment to explore the use of mass timber construction and high-quality park-like landscaping that is accessible to the public and sensitively integrates the buildings into a modern wetlands environment with nature walks, sitting areas, rambles, natural open space vistas, and wildlife habitat. Lastly, Cirrus and LCOR have committed to build and operate the development with 100 percent union labor.

Today’s announcement builds on NYCEDC’s ongoing efforts to bolster the College Point community. In partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation, NYCEDC recently completed a 0.7 mile extension of 132nd Street nearby to improve traffic conditions and accommodate future traffic growth around the neighborhood.

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. The Adams administration is advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver more than 50,000 units over the next 15 years to New York neighborhoods. In addition to the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, both of which have been passed by the New York City Council, the Adams administration is advancing plans in Midtown South in Manhattan, as well as Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens.

Moreover, last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. In June 2024, City Hall and the New York City Council agreed to an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invested $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed $24.7 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. Mayor Adams has celebrated back-to-back record breaking fiscal years, as well as back-to-back calendar years, in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. In the spring of 2024, the city also celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.

Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his “City of Yes for Families” strategy earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help older adults afford to remain in the communities they call home but also help build generational wealth for families. In addition to creating more housing opportunities, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24 million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.

Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

“At the dawn of modern aviation a century ago, Flushing Airport made history as New York City’s first-ever airfield and eventually the busiest airport in the five boroughs. But today, we’re beginning the process of repurposing that incredible piece of Queens’ history into a critical aspect of Queens’ future,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “After years of conversations between my office, the Mayor’s Office and NYCEDC, I couldn’t be more excited to help announce this innovative plan to build badly needed affordable housing and create good-paying jobs on this historic-turned-vacant site. I look forward to the planning process, as we work collectively to reimagine this site into forever homes, thriving small businesses and engaging park space.”

“New Yorkers want police officers to be part of their communities, but soaring housing costs have made it too difficult for our members to raise their own families in the city neighborhoods where they grew up — or to stay in the five boroughs at all,” said Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry. “This development is a welcome step toward making it easier for New York City police officers and our fellow first responders to live in the city we protect.”

“The New York City Carpenters Union is proud to stand behind Cirrus and the transformative Flushing Airport redevelopment project for College Point,” said Paul Capurso, executive secretary-treasurer, New York City District Council of Carpenters. “This is a win for New York’s working families. It’s going to be built union, putting hundreds of our skilled carpenters to work with fair wages and strong labor standards. At the same time, it will deliver the kind of affordable, quality housing our city desperately needs. Cirrus is showing what it means to invest in both workers and communities, and we’re proud to help build a stronger, more equitable New York.”

“This transformative project to build working class housing will be built by the members of Building Trades unions such as Steamfitters Local 638. As a union, we have the simple belief that if you build something, then you should be able to afford to live in it,” said Robert Bartels Jr., business manager, Enterprise Association of UA Steamfitters Local 638. “Our pension funds provide the opportunity for our members to retire with dignity and security. The pension fund is a monetary reflection of what we in the labor movement call ‘solidarity.’ Every member who is working now is supporting the retirement of the generation that came before them, and they have the confidence to know that the generation that comes after will do the same for them. Investing our union pensions in housing expands that value of solidarity by ensuring that we can help make sure that the people who build New York can afford to stay and live in New York. Construction unions and responsible developers like Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR Incorporated are going to prove that there is profitable way to build housing for the workers who are the backbone of New York City.”

“This proposal is exactly what working New Yorkers have been waiting for — thousands of new homes, good union jobs, and a healthier future for our communities,” said Joseph Azzopardi, business manager and secretary treasurer, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. “Turning an underused site into 60 acres of public space and 3,000 homes, while putting 1,300 union members to work and creating over 500 careers, is a smart investment in both people and place. This is how we build a more affordable, equitable, and resilient New York City.”

“Our pension funds, a trust from our members, are more than dollars. Investing them in workforce housing projects like this is financially sound and morally right. It builds a more affordable and equitable city,” said Thomas Gesualdi, president, Teamster Local 282. “We commend Mayor Eric Adams and NYCEDC for their bold, pro-housing leadership and commitment to making city-owned land work for working people. By aligning union pension investments with the construction of workforce housing, we’re ensuring a future where those who build New York can afford to live here. Developers like Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR Incorporated are partnering with labor to deliver good union jobs, stable retirements, and thriving, sustainable communities.”

“This transformative project is a testament to what union labor can achieve when vision meets opportunity,” said Eric Meslin, president and business manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local #28. “By building thousands of homes on public land with union hands, we’re not just constructing buildings — we’re laying the foundation for stronger families, thriving communities, and a more equitable New York City. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Adams and NYCEDC, this project leverages union pension investments to deliver affordable workforce housing. Developers like Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR Incorporated are proving that you can build responsibly, sustainably, and profitably—while putting working people first. This is a blueprint for the future of development in our city.”

“Investing our union pensions in projects like this builds workforce housing, dignity, stability, and solidarity for generations of workers,” said Joesph Nolan, business manager, Ironworkers Local 580. “We ensure those who build New York can live here. The principle is simple: the city’s builders should be able to afford to stay. This development represents homes built by union labor, funded by union pensions, and designed for the working class. We commend Mayor Eric Adams and NYCEDC for their vision for housing that puts working families first. Construction unions and responsible developers, such as Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR Incorporated, will demonstrate that there is a profitable way to construct housing for the hardworking residents of New York City.

“Heat and Frost Insulators Local #12, our members, and our contractors thank Mayor Adams for partnering with Cirrus Workforce Housing, the Building Trades and Local # 12 to build the next generation of workforce housing for New York City’s working class,” said John Jovic, business manager, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local Union #12. “This partnership will create much needed housing for teachers, police officers, fire fighters, construction workers and other blue-collar workers. As importantly, this housing will be built by Building Trades Union Labor and clearly demonstrate that workforce housing and union labor go hand in hand. We look forward to this Flushing site being the first of many and cannot wait to get to work.”

“Local One IUEC proudly supports the transformative redevelopment of the former Flushing Airport site, led by Cirrus Workforce Housing and LCOR, in partnership with Mayor Eric Adams and NYCEDC,” said Lenny Legotte, Business Manager of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local One. “This bold project will create 3,000 new homes, including urgently needed workforce housing, along with 60 acres of public green space, while generating over 1,300 union construction jobs and 530 permanent careers. Backed by union pension funds and built by members of the New York City Building Trades, this initiative is a model of pro-housing, pro-labor progress. It underscores the mayor’s historic commitment to building on city-owned land, and positions Cirrus Fund as a national leader in equitable housing development that prioritizes working families, sustainability, and good union jobs.

“Local 7 Tile Marble Terrazzo of NY/NJ is proud to be part of these future housing projects that will bring affordable housing to middle-class workers in the NYC area,” said William Hill, president, BAC Local 7 Tile Marble Terrazzo of NY/NJ. “We proudly invested our pension funds into this project and thank Mayor Adams, BCTC President Gary LaBarbera, and Cirrus for helping us move it forward. We’re ready to show the entire state of New York that affordable housing can be built with union labor.”

“Firefighters, who dedicate their lives to protecting communities, are struggling to afford to live within those communities. Today’s announcement of thousands of units of workforce housing is the kind of investments we need to ensure the men and women on the front lines can live in the neighborhoods they serve,” said Bobby Eustace, vice president, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York.

“A sad reality for far too many low wage workers — including many retail workers in New York City — is that decent, affordable housing is unattainable. This project is a great step forward in addressing the affordability crisis,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

“Development of affordable housing must prioritize fair wages, good benefits, and safe working conditions for the construction workforce. We applaud Cirrus Workforce Housing for its strong commitment to do just that. This milestone project will go a long way to deliver critical housing that all working men and women deserve,” said Mike Hellstrom, vice president and eastern region manager, Laborers International Union of North America.

Rendering of ~60 acres of public parkland. Credit: S9 Architecture

Aerial rendering of the proposed project. Credit: S9 Architecture

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW RULES TO HOLD DELIVERY APP COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE 

Rules Require App Companies to Register with DOT, Assign Delivery Workers Unique Identification Numbers, Provide Workers with Safety Equipment 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced new proposed rules to make New York City streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians by holding delivery app companies accountable as part of the agency’s forthcoming Department of Sustainable Delivery. The Adams administration is creating the Department of Sustainable Delivery via rulemaking in the absence of New York City Council legislation addressing these companies’ unsafe delivery practices. These rules will require delivery app companies to register with DOT, assign their delivery workers unique identification numbers and identification cards for enforcement purposes, and provide workers with safety training and equipment.

“Our administration is committed to creating safer, more sustainable streets for everyone from delivery workers to pedestrians to cyclists to drivers,” said Mayor Adams. “These proposed rules are a major step forward in holding delivery app companies accountable and ensuring delivery workers have the equipment, protections, and visibility they need to stay safe. This is a public-safety issue and a quality-of-life issue that affects all of us, and today, we are finally taking the steps to address both.”

“In the absence of legislation to address these public safety concerns, we are stepping up to help safeguard the lives of these delivery workers and everyday New Yorkers endangered by unsafe delivery conditions,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “We continue to call upon the City Council to pass comprehensive legislation making the delivery apps directly responsible for unsafe conditions created by their business practices, but we are doing now what we can by rules to make our city safer.” “These tech giants created the wild west of e-bike riding on our streets, pressuring vulnerable, hard-working delivery workers to make fast and unsafe deliveries,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “It’s time to hold the big delivery apps accountable and protect all New Yorkers — and we’ll be doing so through these new rules and enforcement powers through the new Department of Sustainable Delivery at DOT.”

The proposed rules, to be published in the City Record, implement a framework for accountability on the part of delivery app companies by requiring them to provide safety training and equipment to delivery workers, and assign them unique identification numbers, which would be mandated to be displayed on vests or other reflective garments provided to workers. App companies would also be required to provide information to the city regarding the types of devices their delivery workers use while performing their jobs, enabling DOT to assess the safety of those devices. Delivery app companies that do not comply will face penalties. App companies often require delivery workers to meet aggressive delivery times that are incompatible with following traffic laws. The unique identifiers will allow DOT to track that unsafe behavior back to the delivery apps that are incentivizing it.

Nearly a year ago, the Adams administration sent comprehensive legislation to the City Council to address the pressing safety and worker protection issues arising from the tens of thousands of delivery workers and e-bikes on city streets, but the City Council has yet to act on that proposal. The administration continues to urge passage of comprehensive legislation, which would require licensing of delivery apps, subject them to financial penalties and even license revocation for repeat violations by their drivers, and set uniform rules of operation for licensed companies.

The Adams administration has been advancing measures by rulemaking to combat reckless driving, including rules to prohibit e-bikes and e-scooters from travelling faster than 15 miles-per-hour on city streets, mirroring best regulatory practices of European countries that are at the forefront of sustainable transportation, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as matching the existing speed limit in New York City for stand-up e-scooters to ensure speed limits are applied consistently across e-mobility devices.

DOT has also installed wider bike lanes along its busiest routes, expanded public e-bike charging options for riders, and educated the public and delivery workers about safe and legal e-bike use. This past spring, the city launched an e-bike trade-in program for delivery workers to exchange illegal mopeds and uncertified e-bikes for legal, fire-safe e-bikes and batteries. The city also established “microhubs” to shift deliveries from large, congestion-causing trucks to more sustainable modes, such as cargo e-bikes and smaller electric vehicles.

“This is a welcome first step toward addressing the e-bike chaos, and I thank the Mayor’s Office for acting when the City Council refuses to,” said New York City Councilmember Bob Holden, who urged regulations be adopted in the absence of legislation. “But much more needs to be done — we also need to pass broader legislation to ensure true accountability and take our streets back.”

“E-mobility is now a fact of life in the city, but it has come at a high cost, particularly for vulnerable pedestrians. Tech companies are responsible for a business model that rewards speed which, in turn, raises perilous risk to delivery workers and public safety,” said Rabbi Michael S. Miller, who was the victim of a horrific e-bike crash. “I applaud Mayor Adams for the series of steps he is taking to set standards of accountability and transparency in this industry.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams marches in the Federation of Indian Associations’ 43rd Annual India Day Parade on Madison Avenue on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball, and leaders from the Union Square Partnership and Meatpacking District Management Association today announced $3 million in funding to develop a vision plan for 14th Street in Manhattan. Together, DOT, NYCEDC, and the Union Square and Meatpacking District Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) will conduct a study to evaluate transformational upgrades to the pedestrian and transit rider experience along 14th Street in Manhattan, building on the remarkable success of the corridor’s busway.

The $1.5 million investment in the Fiscal Year (FY) 26 Adopted Budget, which builds on Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Executive Budget — often called the “Best Budget Ever” — along with $500,000 in funding from the NYCEDC, will help provide a once-in-a-generation upgrade to the entire 14th Street corridor for the 28,000 daily bus riders and thousands more New Yorkers visiting iconic destinations along the street each day. Design features will include, but are not limited to new landscaping, upgraded pedestrian space, greenery, and safety enhancements that all still preserve existing busway operations.

“Our administration continues to invest in transformative generational projects that redesign our public spaces, support our small businesses, boost tourism, make our city safer, and encourage world-class recreation across the five boroughs,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “As part of our ‘Best Budget Ever,’ we were proud to work with the Union Square and Meatpacking District BIDs and the City Council to advance a study of 14th Street that will usher in the future of this iconic corridor. We continue to think big and imagine what is possible on our streets and in our communities in service of our mission to make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”

“The 14th Street busway has already been transformational for New Yorkers, creating a safer, more welcoming street while dramatically speeding up buses and reducing wait times,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “This study will help us unlock the full potential of the entire corridor and create a world-class, people-first 14th Street. We look forward to working closely with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and our partner organizations to develop this vision.”

“Union Square Partnership is excited to build on the momentum of our ‘USQNext Vision Plan’ to deliver a modernized Union Square Park and a reimagined 14th Street,” said Julie Stein, executive director, Union Square Partnership. “This is our chance to create a world-class public realm along one of New York’s key thoroughfares — with greener, safer streetscape, 21st century design features, and a best-in-class pedestrian experience. We look forward to working closely with public agency partners and community stakeholders to shape a bold vision for 14th Street and turn it into implementable, lasting improvements.”

“We know the power and importance of transforming public space with people at the center is always the right decision given our successful demonstrations at the Ninth Avenue Plazas, Gansevoort Landing, and new West 14th Street promenade,” said Jeffrey LeFrancois, executive director, Meatpacking District Management Association. “Improving public areas is good for the community and drives foot traffic to local businesses. With this study, 14th Street can set a new paradigm for how the city transforms its corridors for the future. This is a vital step in creating a new 14th Street, and we are excited to be a leading partner.”

“With the right vision and investment, Union Square can become among the most vibrant, safe, people-friendly public spaces in the entire city, and this investment will help us get that done,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I’m proud to support the USQNext Vision Plan, and am grateful for the vision, leadership and partnership of Union Square Partnership, the Meatpacking District Management Association, the city and local businesses and stakeholders.”

“The 14th Street vision plan represents the best of what we can accomplish when local leadership, community-based organizations, and the city work together with ambition and purpose,” said New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera. “14th Street is a vital public space that connects neighborhoods, supports small businesses, and welcomes thousands of New Yorkers and visitors every day. I’m proud to have secured $9 million in capital funding to help bring this plan to life and unlock additional resources. I commend the Union Square Partnership and Meatpacking District BID for their bold vision and thank the administration and city agencies for their partnership in creating a more connected, walkable, and person-centered future for this iconic stretch of Manhattan.”

The 24-month design study includes a $2 million investment from the city with the Union Square Partnership contributing $750,000 and the Meatpacking District contributing $250,000 for a combined contribution of $1 million towards the effort. DOT will lead the study in close collaboration with the NYCEDC and the BIDs, with the aim of developing a world-class pedestrian experience along 14th Street and modernizing anchor public spaces like Union Square Park. The city will begin seeking a consultant for the study this year, with plans to engage the public in the first quarter of 2026 and have capital projects developed by the end of the study.

The City Council has made a down payment on those capital projects, with Councilmember Carlina securing $9 million in city capital funds across Fiscal Years 2027-2029. Borough President Levine has also allocated $500,000 for the future capital project.

The project builds on the core tenets of the “New” New York action plan, which identified public space and pedestrian improvements as key forces for the city’s economic recovery. It also reflects other public-private partnerships to reimagine iconic corridors, which will provide the model for the 14th Street vision plan. In 2023, the Adams administration launched the Future of Fifth public-private partnership, which brings city agencies together with the Fifth Avenue Association, the Grand Central Partnership, the Central Park Conservancy, and the Bryant Park Corporation to further this project. As part of Mayor Adams’ Best Budget Ever, he announced total investments of over $400 million to fully fund the city and the Future of Fifth Partnership’s plan to transform Fifth Avenue — between Bryant Park and Central Park — into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard, cementing the iconic corridor’s status as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation in New York City. Last year, the Adams administration cut the ribbon on the latest phase of Broadway Vision, the city’s plan to dramatically expand pedestrian and cycling space along Broadway, from Union Square to Columbus Circle.

The Adams administration has pedestrianized a record amount of public space, adding more than 1.4 million square feet of pedestrian space over the last three years. This is part of the Adams administration’s broader efforts to create safe, welcoming streets through the expansion of the city’s Open Streets program and a newly established permanent outdoor dining program, ‘Dining Out NYC’.

Today’s announcement is a reflection of Mayor Adams’ commitment to improving quality of life and public safety through improving public spaces, with a focus on better design, operations and maintenance, and enforcement. Recently, the administration announced the Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD), a new entity housed within the DOT. DSD will conduct enforcement against illegal moped-, e-bike-, and e-scooter-riding; hold delivery apps accountable by ensuring that commercial cyclists are using safe and legal equipment and that delivery companies face repercussions for unsafe behavior; and address vehicle parking behaviors that endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bike riders. As part of Mayor Adams’ Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget, new funding will support DOT hiring up to 45 new peace officers trained to issue moving violations and enforce commercial cycling laws against businesses. This department will bring order to New York City streets as the number of app-based deliveries and delivery workers have soared, with little accountability in place for app-based companies.

In addition to DSD, the administration is advancing measures to combat reckless driving, including a dramatic expansion of automated enforcement against speeding drivers and red-light runners; as well as rules to prohibit e-bikes and e-scooters from travelling faster than 15 miles-per-hour on city streets, mirroring best regulatory practices for e-bike speeds in countries that are at the forefront of sustainable transportation, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, and matching the existing speed limit in New York City for stand-up e-scooters to ensure speed limits are applied consistently across e-mobility devices.

Today’s announcement builds on the Adams administration’s continued work to improve e-bike access and foster the growing use of legal e-micromobility options through the “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” action plan, while also shifting deliveries to more sustainable modes of transportation. DOT has built a record number of protected bike-lane miles over the past three years and also installed wider bike lanes along its busiest routes, expanded public e-bike charging options for riders, and educated the public and delivery workers about safe and legal e-bike use. This past spring, the city launched an e-bike trade-in program for delivery workers to exchange illegal mopeds and uncertified e-bikes for legal, fire-safe e-bikes and batteries. The city also established “microhubs” to shift deliveries from large, congestion-causing trucks to more sustainable modes, such as cargo e-bikes and smaller electric vehicles.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives remarks at the Brooklyn Mela 2025 festival in Brooklyn.on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS, HPD CONTINUE “HOUSING WEEK” WITH MAJOR CHANGES TO CITY HOUSING POLICIES TO HELP MORE SENIORS LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS

Reforms to Senior Affordable Rental Apartments Program Will Expand Access to Affordable Housing for Older Adults, Promote Intergenerational Living, Create Mixed-Age Communities so Seniors Can Live with Family Members and Live-in Aides

New Policies Part of Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes for Families” Plan Unveiled in This Year’s State of the City to Create More Family-Friendly Neighborhoods 

Announcement Continues Mayor Adams’ “Housing Week,” Highlighting Historic Efforts to Create More Homes, Connect More New Yorkers to Homes, and Keep More New Yorkers in the Homes They Have

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani today announced historic reforms to the city’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program that will help build more deeply-affordable, intergenerational housing for older New Yorkers and their family members across the five boroughs. The city’s SARA program — which helps build deeply-affordable, age-restricted housing for older adults — has historically focused on studio and one-bedroom units. While this model has effectively served single seniors and older couples, it has not created housing options for older adults who want or need to live with family members or live-in aids. To address this important need and help promote mixed-age communities that better serve the needs of intergenerational families, the Adams administration today introduced new rules that will promote more multi-unit homes in SARA projects and help more families remain in New York City. The initiative is a key component of Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes for Families” plan, first unveiled in his State of the City address earlier this year, to create more housing and family-friendly neighborhoods.

“For too long, our city’s housing policies have made it harder for older adults to live with aids, children, or other family members. Today, our administration is changing that. With these new rules, we’ll build more senior housing with extra bedrooms and help more families find an affordable place to live together in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “Whether it’s building more housing so that older adults can live with their family members, helping more New Yorkers buy their first home, or creating record amounts of affordable housing year after year, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history, full stop.”

“Our administration has worked tirelessly to ensure our city’s housing policy reflects how New Yorkers live their lives today,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion, Jr. “This change to the SARA program will create thriving intergenerational communities by encouraging more bedroom sizes so older New Yorkers can live with and near those of all ages. Thanks to this pivotal change, our city’s older New Yorkers will no longer have to sacrifice living with their families to finally have access to safe and secure affordable housing in areas with the least amount of affordable options.”

“For years, HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments program has allowed us to create homes that transform the lives of thousands of older — and often wiser — New Yorkers. These are the small business owners, first responders, educators, activists, and neighbors who have shaped the cultural and civic fabric of our city and whose continued presence strengthens the communities they helped to build,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Tigani. “Today, we are proud to announce new updates that will make this program even more impactful — especially for applicants who live with family members or serve as caretakers. These changes ensure that in the future, shifts in family responsibilities or life circumstances will not present a barrier to accessing housing opportunities in this program. More people will now have the chance to live out their golden years in safe, affordable homes — and to age with the dignity and grace they deserve.”

Today’s announcement responds to the direct need for more intergenerational housing options for older adults. New research has shown that one in three older New Yorkers lives with adult children; the majority of these families moved into their current home together. Moreover, when older adults move later in life, it is even more common for them to seek housing with family members, underscoring the need for more flexible models that help families remain together.

The new SARA program represents a strategic shift towards more inclusive, intergenerational housing that better reflects how New Yorkers live and allows the city to meet a diverse set of needs and preferences.

To ensure SARA investments promote inclusive and equitable housing outcomes, the Adams administration is introducing new requirements tied to geography and unit mix:

In Limited Affordability Areas (LAAs) — neighborhoods with few deeply-affordable homes — any new SARA project must include at least 20 percent two-bedroom units to accommodate multigenerational households and promote intergenerational living.
Outside of LAAs, developers will now have the option to include 20 percent two-bedroom units as part of a broader shift toward more flexible, inclusive housing design.
These changes will help diversify the unit mix in senior housing projects and ensure that SARA-funded buildings can better serve families, live-in aids, and other household members who live with older adults — particularly in areas where low-cost housing is scarce.

The Adams administration is proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history, leading historic initiatives to create more homes, connect more New Yorkers to homes, and keep more New Yorkers in the homes they already have.

Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city created record amounts of affordable housing over the past two fiscal and calendar years in a row, including historic amounts of supportive units and units for formerly homeless New Yorkers. Additionally, last calendar year, the Adams administration connected a record number of New Yorkers to affordable housing through the city’s Housing Connect lotteries and City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) vouchers.

Earlier this year, Mayor Adams unveiled his “Best Budget Ever,” which invests nearly $25 billion in housing as part of the 10-Year Capital Strategy. That funding will support HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) core capital programs that build new homes, preserve existing homes, deliver capital repairs, and more. Moreover, as part of his Best Budget Ever, Mayor Adams announced that the city will invest an additional $350 million in the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together and NYCHA Trust programs to renovate thousands of NYCHA units, bringing the total investment in the 10-Year Capital Plan for Section 8 conversions to $1.2 billion.

Mayor Adams’ historic “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal — which passed the New York City Council last December — will build up to 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure and housing. As the most pro-housing zoning proposal in city history, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity will bring a little more housing to every neighborhood. In addition to rezoning the entire city through City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the Adams administration is also advancing five robust neighborhood plans to rezone specific corridors across the city and deliver more than 50,000 homes over the next 15 years. Along with the Adams administration’s Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan — both of which have been passed by the New York City Council — the Adams administration is furthering plans in Midtown South in Manhattan, as well as Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens. Additionally, in the spring of 2024, Mayor Adams celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.

Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his City of Yes for Families strategy earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries. Additionally, as part of City of Yes for Families, Mayor Adams launched a new pilot program to help tenants in affordable housing developments report on-time rental payments to major credit bureaus, helping them strengthen their credit scores and achieve homeownership.

In addition to creating more housing opportunities, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24 million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combatting harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.

Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch will make a public-safety- and quality-of-life-related announcement announcing that the problem-solving quality-of-life teams at the NYPD have come to Staten Island on Monday August 18, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, ANNOUNCES MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMITMENTS TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND ACCESS

Small Business Services, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Have Connected New Yorkers With Disabilities to Over 1,350 Jobs Since Launching 2023 Employment Goal

Over $10 Million in Investments to Design and Implement New Training and Employment Programs, Expand Services at Workforce1 Career Centers, and Offer Paid Internships

New York City On-Track to Meet Mayor Adams’ Goal to Connect 2,500 New Yorkers With Disabilities to Jobs by July 2026

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), the New York City Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce (NYC Talent), the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and the New York City Department for Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) today celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Disability Pride Month by announcing another year of progress made towards reaching Mayor Adams’ goal of connecting 2,500 New Yorkers with disabilities to jobs by July 2026. This ambitious goal was first announced in July 2023, and two years later, the city has connected more than 1,350 New Yorkers to good-paying jobs — putting the city on track to meet this goal by 2026. This achievement reflects the Adams administration’s unprecedented level of investment in increasing employment services for New Yorkers with disabilities: over $10 million in total city funding over a six-year period from Fiscal Year 2024 through Fiscal Year 2029.

“A more affordable city is one that is affordable for all New Yorkers, regardless of their ,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration is living up to the promises we’ve made, connecting New Yorkers to more than 1,350 good-paying jobs and investing over $10 million in employment services for New Yorkers with disabilities — ensuring that we foster equity and opportunity for all. As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act, we must continue to focus our efforts on creating a city that is more accessible, equitable, and welcoming to people with disabilities.”

“The Americans with Disabilities Act transformed our nation’s commitment to equality, and, 35 years later, we’re honoring that legacy not just with celebration, but with action,” said MOPD Commissioner Christina Curry. “From paid internships and inclusive hiring events to expanding access at Workforce1 Centers, we’re proud to work with partners like NYC Talent, DCAS, and especially SBS to create real opportunities that empower job seekers with disabilities to thrive. Together, we’re building a future where New Yorkers of all abilities can succeed.”

Mayor Adams’ investment is aimed at advancing opportunity and equity by reducing employment disparities experienced by New Yorkers with disabilities. Recent data from the show that 60 percent of adult New Yorkers with disabilities are jobless — either unemployed or not in the labor market. Additionally, those living with disabilities experience poverty at a much higher rate than adults without disabilities: nearly 30 percent compared to 17 percent. To address these disparities, part of the city’s investment includes a $6 million request for to develop — in collaboration with New Yorkers with disabilities — new training and employment programs for people with disabilities and services to help employers make their workplaces more ADA accessible. This “co-design” model is the first time that service providers and individuals with disabilities will work together with the city to create programs designed to address employment barriers and disparities.

In addition to the request for proposals, the city is significantly expanding and enhancing services for people with disabilities across SBS’s Workforce1 Career Centers. The Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center now offers MOPD’s NYC: ATWORK employment program, which specializes in helping individuals with disabilities prepare for and connect to jobs. Through New York state Department of Labor funding and the New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network program, SBS has hired staff dedicated to increasing the accessibility of all 18 centers in its network through improvements to physical accessibility and training for both center staff and partner organizations. Jobseekers with disabilities are encouraged to connect to NYC: ATWORK by signing up online.

The City of New York is also serving as a model employer. According to a study conducted by Cornell University, employers were nearly six times more likely to hire an employee with a disability if they had first worked as an intern. The Partnership for Inclusive Internships program is connecting 100 New Yorkers with disabilities with paid internships at city agencies by February 2027, with the goal of obtaining full-time employment afterwards. In the first year, this program has already connected 53 New Yorkers to internships, exceeding its first-year goal.

All these achievements build on a previous announcement, in February 2025, in which DCAS, MOPD, and NYC Talent’s Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion heralded the launch of a citywide Digital Accessibility Training in partnership with Microsoft. The training will provide any interested City of New York employee with the tools and resources needed to produce accessible content for all city residents.

The city has also advanced a series of initiatives to embed accessibility and inclusion across all areas of government. MOPD expanded its to include every city agency, ensuring accessibility is integrated into agency operations and planning. For the first time, Mayor Adams , reaching thousands in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and setting a new standard for inclusive public messaging. Every city agency has also been tasked with publishing a five-year accessibility plan, shifting the city’s approach from ad hoc compliance to long-term, strategic inclusion. These accomplishments demonstrate the city’s commitment to equity, innovation, and meaningful progress for the disability community.

DCAS plays a key role in supporting inclusive hiring efforts across city government. Since 2023, DCAS has trained more than 170 hiring managers from over 30 agencies on the 55-a Program, which allows for the appointment of qualified individuals with disabilities into competitive civil service roles without requiring an exam. In collaboration with MOPD, DCAS has also helped lead multiple diversity hiring events, including a citywide event for city agencies held earlier this month, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Talent. In 2024, DCAS partnered with MOPD to host agency-specific recruitment events that resulted in 10 of 16 vacancies being filled by qualified candidates with disabilities, demonstrating the program’s success in expanding pathways to public service.

“Governor Hochul’s Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill-Ridley and I are grateful for and excited by the progressive efforts being led by our partners in the New York City Mayor’s Office, the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion, the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and the wide range of allies they have brought together,” said Andy Sink, Director of Employment First, New York State Governor’s Office. “We join them in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the ADA and know that, as we begin implementation of Employment First, these partnerships focused on economic equity, improved quality of life, and civil rights for people with disabilities are of the highest importance.”

“After facing unstable hours and pay at a previous job, I connected with NYC: ATWORK through a former job coach. With support in job placement and interview preparation, I secured a position at The Frick Collection in April 2025,” said Travis Adams, security officer, Frick Collection. “In this role, I interact with visitors and help them locate information about the artworks. I find this job rewarding because the Frick Museum is a team. At the Frick Collection, I am not singled out because of my disability or the fact that I use a motorized wheelchair. I am just like everyone else.”

“Working with the CWAI closely aligns with where we want to be as an institution,” said Robert Domanski, dean, Academic Innovation and Outcomes, Hunter College. “At Hunter College, our focus is on positioning students for success in landing opportunities, and our shared commitment to removing systemic barriers to such opportunities rises above politics or ideology – and is vital for a modern competitive economy.”

“On the 35th anniversary of the ADA, we are proud to celebrate the City’s commitment to inclusive hiring and to be part of the movement driving it forward with Goodtemps and our workforce programs,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, president and CEO, Goodwill NYNJ. “At Goodwill NYNJ, ensuring no talent is left behind is the core of our mission. We’re working every day to bulldoze the barriers to employment for people with disabilities, because driving inclusive hiring isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in New York’s future.”

“Deaf and disabled artists, employees, and audience members are core to a thriving arts and culture sector,” said Miranda Hoffner, director of accessibility, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “Lincoln Center is thrilled to do our part in building pre-employment skills for young people with disabilities through the Summer Youth Employment Program and our Access Ambassador program collaboration with District 75’s Transition Office. We applaud this investment in a more inclusive workforce for our city.”

“The 35th anniversary of the ADA is a call to action to strengthen the workforce as a true engine of opportunity for all. At NYCETC, we’re working with City leaders, employers, and community partners to advance inclusive hiring and unlock untapped talent,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “Through initiatives like the NYC Accessibility and Inclusion Partnership and our role on the Advisory Council of the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion, we’re contributing to practical, equitable, and business-driven solutions that build a more inclusive and connected pipeline to employment and advancement. We owe it to every New Yorker to ensure that disability is never a barrier to a fair shot at economic mobility. This anniversary is both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a powerful reminder of the work ahead—to expand pathways from effective training to good jobs, fair wages, and sustained career growth supported by accessible, long-term systems of support.”

“As a member of the CWAI advisory council, it has been thrilling to witness the collective efforts of public and private agencies coming together to design, discover, and implement strategies that make New York City’s workforce truly inclusive and accessible for all,” said Rachel Rippey-Cheun, strategic advisor, postsecondary outcomes division of inclusive and accessible learning, New York City Public Schools. “Through these efforts, we’re not just expanding known strategies—we’re encouraging bold, innovative solutions that could transform our city and the lives of people with disabilities in ways we haven’t even imagined yet.”

“As a member of the advisory council for the Center for Workplace Accessibility, I am excited to be part of NYC’s transformative work supporting people with disabilities,” said Anthony Watson, executive director, SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center. “Embarking on 35 years of championing inclusion and accessibility is truly remarkable. I firmly believe we are on the right path creating broader impact and opening new pathways to workforce opportunities. By being intentional in our progress, we can drive meaningful change. Together with the disability community, business, and mainstream workforce providers we can create a more inclusive and accessible future for all.”

“Since 2017, The Frick Collection has partnered with MOPD and other organizations that support access to employment for New Yorkers with Disabilities. In 2022, the Frick was honored by the city as the recipient of the Sapolin Accessibility Award for employment,” said Dana Winfield, chief human resources officer, Frick Collection. “As a museum whose founder wanted to share the collection with all persons whomsoever, for decades we have endeavored to make our buildings, collection, and programs accessible to people with disabilities and all New Yorkers. As an institution that strives to welcome all New Yorkers, we also want our employee population to mirror our diverse city. To that end, we have worked diligently to make our workplace accessible and welcoming to all, including people with disabilities. The recent renovation of our historic building has included many accessibility features, including more and larger elevators and accessible entrances to both the Museum and the Frick Art Research Library. In addition to actively recruiting job candidates from the disability community, we have added training and accessibility measures internally: providing ASL interpretation at all meetings and staff gatherings, free work-time ASL classes for staff, and disability awareness training for staff and managers. These are small actions that we believe support expanding our workplace community in welcoming a diverse workforce, including people with disabilities. We are committed to continuing to work with MOPD and NYC: ATWORK and fostering meaningful employment for New Yorkers with Disabilities.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams marches in the 42nd annual National Dominican Day Parade. New York, NY. Sunday, August 11, 2024. Image Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON VETO OF CITY COUNCIL DECISION DEPRIVING BRONX OF CHANCE AT DOWNSTATE GAMING LICENSE 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after vetoing the New York City Council’s disapproval of the only application to build a casino in the Bronx, preventing the borough from competing for a downstate casino license:

“A casino in New York City would bring good-paying union jobs and an economic boost to the surrounding community, which is why I have long advocated for a fair process with as many competitive bids as possible. In stark contrast, the City Council’s disapproval of the Bally’s Bronx bid deprives the Bronx of the ability to even compete for a $4 billion private investment that would deliver 15,000 union construction jobs, 4,000 permanent union jobs, and more than $625 million in community benefits — including millions in funding for schools, parks, youth programs, nonprofits, and public safety — if selected by the state.

“The City Council’s decision to treat the Bronx differently than other boroughs goes against the publicly stated, in-favor positions of the Bronx borough president and other councilmembers representing working-class neighborhoods across the Bronx. By rejecting the land use application for this casino bid while approving three others in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, the City Council is putting its finger on the scale — and this is precisely the type of action that leads New Yorkers to lose faith in their elected leaders.

“For all of these reasons, and at the direct request of both chairs of the City Council Land Use Committee and Subcommittee on Zoning — both of whom represent districts in the Bronx — I have decided to veto the City Council’s land use decision, which will re-level the playing field and allow the Bronx to have a seat at the table, rather than give an unfair advantage to the other bidders and boroughs.

“To make myself abundantly clear, this is not an endorsement or expression of support giving a leg up to any casino bid over the others as the City Council has tried to do, but an action I feel is necessary to best ensure a fair and competitive process. May the best applications win.” 

Banner Image: New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives remarks at the Brooklyn Mela 2025 festival in Brooklyn.on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office