New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Amazon and other opponents of spending heavily to scare New Yorkers against the proposed Delivery Protection Act, as he joined labor leaders in urging City Council Speaker Julie Menin to advance the legislation.
Mamdani’s comments came amid a multimillion-dollar lobbying battle over the bill, which would require certain last-mile delivery facilities to secure city licenses and hire workers directly instead of using third-party contractors.
The legislation has attracted 34 City Council sponsors, exceeding the 26 votes required for passage, but has remained in committee since April. Supporters are pressing for a vote, while Menin has raised “concerns” about the measure’s current form and said the city law department is reviewing it.
Mamdani’s criticism
Speaking at a press conference in Bushwick on October 20, Mamdani defended the proposal against questions about whether it could place smaller delivery companies at a disadvantage. He pointed to street safety and worker protections as key reasons for supporting the bill…