Full Breakdown
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Backs Delivery Protection Act, Escalating Dispute with Amazon
8/11/2026, 4:04:42 AM
Core Event
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his support for the Delivery Protection Act (Intro 518), which would require operators of last-mile warehouses in New York City to obtain a license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and to directly employ workers who perform core warehouse and delivery tasks. The bill bars third-party contracting after a 12-month phase-in and obliges operators to first offer jobs to displaced contract workers.
Background & Context
Queens Council Member Tiffany Cabán introduced the bill, which is sponsored by 35 City Council members and has been pending in the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection since an April 9 hearing where the mayor’s administration testified in favor. Amazon has spent more than $5 million on lobbying related to the measure, including contributions to the Five Boroughs Jobs Campaign. The campaign’s analysis warned that the bill could jeopardize thousands of delivery jobs.
Data & Statistics
- Amazon works with more than 40 local Delivery Service Partners employing over 5,000 city workers.
- The Five Boroughs Jobs Campaign estimates up to 10,000 delivery jobs could be at risk, including about 3,500 in Harlem and adjacent districts.
- A 2025 city comptroller report found a 78 % increase in injury-causing crashes within a half-mile of last-mile facilities and documented over 2,000 workplace injuries reported to OSHA between 2022 and 2024.
- In May, the mayor’s administration recovered over $9 million in unpaid idling fines tied to Amazon’s delivery network.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Mamdani said the bill would end “exploitative subcontracting” that lets large corporations avoid accountability for working conditions. Deputy Commissioner Carlos Ortiz of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection cautioned against “unintended consequences” as the legislation moves through council.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly A. Nantel argued the bill would “directly undermine” the company’s commitment to fast, reliable delivery and could force relocation of operations outside the five boroughs, threatening the jobs of more than 5,000 employees.
Criticism & Opposition
The New York Delivers coalition, led by the Five Boroughs Jobs Campaign, contended the bill threatens small-business owners and delivery workers, especially in minority communities. Small-business operator Rudy Cazares, who runs an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, said the legislation would force him to shut down his business.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Opposition groups cite a potential loss of up to 10,000 jobs, while Amazon references “more than 5,000” jobs at risk, creating a discrepancy in projected employment impacts. The comptroller’s safety findings attribute a rise in crashes and injuries to last-mile facilities, but Amazon disputes the analysis, saying it relies on incomplete data.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This law is just going to raise prices for consumers,” — Business Council
- “For too long, companies like Amazon have operated in our city like it’s the Wild West, ignoring workers’ rights, putting our communities in danger, and acting with impunity,” — Council Member Tiffany Cabán
What’s Next
Council members have indicated that Intro 518 will continue to receive input from stakeholders as it proceeds through the legislative process. No specific vote date has been set, but the bill remains under committee review following the April 9 hearing.
