Mamdani Rallies Labor Behind Delivery Bill as Amazon Fights

Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Amazon and other opponents of the Delivery Protection Act of spending heavily to scare New Yorkers about a proposed overhaul of the city’s package delivery industry, as he prepares to appear with national labor leaders in a push for the legislation’s passage. According to amNewYork, which reported the exchange, the mayor’s remarks came Tuesday amid a multimillion-dollar lobbying fight over the bill.

Mamdani is set to make another push for the measure on Thursday at a City Hall rally. He will be joined by Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, Queens Council Member Tiffany Cabán and other labor leaders, amNY reported. Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine, NYC Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union President Stuart Appelbaum are also expected to attend.

The bill, sponsored by Cabán, would establish licensing, safety and training requirements for certain last-mile delivery facilities. After a phase-in period, it would also generally require operators to directly employ the workers performing core warehouse and delivery services. Supporters argue the changes would stop major companies from using subcontractors to sidestep responsibility for workers. Opponents warn the requirements could threaten independent delivery businesses and the people they employ.

The Tuesday exchange followed a New York Post report that a coalition including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and the American Consumer Institute had written to City Council Speaker Julie Menin urging lawmakers to reject the bill. According to the Post, the groups warned it could raise costs for businesses that rely on contracted delivery workers and ultimately push up prices for consumers. Some of Amazon’s delivery contractors have voiced similar worries. In interviews last week with the Bronx Times, amNY’s sister paper, two Bronx-based delivery business owners said the changes could jeopardize their operations and employees’ jobs. One of them, Rudy Cazares, who runs Cazar Logistics out of an Amazon facility in Morris Park, argued that smaller contractors would bear the consequences.

Money is a central thread in the fight. Citing state lobbying disclosures first reported by New York Focus, amNY said Amazon contributed $5,001,377 to the Five Boroughs Jobs Campaign between February and May. The campaign reported more than $5 million in lobbying expenses during the first half of 2026 and named the Delivery Protection Act as a target. In a statement to amNewYork, an Amazon spokesperson defended the spending: “This bill would threaten many of the local small businesses that we work with to deliver packages across New York City, eliminating jobs while raising costs for New Yorkers who count on the service that these businesses provide.” Amazon did not directly address the fearmongering accusation or questions about whether it had funded streaming advertisements against the bill.

The company has previously warned the legislation could affect more than 40 local delivery service partners and the jobs of more than 5,000 people they employ. A separate analysis commissioned by the Five Boroughs Jobs Campaign estimated more than 10,000 jobs could be at risk. The campaign did not respond to amNY’s requests for comment.

Supporters also cite street safety. A September analysis by the advocacy group ALIGN identified 14,210 traffic violations associated with Amazon-related vehicles in the city between July 2021 and June 2025. Amazon maintains that its independent delivery partners are responsible for following traffic laws and says it works with them to improve safety.

The mayor’s latest criticism follows his August endorsement of the bill, when he accused Amazon of using subcontractors to avoid responsibility for working conditions. His administration had already testified in support at an April Council hearing.

The open question is the Council itself. Speaker Menin has not publicly committed to advancing the legislation. Asked whether she supports it or plans a vote, a Council spokesperson said only that the bill is going through the Council’s legislative process, which allows for thorough public engagement and input, and did not address her position or timing.