Consumer and Worker Protection311Search all NYC.gov websites
Recent DCWP Press Releases
Friday, March 24, 2023
Mayor Adams, Union Leaders Rally For Working People’s Agenda, Including Expanded Earned Income Tax Credit And Child Tax Credit
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today was joined by labor leaders, other elected officials, and working New Yorkers to rally state lawmakers to double down on their support for the Child Tax Credit and a further expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) — a critical initiative that Mayor Adams advocated for and secured in last year’s budget. Thanks to that expansion, a single parent with one child with an income of $14,750 saw their tax benefit increase from $181 to $905 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an income of $25,000 saw their New York City benefit increase from $299 to $897 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase.
Monday, March 20, 2023
Mayor Adams Re-establishes the Office of Street Vendor Enforcement within the Department of Sanitation
Friday, March 17, 2023
One Month to File: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Reminds New Yorkers to File Their Taxes
All New Yorkers Who Earned $80,000 or Less Encouraged to File for Free with NYC Free Tax Prep
NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today reminded New Yorkers that there’s only one month until Tax Day, which is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. NYC Free Tax Prep helps New Yorkers keep their full refund including valuable tax credits like the enhanced NYC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), at no cost to them. Single-filing New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, or families who earned $80,000 or less are eligible for NYC Free Tax Prep. The newly announced NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers provides year-round tax preparation services for gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often struggle to file taxes and manage financial record keeping and face limited access to capital, banking services, and loans. Self-employed individuals and owners of businesses can work with specially trained preparers on their annual return and, later this year, quarterly estimated tax filings, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, and other resources on record keeping and tax filing. Services are available in-person, online, and drop-off, and in multiple languages. For more information about NYC Free Tax Prep, tax credits and more, visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep or call 311 and say “Tax Prep.”
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
National Consumer Protection Week: What You Need to Know About Buy Now, Pay Later Loans
NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today released, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, “What You Need to Know About Buy Now, Pay Later Loans,” a tipsheet, which will soon be available in multiple languages, to help New Yorkers make the best financial decision possible when considering the use of Buy Now, Pay Later loans. Buy Now, Pay Later loans are short-term loans that allow consumers to pay for something in small installments and avoid fees or interest, but only if consumers pay in full and on time.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
New York City Issues Revised Proposed Minimum Pay Rate for Third Party App-based Restaurant Delivery Workers
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today released a revised proposed rule to establish a minimum pay rate for NYC’s more than 60,000 third party app-based restaurant delivery workers. DCWP received nearly 2,000 public comments about the initial proposed rule across two public hearings and a lengthy public comment period. Based on feedback from workers and the restaurant delivery apps, DCWP has made changes to the initial proposed rule and will be holding another public hearing on April 7, 2023, and an opportunity to submit public comments. The revised rule, when fully implemented in 2025, provides for a pay rate of $19.96 per hour – nearly three times what delivery workers currently make, establishing pay equity with Uber and Lyft drivers and other workers who earn a minimum wage.
Monday, March 6, 2023
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Files Lawsuit Against Dorm2Dorm for Exploiting College Students
Consumers who were deceived by Dorm2Dorm for moving and storage services are urged to file a complaint with DCWP
NEW YORK – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today announced that DCWP has filed a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court against Dorm2Dorm LLC, a moving and storage company that targets New York City area college students, alleging thousands of violations of the City’s Consumer Protection Law. DCWP’s complaint charges that Dorm2Dorm preys on college students and their parents/guardians, regularly failing to provide the services that consumers paid for and that Dorm2Dorm advertised, including consistently late pickups and deliveries, misplacing possessions, returning them damaged or broken, and deceiving consumers with false promises of a 25% “instant rebate.” DCWP’s lawsuit seeks civil penalties, restitution for consumers, and a court order instructing the company to cease its false and deceptive advertisements. DCWP encourages anyone who feels deceived by Dorm2Dorm to file a consumer complaint.
Friday, March 3, 2023
Mayor Adams Launches Marketing Campaign Promoting Enhanced Earned Income Tax Benefits Available to Eligible New Yorkers This Tax Season
EITC Expanding for First Time in Nearly Two Decades, Providing Additional Cash Back to Over 800,000 New Yorkers
New Campaign Aims to Ensure Working Class New Yorkers Get Benefits They Deserve
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the launch of a $1.5 million multimedia marketing campaign to promote the expanded New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (NYC EITC), which is available to eligible New Yorkers during this year’s tax season. Starting tomorrow, Saturday March 4th, the city will run a new marketing campaign on television, radio, social media, in print, and out-of-home advertising (i.e. billboards, posters, or any other forms of media consumed outside the home) to promote the enhanced benefit and provide information on how eligible New Yorkers can access it.
Monday, February 27, 2023
Mayor Adams, DCWP Commissioner Mayuga Secure Reinstatement of Wrongfully Fired Starbucks Worker Austin Locke
Settlement Secures Reinstatement of Austin Locke, Who Returns to Work Today at Astoria Starbucks, Over $21,000 in Backpay and Penalties
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today announced a settlement with coffee giant Starbucks over the wrongful termination of Austin Locke in violation of the “just cause” protections of New York City’s New York City’s Fair Workweek Law. Last fall, DCWP announced a lawsuit against Starbucks for illegally firing the longtime barista from one of its Astoria locations. Starbucks has now agreed to reinstate Locke to his former position at the Astoria Starbucks where he worked, pay over $21,000 in backpay and penalties, and comply with the city’s Fair Workweek Law going forward.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth Offer Free Tax Preparation for Eligible Patients and New Yorkers
In-person and virtual tax preparation services are available in various languages by appointment
NEW YORK, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth today announced they will offer free, in-person and virtual tax preparation to eligible patients and members of the community as part of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s (DCWP) NYC Free Tax Prep initiative and in partnership with BronxWorks, Grow Brooklyn, Urban Upbound, and Code for America’s GetYourRefund initiative. The service is available to New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022 and are filing on their own or families who earned $80,000 or less. Select NYC Health + Hospitals sites offer support in Spanish, Chinese, and Korean, and virtual tax preparation is available in Spanish. For in-person services, individuals should schedule an appointment in advance and bring identification and proof of income. For virtual services, individuals can upload their documents and meet virtually with a tax preparer to review their tax return before submission. A full checklist of the documents needed to file taxes is available here. The deadline to file taxes this year is April 18.
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Mayor Adams Signs two Pieces of Legislation — to Support Students With Disabilities Entering Higher Education, Build More Sustainable Future by Reducing Single-Use Plastic use
Intro 660-A Establishes Program to Help High School Students With Disabilities Transition to Higher Education
Intro 559-A Allows New Yorkers to “Skip the Stuff,” Reducing Plastic Utensil Waste When Ordering Take-out, Food Delivery
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed two pieces of legislation — the first to support high school students with disabilities as they transition to higher education and a second to reduce unnecessary waste of single-use plastic when ordering take-out or food delivery, helping secure a more sustainable future. On the heels of Mayor Adams’ announcement to expand pre-school special-education seats across the five boroughs for young New Yorkers with disabilities, Intro 660-A builds on the city’s commitment to serving students with disabilities at all ages by focusing on students in high school. Intro 559-A — also known as the “Skip the Stuff” bill — will prohibit restaurants and food delivery platforms from providing eating utensils, extra eating containers, condiment packets, and napkins to customers for take-out and delivery orders unless the customer specifically requests them, reducing unnecessary single-use plastic use.
Monday, January 30, 2023
NYC DOT, Mayor’s Office of International Affairs and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Unveil First Restored Medallions Along Avenue of the Americas
Installed more than 60 years ago as a symbol of hope and unity in the hemisphere, previous medallions had fallen into disrepair; DOT has begun the process of restoring 45 medallions of all nations and territories
NEW YORK, NY – Today, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, joined by the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs Commissioner Edward Mermelstein, and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro unveiled the first restored medallions installed along the Manhattan’s Avenue of the Americas -- with dozens more to be completed in the coming months. The new medallions – attached by DOT crews to lampposts along Sixth Avenue from West 42nd to West 59th Streets -- depict the national emblems of each of the nations and territories of the Western Hemisphere. The first nine medallions installed today were Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Argentina, St. Lucia, and Uruguay.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
NYC Kicks Off Tax Season With Free Tax Preparation Services Now Tailored For Self-Employed New Yorkers, More Money For Filers Claiming Newly Enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit
All New Yorkers Who Earned $80,000 or Less Encouraged to File for Free Tax Prep
Expansion of NYC Free Tax Prep to Self-Employed New Yorkers and Small Businesses Fulfills Key Proposal of Mayor’s “Blueprint for Economic Recovery”
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today kicked off the tax season and encouraged single-filing New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, or families who earned $80,000 or less, to file their taxes for free using NYC Free Tax Prep. NYC Free Tax Prep provides free, professional, tax preparation that can help New Yorkers keep their full refund, including valuable tax credits, like the newly enhanced New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (NYC EITC). The new NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers will also provide income tax services to freelance workers and small businesses. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting tax returns on Monday, January 23rd and will continue to do so until Tuesday, April 18.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Mayor Adams Outlines "Working People's Agenda" for NYC in Second State of the City Address
Agenda Rests on Four Pillars That Uphold Strong and Sustainable Society: Jobs, Safety, Housing, and Care
Speech Lays Out Bold Plans to Keep Recidivists Off Streets, Connect 30,000 New Yorkers to Apprenticeships, Launch Country's Largest Curbside Composting Program, Kick Off Community Planning Processes in Midtown and Staten Island's North Shore, Electrify All For-Hire Vehicles, and Provide Free, Comprehensive Health Care to All New Yorkers in City Homeless Shelters
Adams Administration Will Make NYC More Affordable, Safer, Cleaner, and More Livable
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today outlined a "Working People's Agenda" in his second State of the City address, delivered at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Mayor Adams' agenda is built on four pillars that are essential to building a city that meets the needs of working New Yorkers and represent the focus of his administration's work in 2023: jobs, safety, housing, and care.
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Mayor Adams Announces Expansion of Financial Counseling Services to New Yorkers Visiting Workforce1 Career Centers
Connecting New Yorkers to Financial Counseling Using City’s Workforce1 Career Centers Fulfills Another Initiative in Mayor Adams’ “Blueprint for Economic Recovery”
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga, and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim today announced a joint initiative to bring financial counseling to jobseekers across New York City. The expansion of DCWP’s one-on-one financial counseling services at SBS’s five main Workforce1 Career Center Hubs in each borough will provide a one-stop-shop for New Yorkers to access free, professional, and confidential financial counseling, along with job readiness services and connections to workforce development training. The initiative also fulfills a key component of Mayor Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.”
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
City Announces Naming of Immigrant Heritage Plaza
NEW YORK, NY – The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and diverse immigrant communities today announced the naming of the historic Immigrant Heritage Plaza located south of Bowling Green Park.
Friday, January 13, 2023
Mayor Adams to Deliver State of the City Address
Speech to Be Held at Queens Theatre
NEW YORK, NY – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that on January 26th he will deliver his second mayoral State of the City address at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where he will discuss the past year’s accomplishments, the current state of the city, and share new plans to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Over 70,000 New York City Kindergartners and First Graders Receiving NYC Scholarship Accounts in the 2022-23 School Year
Number of Children with NYC Scholarship Accounts Nearly Doubles to 145,000 Citywide
Elementary Schools Across the Five Boroughs Celebrate NYC Scholarship Month to Encourage Families to Activate their Accounts and Dream Big for the Future
NEW YORK, NY – NYC Kids RISE, the NYC Department of Education, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity, City officials, and partners announced today that more than 70,000 new students across the city have been enrolled in the Save for College Program, and their families can now activate and view their new NYC Scholarship Accounts at nyckidsrise.org/activate. Each participating student now has a free account, funded with an initial $100 seed investment, to build financial assets for higher education and dream big about the future. The new class of kindergartners and first graders nearly doubles the total number of families participating in the college scholarship and savings program across New York City, to a total of approximately 145,000. Since the launch of the Save for College Program in 2017, over $18.5 million has been collectively allocated to the NYC Scholarship Accounts of participating students.