Statement from DCWP Concerning Mayor Adams’ Veto of Pro-Worker and Small Business Legislation

December 31, 2025

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection released the following statement addressing Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of pivotal worker-protection and small business legislation and reaffirming the agency’s ongoing advocacy for policies that strengthen New York City’s hard-working communities: 

We are disappointed by the Mayor’s veto of important bills that would support hard-working New Yorkers, including app-based drivers, security guards, and street vendors. We believe that protecting New Yorkers starts with guaranteeing fairness and dignity in the workplace, and we will continue to work with stakeholders and our partners in the Council to implement fair labor standards and reduce regulatory barriers for working New Yorkers.

Re: Intro 1391. At DCWP, we are committed to protecting and enhancing the daily economic lives of New Yorkers and support increasing the minimum wage. Security guards play a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of New Yorkers in moments of crisis. Yet, security firms often pay these workers low wages. Intro. 1391 offered a commonsense path to raising pay and improving security guards’ livelihoods. While we are disappointed that this legislation is being vetoed, we are committed to working with stakeholders and the Council to pass these protections next year.  

Re: Intro 276. At DCWP, we believe that protecting workers starts with guaranteeing stability and fairness in the workplace. It is wrong to let a software algorithm decide when to fire a worker, and it should be illegal. Vetoing this bill to allow apps to continue to do this is financially devastating for drivers. While we are disappointed that this legislation is being vetoed, we are committed to working with stakeholders and the Council to pass these protections next year. 

Re: Intro 431. At DCWP, we believe that protecting and enhancing the daily economic lives of New Yorkers can be done while reducing regulatory barriers on small businesses. We are excited to see an expansion of the total number of street vendor licenses, allowing more of our smallest small businesses the opportunity to come into compliance with our licensing law, while balancing the City’s ability to enforce reasonable placement restrictions for safe and clean sidewalk usage. While we are disappointed that this legislation is being vetoed, we will continue to work with stakeholders and our partners in the Council to implement legislation that supports and reduces regulatory barriers in the marketplace.