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DCWP Launches Research and Analytics Division to Uncover Corporate Abuse and Develop Policies That Put Working People First

September 16, 2026

Division Will Grow to 36 Data Scientists, Technologists, and Economists To Accelerate Investigations and Deliver Greater Relief for New Yorkers

NEW YORK, NY – Today, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine announced the creation of an internal Research and Analytics Division (RAD), one of the first municipal offices of its kind in the nation. RAD modernizes and dramatically increases DCWP’s data science and analytics capacity, allowing the agency to expedite investigations into consumer and worker violations and secure relief for New Yorkers. The new division works directly with DCWP attorneys and will include 36 staff members by FY28, including data scientists, technologists, and PhD economists. Since January, DCWP has won $13.2 million in restitution for workers, consumers, and small businesses.

“Corporate America should not have a monopoly on the research or technology that shapes public policy,” said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “Working people deserve rigorous, independent analysis focused on the challenges they face and data-driven policies that improve their lives. Thanks to Mayor Mamdani’s historic investment in DCWP, our new Research and Analytics Division will produce that analysis and put it into motion—accelerating investigations, delivering greater relief for New Yorkers, and advancing our vision of a city that puts workers and consumers first.”

“Protecting people from corporate abuse in today's economy requires technological sophistication and expertise. Hiring technologists and data analysts at the FTC turbocharged our work. DCWP's new unit should be a model for cities and states across the country,” said Lina Khan, former FTC Chair.

Research and Analytics Division (RAD)

The new division has four key functions:

  • Provide data science and technologist support to DCWP investigations;
  • Provide economic analysis in support of DCWP’s policy;
  • House DCWP’s internal and external reporting functions and establish data integrity controls for the agency;
  • Produce DCWP’s public-facing research.

Data scientists, technologists, and economists are essential to supporting agency investigations into violations of consumer and worker rights. These subject matter experts extract and analyze businesses’ data to determine whether they are exploiting New Yorkers as well as interpret technical documents to evaluate compliance when there is significant IT involved. They also gather industry data to monitor compliance and track trends—for example, the monthly reports that delivery apps are required by law to submit to DCWP.

Under Mayor Mamdani, DCWP is embracing public interest technology to expand outreach services, streamline enforcement efforts, produce cutting-edge research, and make government more accessible to New Yorkers across the five boroughs. RAD’s launch comes two months after DCWP announced a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Technology & Innovation to build an online portal that allows New Yorkers to easily file complaints against companies that trap customers in hard-to-cancel, costly subscriptions.

DCWP data scientists and economists helped pioneer New York City’s historic Minimum Pay Rate (MPR) for Delivery Workers in 2023, and they will continue to implement the law through this new division. To date, the Minimum Pay Rate has resulted in over $2 billion in additional pay for delivery workers.

The Division is led by Sam Krinsky, Deputy Commissioner for Research and Analytics, who was awarded the 2024 Hayes Innovation Prize in recognition of his work on NYC’s delivery worker minimum pay rule.



DCWP is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency, charged with delivering economic justice. We bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections for New Yorkers, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws. Across New York City, DCWP levels the economic playing field by licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, and providing essential services including free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. This work ensures that New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live for all. For more information about DCWP and its work, visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or follow on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.


Media Contact:
Milo Fink Gringlas
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(646) 772-0331
press@dcwp.nyc.gov