Mayor Adams’s long-expected initiative to manage the chaos stemming from New York City’s booming commercial delivery sector is set to kick off with a modest team of 45 unarmed agents under the Department of Transportation. However, the team won’t begin operations until 2028, raising concerns among advocates and delivery workers about the effectiveness and timing of the program.
The anticipated ‘Department of Sustainable Delivery’ was announced in early 2024, aiming to regulate app companies responsible for the influx of delivery workers populating the city’s streets. Yet, it appears the $6.5 million allocated in the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget is insufficient to fulfill the ambitious goals set by the mayor, as the City Council remains hesitant to grant him further regulatory powers.
It remains uncertain how this small team of 45 agents will be able to enforce traffic laws across an estimated 80,000 delivery workers, in addition to holding app companies accountable for new regulations. Delivery workers have voiced their disappointment over the mayor’s emphasis on individual enforcement of cycling behaviors rather than implementing the comprehensive regulations they were promised.
The Worker’s Justice Project expressed concerns about the plan, suggesting it may lead to a more punitive approach toward workers rather than addressing the underlying issues in the delivery sector. The announcement of funding for the proposed department followed a budget deal between Mayor Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, amidst ongoing discussions about budget priorities.
Despite the Mayor’s focus on e-bike enforcement as part of the budget deal worth $116 billion, the City Council has yet to fully support the broader regulatory vision proposed by the Mayor. Advocates for road safety urge city leaders to pivot their attention from enforcement to genuine regulation that prioritizes the safety of all road users, including delivery workers.
Eric McClure, the executive director of StreetsPAC, remarked on the delays in hiring and training enforcement agents, questioning why it is taking three years to prepare the workforce. He emphasized that the Department of Sustainable Delivery should prioritize creating safer conditions instead of focusing merely on enforcement measures.
The DOT peace officers are set to have sweeping enforcement powers, which extend to issuing tickets for traffic violations involving e-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds, as well as for illegal parking in bike lanes. However, the city’s stated objective of promoting accountability among the large app companies seems to be met with resistance in the City Council, raising doubts about the cooperation required to achieve effective delivery regulation.
In a recent statement, the mayor urged the City Council to pass proposed legislation aimed at reinforcing delivery worker safety and supporting the work of the new department. He underscored the necessity of protection for both delivery workers and all New Yorkers in the broader context of street safety.
The initial phases of creating the Department of Sustainable Delivery have faced challenges in the City Council, reflecting ongoing tensions between City Hall and the legislature. Earlier in the year, there was a notable shift as the NYPD began enforcing its new policy of criminal summonses against e-bike riders who violate traffic laws, diverging from the traditional issuance of traffic tickets commonly provided to motor vehicle drivers.
Critics have condemned this approach, viewing it as a targeted assault on the predominantly immigrant labor force that includes many delivery workers who may fear repercussions for minor infractions, especially amidst heightened tensions around immigration policies. The mayor’s proposals to implement a 15 mile-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes further complicate the situation, as many delivery workers argue these regulations divert attention from the systemic issues causing chaos on the streets.
Advocates have stressed that achieving street safety cannot rely solely on punitive measures or increased surveillance. Instead, collaboration with corporate entities is necessary to align their operational priorities with the city’s safety objectives while empowering workers to adhere to regulations without the fear of retaliation or job loss.
The interplay between the mayor’s office and the City Council over the Department of Sustainable Delivery has been fraught with disagreements. Council Member Gale Brewer, a key proponent for regulating delivery services, expressed her ignorance of the funding allocated for the department despite its presence in the budget negotiations.
Brewer highlighted her commitment to ensuring delivery workers’ safety and stated her opposition to punitive measures. She called for clarity regarding the role and authority of the proposed peace officers, expressing concerns that oversight may be needed from the City Council to proceed effectively with enforcement frameworks.
Moving forward, the Council plans to dissect the mayor’s proposals into consumable parts, advancing legislation that aligns with the broader goals of the department. Among the various bills introduced, Council Member Brewer is the prime sponsor of Intro. 20, which seeks to mandate app companies to provide safety training and essential biking equipment to their workers.
This bill could see action in the coming weeks, along with other proposed regulations aimed at mitigating risks associated with the app delivery industry in New York City. As debates continue in the halls of power, advocates and workers alike stress the importance of fostering safer streets not just through enforcement, but by creating a comprehensive regulatory framework that supports everyone involved.
image source from：nyc
