MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES CITY’S FIRST UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS

 

The Mayor’s Scholarship Program builds on 60 years of success connecting City employees with graduate scholarships

 

Applications for undergraduate scholarships are open March 30 through April 27; graduate applications scholarships to open mid-September

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Yume Kitasei launched the City’s first undergraduate scholarship program for municipal employees, with applications opening March 30.

The new undergraduate track expands the longstanding Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, which has provided financial assistance to City employees for more than 60 years. Both programs will now operate under the rebranded “Mayor’s Scholarship Program,” overseen by DCAS.

The Mayor’s Scholarship Program gives full-time New York City government employees the opportunity to pursue undergraduate and advanced degrees at participating colleges and universities across the region. The addition of undergraduate scholarships responds to sustained demand from City workers seeking support to earn bachelor’s and associate degrees.

Applications to the graduate program have surged in recent years, increasing more than 30% over the past two years. Participating institutions collectively award between $360k and $530k in scholarships to City employees every year.

“Our city moves when our workers do,” said Mayor Mamdani. “For more than 60 years, this program has shown that when you make education accessible, working people seize the opportunity. By expanding it to include undergraduate degrees, we are investing in a new generation of public servants who act ambitiously, think creatively and believe firmly in government’s power to deliver for the many.”

“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to open doors, expand minds and build the skilled workforce our city needs to solve today and tomorrow’s challenges,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “The new undergraduate scholarship will help remove financial barriers for City workers, creating pathways to professional growth and development.”

“Education is a powerful investment in our employees and the future of city government,” said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitsaei. “By expanding the Mayor’s Scholarship Program to include both undergraduate and graduate degrees, we are opening the doors for professional growth and building an even stronger workforce for New York City.”

The undergraduate scholarship program launches in partnership with 10 colleges and universities, with additional institutions in the pipeline. The graduate program has grown to include more than 30 participating schools, including Adelphi University, Columbia University, Baruch College, New York University and others.

All scholarships are awarded and funded directly by participating institutions. The Mayor's Scholarship Program does not provide direct funding.

The initial cohort of undergraduate partner institutions includes:  

• Adelphi University 
• Albertus Magnus College 
• Columbia University School of General Studies 
• CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies 
• Fordham University 
• Lehman College 
• Montclair State University 
• Marist University 
• Metropolitan College of New York 
• Purchase College, SUNY 

The Mamdani administration is continuing to expand workforce development initiatives and create new pathways for career advancement. Based on a recent sampling of approximately 100,000 City employees, nearly half did not hold an undergraduate degree.

The application period for the first undergraduate cohort will run from March 30 through April 27, with selected participants expected to begin their studies in fall 2026. Applications for the graduate scholarship cohort application will open in mid-September.

City employees must apply through their agency personnel offices and meet the admissions requirements of participating institutions. Additional information is available on the Mayor’s Scholarship Program website. 

Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Previews Measures to Keep Youth From Sports Wagering and Protect New Yorkers From Gambling Harms

In Response to Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Address, New York State Gaming Commission Releases Detailed Draft Measures for Public Comment

Governor Kathy Hochul today previewed sweeping measures that would prevent youth from gambling online, bar sports wagering operators from using AI to target bettors, establish activity triggers that would require operators to check on their patron, and establish other innovative efforts to protect New Yorkers who are legally able to gamble from potential harms.

“Mobile sports wagering is everywhere, enticing everyone — including our youth — to place bets without fully considering the consequences,” Governor Hochul said. “We need strong regulatory safeguards to prevent those under 21 from gambling, keep artificial intelligence from preying on gamblers, and require sports wagering operators take real action if one of their customers is showing signs of gambling harm. I’m thankful to the Gaming Commission for putting forth comprehensive measures that achieve these goals and protect New Yorkers. As a reminder: Only legal, regulated gaming have such safeguards in place.”

In her 2026 State of the State address, Governor Hochul directed the New York State Gaming Commission to take appropriate action to ensure young people are not downloading betting apps, creating accounts or using others’ accounts. Governor Hochul also directed the Commission to consider ways to use new technology to assist with identifying and helping those who may need gambling addiction assistance.

The legal age to wager on sports in New York State is 21. The Commission requires all licensed operators to have appropriate age assurance tools to prevent those under 21 from creating and establishing an account using their identification. However, it is evident that underaged individuals have placed wagers using lawfully established accounts or have otherwise found a way to gamble. When such instances are encountered, the account is permanently closed.

The Gaming Commission has published two draft regulations detailing potential safeguards to protect youth and implement additional responsible gaming practices. The Commission is publicizing these measures before a formal proposal to get feedback not just from the sports wagering industry, responsible gaming advocates and problem gambling treatment professionals, but also from parent-teacher organizations, schools, religious organizations and more. The Commission is accepting comments on the draft language until May 15, 2026 via email to gamingrules@gaming.ny.gov.

Banning All Gaming Operators from Using AI to Target Customers

The Commission is considering restricting all licensees or franchisees — not just sports wagering — from using AI to offer personalized promotions or suggested wagers or wager amounts to a customer.

Further Preventing Underage Access

To further prevent underage individuals from accessing sports wagering in New York State, the Commission is considering:

• Requiring age-assurance and device registration controls to prevent any underage person from downloading or installing a gambling app on their device.
• Requiring individuals to provide biometric data to create an account to ensure the later user of the account is the same as the person who established the account. Current accountholders would be given two months to provide their biometric data, or their account would be closed.
• Requiring a bettor to provide their biometric ID before placing a wager in a session and again before the wager is accepted.
• Requiring sports wagering licensees to use geolocation controls to deny access when attempted from:
  • A mobile device other than the one normally used by the customer; or
    • Locations where the customer does not normally use the app unless they confirm their identity through biometric ID.
    • Preventing account access at two or more locations that are too far for the customer to be at the same or near the same time.
    • Giving adults the ability to prevent their Social Security number from being used to establish a sports wagering account, for a fixed period of time.

The Commission is also considering involuntarily banning any individual who allows an underage person to gamble from participating in any gambling in New York State. Such individuals would be prohibited from playing the New York Lottery, attending a horse race, attending a concert or eating at a restaurant at a commercial casino, etc. anywhere in New York State.

Operator Responsible Gaming Lead, Patron Action Triggers, and Phases of Intervention

The Commission is also considering a comprehensive responsible gaming proposal from New Jersey that would establish patron activity triggers for operator intervention and require each operator designate a Responsible Gaming Lead to implement regulatory requirements, including identifying and maintaining a list of at-risk patrons, ensuring at-risk patrons are provided with responsible gaming information and ensuring at-risk patrons are not presented with direct advertising materials; The lead will also undertake specific phases of interventions depending on the following triggers for operator intervention:

1. A patron's deposits exceed $10,000 over a 24-hour period
2. A patron's deposits exceed $100,000 over a 90-day period
3. A patron accesses the voluntary self-exclusion request page, but does not complete the self-exclusion process three or more times in a 30-day period
4. A patron requests a second cool-off period within 45 days of the conclusion of the first cool-off period
5. A patron makes three consecutive increases to any responsible gaming limits offered by the operator, without any decreases, within a seven-day period
6. A patron cancels withdrawal requests three times in a 10-day period
7. The total turnover of a patron's account exceeds $1,000,000 in a 90-day period
8. A patron's time spent logged into their account increases by 50 percent or more during the current week, compared to the immediately preceding two-week period
9. A patron ends two or more gambling or gaming sessions in the same week with a balance of less than $1 remaining in the account
10. A patron concludes two or more sessions in the same week with an increase in the total number of wagers from the previous session
11. A patron deposits funds from more than two sources within a 24-hour period
12. Any additional triggers identified by the operator to be potential indicators of problem gambling behavior
13. Any additional triggers identified by the Commission

The above triggers would require an appropriate phase of intervention by the operator:

Phase 1. The operator must contact the patron and provide information concerning the availability of the operator’s responsible gaming features, including time, loss and deposit limits, cool-off period options, self-exclusion requests and account closure procedures, as well as resources that can be accessed to support responsible gaming and to address problem gaming.

Phase 2. The operator must require the patron to view a video regarding gambling harms in order to continue wagering. The video must also describe the operator’s responsible gaming features.

Phase 3. The operator’s responsible gaming lead must contact the patron by phone, video call or such other approved method to discuss the behavior and to highlight all responsible gaming options offered by the operator. The responsible gaming lead must provide the patron with contact information for a responsible gaming professional as well as their own contact information. The responsible gaming lead also may refer the patron to emergency medical and/or mental health professionals or to law enforcement, if the responsible gaming lead determines that the patron may be at risk of harm to the patron’s own self or others. The patron's account shall remain suspended until the direct communication required by a phase-3 intervention is completed and results in a determination by the responsible gaming lead that the patron is not exhibiting problem gambling behavior. If, after a phase-3 intervention, the responsible gaming lead concludes that the patron is exhibiting signs of problem gaming, the patron's account shall be closed, and the patron shall be referred to available problem-gambling resources.

The full text of the draft regulations are online:

• Potential Rulemaking for Underage Play Prevention (9 NYCRR § 5402.4)
• Potential Rulemaking for Responsible Gaming (9 NYCRR Part 5404)

The Gaming Commission works closely with the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York Council on Problem Gambling as part of New York’s Responsible Play Partnership (RPP). The RPP brings all stakeholders together to address problem gambling, including bridging the gap between gaming facility operators and problem gambling treatment providers. The RPP works to ensure that all gaming entities in the state comply with all rules and regulations and provide access to help for individuals who need it. The RPP continues to work to advance New York’s ongoing commitment to prevent and treat problem gambling.

Those seeking help can visit NYProblemGamblingHelp.org or call New York State’s confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY at 467369. 

 

Friends and Neighbors,

I am proud to invite our community to another fun-filled day of lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). That’s right—it’s our Third Annual Community Day at the Bronx Zoo!

The world-renowned Bronx Zoo is a destination for millions of visitors each year. Although it’s right here in our backyard, many members of our community are not always able to take advantage of this magical place filled with exotic animals from across the globe.

For that reason, I am especially proud to invite you to join me on April 11th for a FREE day at the Zoo! Your ticket will grant you full access to the Bronx Zoo, including special attractions and up-close animal encounters. This is a truly special opportunity to experience one of New York City’s greatest treasures.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

This year, we kindly ask that you meet us at the Parking Lot C entrance off Southern Blvd, where tickets will be distributed between 10am - 11am ONLY.

Tickets are limited, so be sure to secure yours today by using the QR code on the flyer below or by clicking here.

PLEASE NOTE:

This event is only available to residents of the 80th Assembly District, and tickets are limited to four per family.

To find out if you live in the 80th Assembly District, please click here.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

See you at the Zoo,

John Zaccaro, Jr.

DEC ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $5.1 MILLION AWARDED TO CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES AND RESTORE DAMAGED HABITATS ACROSS THE STATE

 

Grants Provide Critical Support to Ecosystems Impacted by Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species

Supports Governor Hochul’s Initiative to Plant 25 Million Trees by 2033

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced more than $5.1 million to reduce the negative impacts of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species on natural resources, infrastructure, agriculture, and local economies. The 51 awarded projects will strengthen prevention, early detection, rapid response, management, and restoration efforts statewide, supporting long-term ecosystem health, economic stability, and community wellbeing. 

“Managing invasive species and mitigating their negative impacts to our lands and waters is essential to the environment, public health, and quality of life,” said Commissioner Lefton. “Investing in science-based management and strong local partnerships is strengthening New York’s efforts to combat invasive species, protect biodiversity, build more resilient ecosystems, and protect our forests, waters, farms, and communities.” 

Projects are spread across four categories:

• $467,810 for 6 aquatic invasive species (AIS) spread prevention or boat decontamination projects that will use boat stewards and/or decontamination equipment at boat launches and along travel corridors to educate boaters and intercept AIS before watercraft are launched into new waterbodies.
• $1,664,197 for 18 invasive species early detection/rapid response and control (terrestrial and aquatic) projects to support the removal of invasive species through physical and mechanical removal, chemical treatments, and biocontrol release.
• $699,142 for 8 invasive species research projects to help improve invasive species control methodologies.
• $2,286,727 for 19 invasive species restoration and resiliency projects to facilitate native plant recovery, restore habitat structure, and implement measures to enhance ecosystem resiliency. 

Awarded projects by region include: 

CAPITAL REGION

Albany County

• The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at the University at Albany: $192,537––Project will focus on new methods to develop genetic detection techniques for Tier 1 and Tier 2 invasive species. 

Columbia County

• Town of Chatham: $41,250–– Project will focus on removing a stand of phragmites that is rapidly encircling a public pond and restoring a once flourishing and diverse native habitat. 

Rensselaer County

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $86,573––Project will focus on the development of a tool to improve the efficiency of AIS detection at boat wash and inspection stations. 

Saratoga County 

• Town of Ballston: $27,375––Project will address infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid in Anchor Diamond Park, a 246-acre town forest. 

Schenectady County 

• Town of Glenville: $19,005––A climate-resilient replanting initiative to address tree loss caused by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid in the town-owned Hemlock Hollow Park.  

Warren County 

• Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District: $105,523––Project will focus on protecting the Lake George watershed from the impacts of hemlock woolly adelgid.  

CENTRAL NEW YORK 

Cortland County 

• Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District: $79,569––Project will support a regional AIS Spread Prevention (boat stewards) Program. 

Onondaga County 

• Syracuse University: $249,998––Project will focus on restoring the White Lake wetland complex in Central New York from the impacts of phragmites.  

Oswego County 

• Oswego County Soil & Water District: $15,701––Project will involve monitoring for and controlling hemlock woolly adelgid to protect the threatened eastern hemlock at Independence Park and Camp Hollis. 

FINGER LAKES 

Wayne County 

• Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation District: $175,125––Project will fund the purchase of a mechanical aquatic vegetation harvester with trailer, dump trailer, and shore conveyor. 

Monroe County 

• Rush Recreation: $31,009–– Project will involve planting native shrubs and perennial plants over a period of three years, followed by maintenance and monitoring for several invasive plants including mugwort, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, and common buckthorn.  

Yates County 

• Keuka Lake Association Inc.: $105,175––Project will focus on surveying, delineating, and controlling fanwort infestations in Keuka Lake. 

LONG ISLAND 

Nassau County 

• Nassau County Soil & Water District: $248,372––Project will focus on managing invasive species and restoring native habitats in natural areas across the County’s three townships with the goal of improving ecological function where invasive plants have degraded habitat quality and reduced long-term ecosystem stability. 

Suffolk County 

• Niamuck Land Trust Inc.: $96,000––Project will restore and enhance ecological resiliency at the Sugarloaf and Sillerman Preserves, both sacred sites for the Shinnecock community that have been impacted by invasive species, by reestablishing native vegetation and implementing resiliency practices to prevent reinvasion. 

• Save the Great South Bay: $65,750––Project will support an AIS Outreach, Education, and Voluntary Watercraft Inspection Program at up to nine high-priority, publicly owned boat launches.  

• Southampton Township Wildfowl Association Inc.: $224,869––Project is part of a multi-year restoration effort to correct ecological damage caused by the invasive southern pine beetle at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.  

• The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Stony Brook: $176,954––Project will integrate automated lake-survey tools to increase detection efficiency and spatial coverage, and advances control and long-term suppression of AIS through a mathematically informed management framework to improve the mechanical and hand harvesting of aquatic invasive plants.  

• The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Stony Brook: $95,615––Project will involve collaboration with the Shinnecock Nation to map invasive tree species present on, or likely to encroach upon, Shinnecock tribal lands.  

MID-HUDSON 

Dutchess County 

• Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc.: $67,022––Project will restore heavily degraded forest structure in Hudson Highlands State Park which is currently dominated by mugwort. 

Orange County 

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: $60,000––Project will enhance the ecosystem resiliency of the hemlock-northern hardwood forest along the Appalachian Trail on Bellvale Mountain which is currently impacted by hemlock wooly adelgid.  

• City of Middletown: $88,530––Project involves the mechanical and manual removal of invasive water chestnut to reduce existing dense growth and prevent further expansion within the project area. 

• Town of Montgomery: $136,620––Project will include the restoration of native habitat and reduction of invasive species impacts at Benedict Farm Park and Riverfront Park through phased removal, replanting, and long-term stewardship. 

• Village of Walden: $11,000––Project will focus on rapid response efforts to control approximately 0.4 acres of Japanese knotweed at Micky Millspaugh Park. 

Putnam County  

• National Audubon Society: $25,613––Project will focus on the eradication of common reed in Constitution Marsh and Ramshorn-Livingston Audubon sanctuaries. 

Ulster County 

• New York City Department of Environmental Protection: $56,000––Project will research and investigate the effective control and prevention of mile-a-minute in Napanoch. 

• Town of Shawangunk: $27,915––Project will include the execution of baseline survey and mapping services to identify invasive species on the Shawangunk-Wallkill Rail Trail, Shawangunk Highway Department Garage, Galeville Park, and Verkeerderkill Park. 

Westchester County 

• Bedford Audubon Society: $40,819––Project will focus on controlling invasive vegetation at targeted sites and reestablishing diverse native plant communities.  

• Friends of Kensico Cemetery: $230,000––Project will include invasive species management and reforestation actions to restore a degraded wetland and stream habitat in the central portion of Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla.  

• Pace University: $55,685––Project will focus on studying the relationship between forest decline and the spread of invasive plants and examine the influence of hemlock wooly adelgid and beech leaf disease on the establishment of newly introduced invasive species.  

• Village of Mount Kisco: $250,000––Project will focus on restoring a high-priority ecological area along a segment of the Kisco River within Leonard Park, which is heavily impacted by invasive species, including multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, Japanese stiltgrass, Asiatic bittersweet, and mugwort.  

• Westchester Parks Foundation: $173,561––Project will fund the purchase of an aquatic Eco-Harvester and trailer that will be used at parks to address water chestnut and Eurasian milfoil infestations. 

MOHAWK VALLEY

Fulton County 

• Town of Caroga: $65,000––Project will help expand a regional hot pressure washer decontamination and inspection program to help prevent the spread of AIS present in area lakes.  

Oneida County 

• Town of Forestport: $45,000––Project will provide staffing for a seasonal Aquatic Invasive Species and Decontamination Station.  

Otsego County 

• Canadarago Lake Association: $100,000––Project will provide staff for the Canadarago Lake Steward program for two years, ensuring boaters do not spread AIS.  

MULTI-COUNTY 

• New York New Jersey Trail Conference: $157,820––Project will leverage the conservation detection dog methodology to search for high-priority invasive species in the Lower Hudson Valley.  

NEW YORK CITY 

Bronx County 

• Bronx River Alliance: $247,500––Project will focus on detection, response and control of fumewort in the Bronx River Forest. 

• The New York Botanical Garden: $64,587––Project will focus on analyzing spatial and temporal trends in invasion success across stages of the invasion process, leveraging the cultivated and natural landscapes of the New York Botanical Garden. 

• Woodlawn Conservancy: $61,884––Project will focus on removing invasive trees, shrubs, and vines from nine plots of the Woodlawn Cemetery. 

Kings County 

• The Green-Wood Cemetery: $25,940––Project will focus on combating beech leaf disease through a three-year root zone inoculation program. 

Queens County 

• Rockaway Waterfront Alliance: $100,000––Project will train and provide seasonal employment for 30 local low-income residents, ages 18-55, who will take part in manual invasive plant removal and long-term monitoring of a 5-acre stretch of upland dunes. 

• Udalls Cove Preservation Committee Inc.: $125,000––Project will help eliminate or dramatically reduce several invasive species that dominate this site. The area will be replanted using appropriate indigenous trees, shrubs, and groundcover. 

NORTH COUNTRY 

Essex County 

• Paradox Lake Association: $112,491––Project will utilize boat stewards for a spread prevention initiative targeting the region's highest risk entry points for AIS.  

Franklin County 

• Town of Tupper Lake: $75,000––Project will involve treating terrestrial invasive plants, primarily Japanese knotweed, at more than 130 sites on private properties in the Adirondacks. 

• Upper Saranac Lake Foundation: $81,026––Project will focus on re-establishing native submerged aquatic vegetation in Follensby Pond to restore ecological function, stabilize sediment, and increase resiliency to protect against re-infestation by invasive macrophytes.  

• Upper Saranac Lake Foundation: $61,496––Project will advance the Upper Saranac Foundation's ongoing efforts to remove, control, and prevent the spread of Eurasian and variable-leaf watermilfoil within DEC’s Fish Creek Public Campground.  

Jefferson County 

• City of Watertown: $80,000––Project will involve continued invasive species control in conjunction with the restoration of site habitats by planting tree and shrub seedlings and wildflower seeds.  

SOUTHERN TIER

Tioga County 

• Tioga County Soil & Water Conservation District: $207,650––Project will restore 64.37 acres of degraded riparian and upland forest in New York’s Chesapeake Bay watershed by coordinating new plantings on 9.3 acres and providing adaptive management, including invasive species control and replanting, on an additional 53.37 acres.  

WESTERN NY 

Erie County 

• The Research Foundation for the State of New York at Buffalo State Comprehensive College: $105,332 ––Project will focus on isolating attraction compounds used by male red swamp crayfish to improve trapping success.  

• Village of Williamsville: $30,000––Project will map and control tree-of-heaven as a proactive measure to help prevent the establishment of spotted lanternfly in Glen Park.  

Chautauqua County 

• Chautauqua Lake Partnership Inc.: $42,813––Project will focus on evaluating potential ecological trends and thresholds to inform optimized management strategies for invasive species at Chautauqua Lake.  

Niagara County 

• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc: $70,172––Project will restore more than 1,500 linear feet of shoreline and 2.3 acres of riparian and upland habitat by removing invasive species and replanting with native shrubs and plants along Tonawanda Creek.  

The grants announced today are supported by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Hochul’s 2026–27 Executive Budget proposes a record $425 million for the EPF, a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. 

The Invasive Species Grant Program is administered by the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health in DEC's Division of Lands and Forests. For more information, please visit DEC's website.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Calls for Transparency From Companies Regarding Affordability Concerns

 

Actions Focus on Risks Related to Surveillance Pricing, "Buy Now, Pay Later" Loans, and Use of AI in Health Care Coverage Decisions

The New York State Common Retirement Fund has filed shareholder proposals with portfolio companies from credit card issuers to health care providers, to challenge business practices that may impact shareholder value, hurt consumers, and raise affordability concerns, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, trustee of the Fund, announced today.

“Consumers are being squeezed financially and that, in turn, is threatening long term shareholder value,” DiNapoli said. “The affordability crisis is very real. We are actively tackling risks around problematic practices ranging from predatory pricing to the improper denial of health care coverage. As an investor, we need to know how companies in the Fund’s portfolio are addressing these issues and what they are doing to protect the public and their own business interests.”

DiNapoli’s actions come when affordability issues are under heightened scrutiny from regulators, policymakers, the media and the public. Certain business practices that may adversely affect affordability may expose companies to various regulatory, financial, legal, and reputational risks.

Surveillance Pricing

DiNapoli filed shareholder proposals requesting a surveillance pricing transparency report with credit card companies American Express Co. and Mastercard Inc. Both proposals were withdrawn following productive engagements in which the companies clarified that they did not offer surveillance pricing products or services. DiNapoli also wrote to Visa Inc., the second largest credit card issuer, and Capital One Financial Corp., owner of the Discover credit card network, about surveillance pricing. Capital One stated that it does not use surveillance pricing either. The Fund is awaiting Visa’s response.

Surveillance pricing is the practice of using individualized consumer data (such as identity, credit history, or browsing history) to charge different prices to  customers for the same product. This largely opaque practice may create business, regulatory, legal, and reputational risks for companies that engage in it. The current FTC chairman in voicing his concern noted that the data used in surveillance pricing includes “some of our most intimate details — our identities, interests, locations, credit histories, medical conditions, sexual interests, and religious and political views.”

State attorneys general and federal and state regulators are scrutinizing this practice due to concerns that it may negatively impact the markets and harm consumers. New York state recently enacted a law requiring disclosure to a consumer if a price was set by an algorithm using their personal data.

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’

In January, DiNapoli wrote to PayPal Holdings Inc., Affirm Holdings Inc., Block Inc. and Sezzle Inc. regarding their management of potential regulatory, operational, consumer and financial risks related to their offering of short-term installment lending products and services, also known as “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL).

According to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, growth in the BNPL industry is being driven disproportionately by young consumers and borrowers with low or no credit scores. Market analysts have identified consumer overspending across multiple issuers, and high delinquency and default rates as areas of particular concern. Since most BNPL loans are not reported to credit bureaus, they may result in “phantom debt” that can lead lenders to extend credit without knowledge of borrowers’ full existing liability.

Use of AI in Health Care Decisions

DiNapoli also filed shareholder proposals with insurance companies Humana Inc. and The Cigna Group, calling on them to prepare transparency reports that summarize what oversight their boards are exercising over the use of AI and algorithms in making prior authorization determinations, claims reviews, care management processes, and other decisions.

A recent study found that nearly 40% of insured adults received a bill for a service they thought was covered but fewer than half had challenged an unexpected bill. At a time when AI is increasingly used by insurance companies to review claims, a January poll found that a third of insured adults experienced a negative financial impact due to a prior authorization denial or delay, with 15% saying it had a “major financial impact.”

According to a 2024 study by the American Medical Association, 61% of physicians report that they are concerned that augmented intelligence “increases or will increase prior authorization denial rates.” An advisory group to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners called on commissioners to take “urgent action to protect patients from discrimination and harm arising from the use of AI in coverage decisions.”

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States and has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation

MAYOR MAMDANI ADVANCES NEW YORK CITY’S FIRST FREE CHILD CARE PROGRAM PILOT FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS

 

Approximately 40 children ages 6 weeks to 3 years will receive free, year-round childcare 8 AM to 6 PM Monday - Friday 

 

All City workers based out of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building are now eligible in addition to all DCAS employees regardless of work location

 

Applications will launch on April 30; Program will kick off this fall following the completion of $10 million renovation of 4,000-square-foot facility  

Today, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Yume Kitasei announced that the City’s first free, on-site child care pilot program for City workers will open applications on April 30, 2026.

Under Mayor Mamdani, the program has been expanded to include all City workers based at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street in addition to all DCAS employees regardless of work location. The Municipal Building, one of the largest government office buildings in the world, houses more than 2,000 employees across a dozen municipal agencies.

The program will operate on the ground floor of the building’s North Tower and provide year-round care Mondays through Fridays from 8 AM to 6 PM. The $10 million renovation is underway to construct a 4,000-square-foot child care facility, with completion expected this fall.

The brand-new center will serve approximately 40 children ages 6 weeks to 3 years and offer an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to support early learning, socialization and growth.

By expanding access to free, on-site child care, the City is putting upwards of $20,000 a year back in the pockets of working families. The program is also expected to improve the retention of top talent, boost productivity and strengthen job satisfaction among working parents.

“Change begins at home. As we deliver universal child care to New Yorkers, that work must include the public servants who keep this city running,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We are bringing year-round, no-cost child care right here to Lower Manhattan — not just saving families money, but giving them back hours of their time. No parent should have to spend hours commuting just to ensure their child is safe and cared for.”

“As Mayor Mamdani has made clear, every family in New York City has a right to childcare, and that includes the families of the public workers who serve this city every day,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This program will provide free, full-day, on-site care, helping children get a strong start while easing the burden on working parents.”

“At DCAS, we are focused on transforming our workplace for the future, namely, how can we make life more affordable, ease burdens and foster a more supportive workplace for our staff,” said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. “We see this project as an answer to these questions — that by meeting workers where they are and providing on-site, free childcare, you will have City workers who are less stressed, healthier and better able to serve New Yorkers. We hope this will be transformative for the people that work here at 1 Centre Street, and we can’t wait to open this center in the fall.”

Applications will open on April 30, 2026. To be eligible, employees must:  

• Be a full-time DCAS employee regardless of work location or a full-time City employee who is assigned to 1 Centre Street.   
• Be a parent or legal guardian of a child between the ages of 6 weeks (as of Sept. 1, 2026) and 3 years old (as of Dec. 31, 2026).    

Families may submit one application per child. Full eligibility details will be available on the DCAS website when applications open.

Selected participants will be notified in June. Families not selected will be placed on a waitlist and contacted if space becomes available.

Design and construction of the facility are being managed in house by DCAS, with a target opening date this fall. The program will be operated by a contracted child care provider, to be announced later this spring.

“This new on-site child care center at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building is a smart investment in our workforce and in the families who serve New Yorkers every day,” said Department of Finance Commissioner Richard Lee. “By expanding this pilot to serve all City employees working in the building and making it free of charge, we are putting real money back into the pockets of working parents. Just as important, we are creating a supportive, high-quality early learning environment steps from the workplace. This initiative will reinforce our commitment to making City service a place where talented public servants can build both their careers and their families.”

As part of the City's commitment to universal child care, and with funding from Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City will launch an initial 2,000 2-K seats this fall. Earlier this month, Mayor Mamdani announced more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in high-demand neighborhoods and launched 2,000 free 2-K seats across four communities.

The City will continue expanding 3-K capacity for fall 2026 through additional partnerships with community-based and home-based providers. 

COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces four settlements.

 

Misuse of City Position. A Principal at the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) interviewed his daughter, who lived with him, for a college counselor position at his school. Another candidate was selected for the position, but, after the chosen candidate resigned, the Principal hired his daughter without consulting any other DOE employees or conducting any additional interviews. The Principal supervised his daughter’s DOE employment for five months. In a three-way settlement with the Board and DOE, the Principal agreed to pay a $7,500 fine to the Board. The Disposition is attached as “COIB-DOE Disposition (1).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Prohibited Compensation. A Students in Temporary Housing Regional Manager for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) entered into an unauthorized agreement with the State University of New York at Farmingdale (“SUNY Farmingdale”) through which he received $6,400 in “coordinator fees” for work he routinely performed in his DOE capacity. In a three-way settlement with the Board and DOE, the Regional Manager agreed to pay a $6,000 fine to the Board. In setting the penalty at slightly less than the value of the impermissible coordinator fees the Regional Manager received, the Board considered that the Regional Manager may have been eligible for, but did not seek, per-session pay from DOE for some of his SUNY Farmingdale work. The Disposition is attached as “COIB-DOE Disposition (2).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Misuse of City Personnel; Prohibited Superior-Subordinate Financial Relationships. A Supervisor of Caretakers at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) solicited and received 17 loans totaling $740 from her NYCHA subordinates. The Supervisor of Caretakers also had one of those subordinates visit an illegal bookmaker to place bets on her behalf during the subordinate’s NYCHA work hours. To resolve these violations, the Supervisor of Caretakers agreed to pay a $4,500 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (NYCHA).”

 

Misuse of City Position. An Assistant Commissioner with the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) accepted a pair of UGG boots as a birthday gift from her DOC subordinates. After the Assistant Commissioner was served a Notice of Initial Determination of Probable Cause by the Board concerning her acceptance of the boots, the Assistant Commissioner reimbursed three of her DOC subordinates toward the boots’ cost. To resolve her violation, the Assistant Commissioner paid a $600 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOC).”

COIB is the independent, non-mayoral City agency charged with interpreting, administering, and enforcing the City's Conflicts of Interest Law, Annual Disclosure Law, Lobbyist Gift Law, Affiliated Not-for-Profits Law, and Legal Defense Trusts Law.