Arizona Addiction Treatment Clinic Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Leadership Role in $69M Medicaid Fraud Scheme

 

A Phoenix woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison in connection with her role in fraudulently billing Arizona’s Medicaid agency more than $69 million in less than one year for addiction treatment therapy. Many of the patients the defendant used to fuel her scheme were Native Americans covered by Arizona Medicaid under a specific program that reimbursed at higher rates than other Medicaid programs. In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay almost $55 million in restitution, and to forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts she controlled and almost $7 million in real estate properties. 

“The Fraud Division is determined to hold accountable individuals who exploit the Medicaid system and Native American health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence sends a clear message — if you take advantage of vulnerable populations to steal from the American taxpayer, you will pay the price.” 

“Ms. Anagho’s scheme manipulated a program that was intended to help Native Americans in Arizona,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “The fourteen-year sentence that she received is a sign of how serious and damaging health care fraud is to our society, and how important it is that we stop individuals who undermine the value of these programs.”

“The FBI will investigate and hold those who target, defraud, and exploit our healthcare programs accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Phoenix Field Office “We will continue to work with our partners to stop imposters like Ms. Anagho in their tracks and bring them to justice.”

“Medicaid funds exist to support some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals. Exploiting this program for personal gain steals taxpayer dollars and undermines a critical safety net relied on by millions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who defraud Medicaid and ensure they are held fully accountable.”

According to court documents, Rita Ntusa Anagho, 54, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic, LLC (Tusa), an addiction treatment center that fraudulently billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) over $69 million from approximately May 2022 through March 2023. AHCCCS paid Tusa approximately $54.9 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.

Anagho, a licensed nurse practitioner, coordinated and carried out this massive health care fraud scheme by exploiting vulnerable substance abuse treatment patients. Anagho enrolled patients whose health care coverage was provided by the AHCCCS in her fraudulent clinic, Tusa. Indeed, Anagho and her co-conspirators deliberately targeted AHCCCS patients who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program (AIHP) fee-for-service plan available to Native Americans. Anagho and her co-conspirators often deliberately sought such patients because the AIHP provided higher reimbursement rates than other AHCCCS health care plans. Anagho orchestrated this scheme to defraud AHCCCS by submitting false claims for purported addiction treatment services that were either not provided at all or not provided as billed. In addition, Anagho and her co-conspirators paid illegal kickbacks to owners of numerous area sober homes for patients who were referred to her clinic. Anagho and others falsified the treatment notes and records related to the purported addiction treatment services to conceal the scheme. Anagho then laundered the proceeds of her fraud and obstructed the investigation of her crimes by instructing her former employees to create fake medical records when Tusa received a subpoena for documents.

In May 2025, Anagho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. 

FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. 

Assistant Deputy Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona assisted with forfeiture matters.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Announces Sale of NY's First ESG GO Bonds Series 2026A Tax-Exempt and 2026B Taxable (Sustainability Bonds)

 

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the sale of New York State General Obligation (GO) Bonds totaling $318.9 million through competitive sale. This is the first time the State’s GO bonds have been issued with an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) designation. Specifically, two series of bonds were sold consisting of $259,415,000 of Series 2026A Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sustainability Bonds), and $59,460,000 of Series 2026B Taxable Bonds (Sustainability Bonds). 

The net proceeds from the sale will finance projects authorized by various bond acts. The bonds are scheduled to be delivered on September 30, 2026.

“These bonds, all of which have been approved by the voters, will pay for essential investments in transportation, education and environmental projects,” DiNapoli said. “The ESG designation as Sustainability Bonds demonstrates the State’s commitment to progress by financing projects for environmental and social issues. Strong market interest was generated by the safety and rarity of the NYS GO credit, translating into favorable pricing for the state.”

The winning bids were as follows:

• Series 2026A Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sustainability Bonds) to BofA Securities, Inc. with a true interest cost bid of 4.283207%;
• Series 2026B Taxable Bonds (Sustainability Bonds) to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association with a true interest cost bid of 4.888999%;

The state received 7 legitimate bids for the $259.4 million of Series 2026A Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sustainability Bonds). The net proceeds of the tax-exempt bonds will finance projects authorized by the following bond acts: Environmental Quality (1972), Clean Water/Clean Air (1996), Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation (2005), Smart Schools (2014), and Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs (2022). The Series 2026A Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sustainability Bonds) will mature over fifteen years, 2032 through 2046.

The state received a total of 10 legitimate bids for the $59.5 million of Series 2026B Taxable Bonds (Sustainability Bonds). The net proceeds of the taxable bonds will finance projects authorized by the following bond acts: Environmental Quality (1986), Clean Water/Clean Air (1996), Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation (2005), Smart Schools (2014), and Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs (2022). The Series 2026B Taxable Bonds (Sustainability Bonds) will mature over six years, 2027 through 2032.

A summary of bids received for each series can be viewed here:

https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/press/pdf/nysgo-2026ab-sustainablility-bonds-bid-summary.pdf

The Series 2026A Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sustainability Bonds), and the Series 2026B Taxable Bonds (Sustainability Bonds) are rated AA+ by S&P Global Ratings, Aa1 by Moody’s Ratings, AA+ by Fitch Ratings and AA+ by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATALLY STABBING MAN DURING STREET FIGHT

 

Defendant also Stabbed the Victim’s Partner

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree Manslaughter for stabbing another man to death during a street altercation. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant stabbed two people, causing the death of a man beloved by his family. This defendant’s actions have devastated the victim’s loved ones, causing deep emotional wounds. I hope they take some comfort in knowing he will now spend more than a decade in prison.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Ira Shane, 56, of the Bronx, was sentenced September 15, 2026, to 12 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Giyang An. On June 26, 2026, the defendant was convicted by a jury of first-degree Manslaughter. 

According to the facts brought out at trial, at approximately 2 a.m. on January 1, 2023, in front of 1335 College Avenue, the victim, Sergio Garcia, was engaged in a verbal dispute with his partner. Bystanders with no connection to Garcia and his partner began to film the argument with their cellphones. This led to an altercation between Garcia, his partner, and the people filming. During that dispute, the defendant stabbed both the victim and his partner. Despite his injuries, Garcia drove himself and his partner to the hospital, however, Garcia died a short time later.

District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detective Edwin Vega of the 47th Precinct, Detective Felix Arana of Bronx Warrants and retired Detective Collin Higgins of Bronx Homicide for their work in the case.  

Mayor Mamdani Reappoints Doug Lipari as Executive Director of NYC Talent

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the reappointment of Doug Lipari as Executive Director of the Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent), where he will lead the City’s efforts to build an inclusive economy anchored in good jobs for New Yorkers.

NYC Talent will center workers, support high-road employers, strengthen service delivery and expand access to civil service careers through public investment, data-driven strategies and deeper interagency collaboration.

Lipari joined NYC Talent in 2023 to launch Community Hiring, an initiative that uses the City’s purchasing power to create pathways to good-paying jobs and union apprenticeships for low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents and working-class communities. Community Hiring requires City contractors to meet workforce goals as part of their contracts.

Lipari also leads the City’s negotiations of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), which cover several billion dollars in City construction projects. The agreements help control costs, ensure workers receive fair wages and benefits and create pathways to union construction careers.

Lipari brings more than a decade of City government experience in procurement, labor compliance and workforce development. He began his career as a labor analyst at the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks), where he helped ensure City contractors paid workers fair wages. He later served as Deputy General Counsel of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and as the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Community Hiring.

“Doug has spent years making sure that when the City spends money, New Yorkers get something back – good jobs, fair wages and real pathways into economic security,” said Mayor Mamdani. “He built Community Hiring from the ground up and has helped negotiate Project Labor Agreements that put workers at the center of our investments. I’m proud to have Doug leading NYC Talent as we build an economy where every New Yorker has a fair shot at a good job and a good life.”

"Workforce development is about connecting New Yorkers to good jobs,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “At a time when national economic headwinds are putting pressure on working people, our City’s growth will be powered by the incredible talent and determination of New Yorkers across the five boroughs. We have the tools -- Project Labor Agreements, Community Hiring, apprenticeship programs, our educational institutions, and partnerships with employers and with unions -- to make sure every New Yorker has a pathway to economic mobility. Doug understands that strong labor standards and workforce programs must lead not just to a job search, but to an actual good job."

“An affordable New York City starts with making sure New Yorkers can access good jobs, grow in their careers, and afford to thrive in the neighborhoods they call home,” said NYC Talent Executive Director Doug Lipari. “I am honored to serve New Yorkers under the leadership of Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Su. I look forward to ensuring we have a workforce system that delivers for New Yorkers and drives economic mobility across our city.”

ABOUT DOUG LIPARI

Doug Lipari has served as Executive Director of NYC Talent since August 2025. He leads negotiations of the City’s PLAs, pre-hire collective bargaining agreements between construction unions and the City that establish terms and conditions of employment for construction projects. The City’s PLAs cover several billion dollars in capital construction, control costs, ensure union workers receive fair wages and benefits, and create pathways into the unionized construction sector.

Lipari also served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Community Hiring, which he launched within NYC Talent. Community Hiring uses the City’s purchasing power to connect vendors with jobseekers by requiring City agencies to include workforce goals in procurement contracts. Vendors must provide employment and apprenticeship opportunities to low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents.

Before that, Lipari served as Deputy General Counsel of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. He began his career at the Department of Parks and Recreation as a labor analyst, where he worked to ensure contractors paid workers fairly.

Lipari holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duquesne University and a Juris Doctor from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Dr. Dave A. Chokshi to the NYC Board of Health

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Dr. Dave Ashok Chokshi to the New York City Board of Health. The City Council approved the appointment Sept. 10. Dr. Chokshi will serve the remainder of a six-year term expiring May 31, 2030.

Dr. Chokshi is a practicing physician at Bellevue Hospital and previously served as New York City’s 43rd health commissioner and Chair of the Board of Health. He is currently Sternberg Family Professor and Founding Director of the Health & Opportunity Leadership Institute (HOLI) at the City College of New York and Chair of the Common Health Coalition.

“Dr. Dave Chokshi has dedicated his career to caring for patients and protecting public health,” said Mayor Mamdani. “As New York City’s Health Commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped lead our city through one of the greatest public health crises in our history, from expanding access to testing and treatment to vaccinating millions of New Yorkers. I am proud to welcome him back to the Board of Health, where his experience and commitment to public service will help us build a healthier city for every New Yorker.”

"Dr. Dave Chokshi represents what public service looks like when it is grounded in a deep commitment to the health and well-being of New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “I had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Chokshi during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and saw firsthand his dedication, thoughtfulness and leadership. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the Board of Health.”

“It is an honor to welcome Dr. Dave A. Chokshi back to the New York City Board of Health,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin. “As a practicing physician and former public health official who served as the 43rd Commissioner for the New York City Health Department, Dr. Chokshi will bring decades of experience at the city, state, and federal levels. Most notably, he led the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its historic campaign to vaccinate over 6 million New Yorkers, saving tens of thousands of lives.”

“It has been a privilege to serve our City in various roles over more than a decade now, and I look forward to the chance to do so again through the Board of Health,” said Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “The Board of Health is an historic institution, safeguarding New Yorkers for over two centuries. From scourges like smallpox and cholera to present-day diseases like cancer and COVID-19, the Board has been at the forefront of public health.”

About Dr. Dave A. Chokshi

Dave Ashok Chokshi, MD, MSc is the Sternberg Family Professor and Founding Director of the Health & Opportunity Leadership Institute (HOLI) at the City College of New York. He is also Chair of the Common Health Coalition and Co-Chair of the Health and Political Economy Project, and a Senior Scholar at the CUNY School of Public Health.

Dr. Chokshi previously served as New York City’s 43rd Health Commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the City’s vaccination campaign and helping shape its testing and treatment strategies. He also helped navigate school and economic reopenings and served as a principal public spokesperson for the City’s pandemic response. During his tenure, the Health Department launched signature initiatives focused on overdose prevention, community health workers and nurse visits for new moms and babies. As Chair of the Board of Health, he led the adoption of a landmark resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.

From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Chokshi held leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals, including serving as its inaugural Chief Population Health Officer. He also served as CEO of the H+H Accountable Care Organization (ACO).

Earlier in his career, Dr. Chokshi, was appointed by President Barack Obama as a White House Fellow at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he served as principal health adviser in the Office of the Secretary.

Dr. Chokshi has cared for patients at Bellevue Hospital since 2014, with his current clinical practice focused on people experiencing homelessness. He trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and was a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School. During his training, he conducted clinical work in Guatemala, Peru, Botswana, Ghana and India. He received his MD with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction from the University of Pennsylvania, an MSc in global public health as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University.

About the NYC Board of Health

The New York City Board of Health is an 11-member board appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. Members serve six-year terms and represent a broad range of health and medical disciplines.

The Board oversees the New York City Health Code and has enacted measures to protect and improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers, including provisions addressing lead paint and tuberculosis control. In 2026, the Board also adopted a resolution condemning federal attacks on public health insurance coverage.

ICE HSI Arrests Mexican Alien for Illegally Voting in Past Elections

The suspect became a Lawful Permanent Resident under the Obama Administration 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a Mexican alien administratively charged with voter fraud after voting in past elections.

On September 3, HSI El Paso arrested Ludwig Uriel Espejo-Carrillo, an alien from Mexico, and administratively charged him with unlawful voting and false claim to U.S. citizenship after illegally voting in American elections in 2015. Espejo-Carrillo will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Ludwig Uriel Espejo-Carrillo

“This alien from Mexico has been charged with unlawful voting and false claims to U.S. citizenship after illegally voting in American elections in 2015,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “This is what a threat to our republic looks like. We cannot and will not allow the votes of American citizens to be cancelled out by non-citizens illegally voting in our elections. Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE, this criminal will be deported from the United States.”

Espejo-Carrillo became a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) under the Obama Administration in July 2013.

Mayor Mamdani Announces More Than 16 Million People Visited New York City Beaches and Pools This Summer

 

More than 15 million people visited New York City beaches, nearly double last year’s total

 

More than 1,100 lifeguards kept New Yorkers safe, the most since 2019

 

2026 beach season lasted 114 days for the first time in more than a decade

 

Free summer Learn to Swim classes expanded to 18 pools, and Adult Lap Swim expanded to 11 pools 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today celebrated a successful summer at New York City beaches and pools. Highlights include:

• More than 15 million people visited the city’s beaches — nearly double last year’s total of 8 million visitors — and more than one million New Yorkers cooled off at outdoor pools.
• Free Learn to Swim classes expanded from 10 to 18 pools, with 10,500 New Yorkers ages 18 months to 17 years participating.
• Popular Adult Lap Swim program grew from five to 11 pools, available five days a week.
• More than 1,100 lifeguards worked to keep swimmers safe this summer, the most since 2019. This included 287 new recruits and a 79% retention rate for lifeguards returning from last year. 
• The historic lifeguard count follows the Mayor’s promotional video which received 4.16 million views across platforms. 
• Lifeguards conducted more than 200 beach and pool rescues throughout the summer, ensuring the safety of millions of attendees. No drownings occurred this summer during lifeguarded hours.
• The City reopened the 140,000-square-foot Orchard Beach Pavilion in the Bronx following a $114 million reconstruction project.
• This year, beach season lasted 114 days for the first time in a decade.

“What’s better than a beach day in New York City? 114 of them,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This summer, New Yorkers and visitors came together across 14 miles of sandy coastline to swim, cool off and enjoy the city’s beaches. And when they weren’t at the beach, they were taking classes, swimming laps and making the most of our expanded pool programs. None of that happens without the people who make our parks work every day. I want to thank our Parks workers — especially our 1,100 lifeguards — for making sure New Yorkers had a safe place to soak in the sun and celebrate another beautiful summer in the city.”

“Summer is NYC Parks’ time to shine, and we delivered for New Yorkers this year by safely welcoming more than 16 million people to our beaches and outdoor pools, reopening an iconic beach pavilion in the Bronx and expanding our summer swim programming,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We know how vital our public pools and beaches are for providing relief from increasingly high temperatures and teaching kids important water safety skills, so we were thrilled to expand our free summer Learn to Swim classes and know that visitors were protected by the highest number of lifeguards we’ve had in seven years. I’m so proud of the Parks staff — lifeguards, recreation staff, Parks Enforcement Patrol, maintenance and operations workers and many others — who worked hard to make summer fun a reality for New Yorkers.”

Parks beaches and Olympic- and intermediate-sized outdoor pools officially closed for the season on Sunday, September 13. Swimming is no longer permitted at public beaches as lifeguards are not on duty.

New York City Council Calls for Court to Dismiss Mamdani Administration’s Paraprofessional Lawsuit

 

Council argues consistent mayoral administration inaction has created a crisis requiring a legislative remedy

Today, the New York City Council filed its legal response to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s lawsuit challenging the validity of Local Law 129 of 2026 and seeking to prevent the City’s paraprofessionals from receiving emergency workforce stabilization payments. In its filing, the Council calls on the Court to decline to hear the Mayor’s lawsuit or declare that Local Law 129 is valid and not preempted by state Taylor Law. The filing argues that the current and previous mayoral administrations’ failure to address the ongoing paraprofessional workforce crisis necessitated the need for the Council to take legislative action. It also outlines how Local Law 129 represents the narrow, tailored exercise of the Council’s legislative authority allowed by the Taylor Law and Education Law.

The Council’s legal filing can be found here:

Memorandum of Law

“For years, New York City has faced a severe shortage of paraprofessionals that has left some of our most vulnerable students without the services they are legally entitled to receive,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “The Council acted because this crisis demanded action. Our legislation was passed unanimously by the Council and provides a narrow, temporary workforce stabilization payment to address this emergency while fully preserving the collective bargaining process. We are confident in the Council’s authority to enact this law and will vigorously defend it so that our paraprofessionals receive the support they deserve and our students have the professionals they need in their classrooms.”

“We have a crisis in the classroom,” said Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers. “The UFT surveyed schools at the start of this school year and found thousands of paraprofessional vacancies. Unfilled positions are left empty or filled with a rotation of substitutes, which does not provide consistency for high-need students. Instead of solving this crisis we are fighting it in court. Make this make sense.”

On July 17, the Council unanimously passed Local Law 129, sponsored by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, which would require the Department of Education (DOE) to provide a workforce stabilization payment, totaling up to $10,000, to each eligible school paraprofessional for work performed during the 2026-2027 school year. The workforce stabilization payment would be prorated according to the number of days an eligible school paraprofessional was on payroll in the relevant payment period during the 2026-2027 school year. It would be paid in four separate installments. As of March 2026, there were over 1,000 paraprofessional vacancies. This crisis has led to students with disabilities not receiving their legally mandated services, contributing to the $1.5 billion the City most recently allocated towards due process cases.

Excerpts from the Memorandum of Law:

“In the face of this educational and fiscal emergency, the Mayor asserts he has the exclusive power to end this crisis, through collective bargaining. But he hasn’t made it happen. He has not addressed the crisis by bargaining, nor by honoring his campaign promise to provide paras a ‘$10,000 bonus’ via local law. Instead, he has filed this legal challenge to Local Law 129, hoping that the Court will give him legal and political cover for his failure to address the problem.”

“It is well-settled that courts may decline to issue a declaration where, as here, (1) the underlying problem is one of plaintiffs’ own creation; (2) the plaintiffs could address the problem but have failed to do so; or (3) available administrative remedies have not been pursued. Any of those shortcomings is sufficient to warrant dismissal of the Complaint without issuance of a declaration.”

“In their Complaint, Plaintiffs contend that (1) the Taylor Law requires the ‘terms and conditions of employment’ to be collectively bargained by the executive branch in all instances, and (2) Local Law 129 sets the ‘terms and conditions’ of paraprofessionals’ employment without bargaining. 

“The Mayor’s contrary reading of the Taylor Law finds no support in the law’s text, history, or precedent. The Mayor’s core textual argument hinges, counterintuitively, on the ‘definitions’ section of the Taylor Law. But nothing about these ‘definitions’ requires action or allocates responsibility or authority; they merely define terms used elsewhere in the law. 

The definition of ‘agreement’ states that it is ‘negotiated’ by the chief executive. No one disputes that. But it says nothing about the scope, let alone the exclusivity of executive authority, the role of other actors, or what steps local legislative bodies may take outside of the bargaining process to help workers. The Mayor’s misplaced reliance on the law’s ‘definitions’ is insufficient to overcome the heavy presumption against preemption.”

“Notably, the Mayor, through his press office’s statements about this litigation, correctly highlights that the Taylor Law’s collective bargaining regime is meant to protect workers, not mayors: he defends collective bargaining as a key tool for workers to ‘fight for the workplace they deserve.’ The Mayor’s framing in the press correctly reflects the structure of the Taylor Law, which helps workers by giving them a right to bargain while burdening public employers with a bargaining requirement. In this lawsuit, though, the Mayor takes a different tack—he tries to turn the Taylor Law’s worker-protection rules upside down, into mayor-protection rules. That logical leap finds no support in the Taylor Law’s text or history, as detailed above.”