DCWP - Partners - Advocacy

Consumer and Worker Protection


Financial EmpowermentResearchAdvocacy


Advocacy

DCWP advocates for policies and legislation that protect and enhance the daily economic lives of New Yorkers. Read DCWP testimonies, comments, and letters below.

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2025

02.11.25
Hearing on Consumer Financial Experiences in the Retail Industry and Introductions 374, 1049 and 1097
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01.21.25
Hearing on Introductions 780 and 1081 - Worker Protections
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2024

12.09.24
Hearing on Introductions 1135 and 1133 - Minimum Pay Rate Expansion
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11.19.24
Hearing on Introduction 888 and 901
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10.09.24
Hearing on Introduction 991
Read testimony

09.27.24
Oversight Hearing on For-Hire Vehicles, Commuter Vans, and Other TLC Licensees
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09.25.24
Hearing on Introduction 865
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06.21.24
Hearing on Introductions 30-A, 715, 737, 738, 762, 859, and 972
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04.17.24
Oversight Hearing on Fair Workweek Law
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03.20.24
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Budget
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02.29.24
Oversight Hearing on Fair Lending Practices
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01.31.24
Hearing on Micromobility and Street Vending
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2023

12.13.23
Hearing on Street Vending in New York City
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10.23.23
Hearing on E-Bikes and Introductions 819, 822, 998, 1163, 1168, and 1220
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09.11.23
Docket No: CFPB–2023–0038: Request for Information Regarding Medical Payment Products
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09.11.23
Docket No: ED-2023-OPE-0123: Notice of Proposed Rule Making/Student Debt Relief
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06.20.23
Hearing on Safe and Sick Time and Introductions 78, 563, and 617
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04.19.23
Docket No: CFPB–2023–OPE-0009: Request for Information Regarding Consumer Credit Card Market
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03.29.23
Hearing on Introductions 813 (Delivery Fee Caps), 818 (Temporary Schedule Change Law), and 891 (Games of Chance)
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03.22.23
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget
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02.24.23
Hearing on Introduction 8, relating to the disclosure of service fee charges for tickets to entertainment events in NYC
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02.10.23
Request for Comment regarding Improving Income-Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Read comments

01.30.23
Hearing on Introductions 491 and 815
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2022

11.17.22
Hearing on Student Debt as Barriers to Generational Wealth and Introductions 366 and 621
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11.14.22
Hearing on E-Bikes and Lithium-ion Battery Fire Safety and Introductions 656, 663, 722, 749, and 752
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10.20.22
Hearing on Secondhand Auto Dealers and Theft Prevention & Introduction 525
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09.19.22
Hearing on Introductions 613 and 640, related to penalties for violations of the Fair Workweek Law and trainings for certain fast food workers
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09.12.22
Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule—Rulemaking, No. P204800
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View Exhibit B
View Exhibit C

09.06.22
Hearing on Introduction 175, related to maximum working hours for home care aides
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08.05.22
Letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Regarding the Community Reinvestment Act Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Docket ID OCC-2022-0002
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06.30.22
Hearing on Con Edison Rate Increases and Introduction 372
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06.21.22
Hearing on Pregnancy Services Centers and Introduction 506
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03.28.22
Hearing on Consumer Protections during COVID-19
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03.15.22
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2023 Preliminary Budget
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02.23.22
Oversight Hearing on How to Strengthen Workers’ Rights in NYC
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2021

11.30.21
Hearing on Introduction 2325: Right to Recall for Displaced Workers
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11.16.21
Hearing on Introduction 2448: COVID-19 Child Vaccination Time
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11.08.21
Testimony Before the City of Albuquerque Committee on Finance and Government Operations
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09.24.21
Request for Information Regarding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
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09.15.21
Hearing on Introductions 499 (Allowing Corporations and Other Entities to Obtain Licenses to Operate Newsstands), 508 and 974 (Non-compete Requirements and Disclosures in Employment Advertisements), 2318 (Licensing Labor Service Providers), and 2397 (Severance Pay for Hotel Employees)
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07.01.21
Letter to U.S. Department of Education on Proposed rule, Intent to establish negotiated rulemaking committees. Docket ID ED-2021-OPE-0077
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06.08.21
Hearing on Protections for Delivery Workers and Introductions 2163, 2288, 2289, 2294, 2296, 2298, 2311
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04.21.21
Letter to U.S. Department of Education regarding Student Loan Debt
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04.19.21
Hearing on Employment Agencies and other Labor Placement Agencies
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03.16.21
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2022 Preliminary Budget
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03.01.21
Hearing on Introductions 2233 and 2234: Civil Penalties, Cures, and Waivers
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02.08.21
Oversight Hearing on the Office of Financial Empowerment
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2020

11.23.20
Hearing on Language Access and Emergency Preparedness and Introduction 63
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11.20.20
Hearing on Workplace Safety in the COVID-19 Era and Introductions 1797 and 2161
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09.30.20
Hearing on Int. 2096-2020, relating to temporary operating letters for sidewalk café license applicants, and Preconsidered Introduction 6677, relating to sidewalk café plan drawings
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09.14.20
Response to U.S. Department of Labor's Request for Information; Paid Leave RIN 1290-ZA03
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09.10.20
Hearing on Introductions 2032 and 2049, relating to the City’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law and the hotel industry
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05.05.20
Remote Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on Workers in New York City and Introductions 1918, 1923, 1926, a Preconsidered Introduction, and Resolution 1285
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04.29.20
Remote Hearing on The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses in New York City and Introductions 1846, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1907, 1908-A, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1932, a Preconsidered Introduction, and Resolution 1049
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03.29.20
Paid Family and Medical Leave Provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
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03.06.20
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2021 Preliminary Budget
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02.13.20
New York City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor Hearing on Introductions 1415 and 1396 (relating to wrongful discharge from employment and fast food employee layoffs, respectively)
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01.28.20
Federal Interest Rate Authority RIN 3064-AF21
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01.21.20
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Permissible Interest on Loans That Are Sold, Assigned, or Otherwise Transferred, Docket ID OCC–2019–0027
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2019

12.16.19
NYC Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor jointly with Committee on Transportation Hearing on Intro 946-A-2018, related to prohibiting on-call scheduling for utility safety workers and providing these workers advance notice of work schedules
Read testimony

12.16.19
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing Hearing on Intro 1622-2019, legislation to modernize the agency's landmark Consumer Protection Law, and Intro 1609-2019, officially renaming the agency to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
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11.18.19
Committee on Civial and Human Rights on Hearing on Intro No 339-2018 on expansion of the City Human Rights Law to cover domestic workers
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10.07.19
Joint Committee of Technology, Housing & Buildings, and Consumer Affairs & Business Licensing Hearing on Int. No. 1170-2018, related to requiring commercial establishments to notify customers of their use of biometric identifier technology
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10.02.19
New York City Council Committee on Immigration Hearing on Introductions 1706-2019, related to prohibiting a smart chip in the New York City identity card
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09.24.19
Department of Homeless Services Proposed Rule: Income Savings Plan Program for DHS Shelter Residents with Earned Income
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09.18.19
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Re: Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F) Docket No. CFPB-2019-0022;RIN 3170-AA41
Read letter

07.01.19
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Re: Overdraft Rule Review Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Docket No. CFPB-2019-0023
Read letter

06.27.19
New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings Hearing on Introduction 1499-2019 (A bill that would prohibit charging a fee for obtaining a tenant screening report for a unit the landlord or broker should know is not available for rent, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.)
Read testimony

06.25.19
U.S. Department of Labor Re: Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, RIN: 1235AA26
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05.28.19
New York City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor Hearing on Introduction 800-A-2018 (A bill that requires employers to provide paid personal time to New York City workers)
Read testimony

05.13.19
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Re: Payday, Vehicle Title and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans, RIN 3170-AA80
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02.14.19
New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing Hearing on Introductions 1023-2018 & 1281-2018, related to cashless payment policies at retail and food service establishments
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02.12.19
Joint Legislative Public Hearing on 2019-2020 Executive Budget Proposal: Economic Development
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01.17.19
New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing Hearing on Right to Disconnect
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2018

12.18.18
New York State Assembly Standing Committees on Labor and Judiciary Hearing on Wage Theft in New York State
Read testimony

11.27.18
New York State Assembly Committees on Banks and Consumer Affairs and Protection for the Hearing on Practices of the Student Loan Industry
Read testimony

11.16.18
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) entitled “Reforming the Community Reinvestment Act Regulatory Framework”
Read NYC comments

11.13.18
New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing Hearing on Introduction 930-2018, a bill that would require the operator of a place of entertainment or its agent to disclose service fees, along with the price of a ticket on advertising and promotional materials
Read testimony

11.05.18
New York State Department of Financial Services proposed amendments to sections 28, 33, and 66 of title 11 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations, which would regulate the bail bond industry
Read comments

10.25.18
NYC Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing - Hearing on Introduction 52-2018
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09.27.18
Hearing on Oversight of Gas Stations in New York City, and Introduction 164-2018
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09.17.18
Westchester County Committees on Budget & Appropriations, Labor & Housing, and Legislation Hearing on Article III Chapter 700 Providing Paid Sick Leave for Certain Employees
Read testimony

09.13.18
Letter to U.S. Department of Education regarding Docket ID ED-2018-OPE-0042, Program Integrity: Gainful Employment
Read letter

08.30.18
Letter to U.S. Department of Education regarding Docket ID ED-2018-OPE-0027, Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Read letter

08.13.18
Letter to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding File Code CMS-2413-P; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Medicaid Program; Reassignment of Medical Provider Claims
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07.24.18
Statement to the United States House Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Hearing on H.R. 4219, "Workflex in the 21st Century Act"
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07.24.18
Statement to the United States Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Families on Hearing on "Examining the Importance of Paid Family Leave for American Working Families"
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07.10.18
Letter to the New York State Department of Labor on Proposed Rule on Hours Worked, 24-hour shifts
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07.03.18
Letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Request for Information Regarding Bureau Financial Education Programs
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06.29.18
Letter to the New York State Department of Labor on Eliminating the Subminimum Wage for Tipped Workers
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06.21.18
Hearing on Introductions 823, 936, and 965. Testimony on Intro 823 Related to Restaurant Surcharges
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06.04.18
Letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Docket No. CFPB-2018-0006, Request for Information Regarding Bureau Public Reporting Practices of Consumer Complaint Information
Read letter

05.21.18
Letter to the U.S. Department of Education on Docket ID ED-2017-OPE-0085, Request for Information on Evaluating Undue Hardship Claims in Adversary Actions Seeking Student Loan Discharge in Bankruptcy Proceedings
Read letter

05.02.18
Hearing on Introductions 510-A and 724, Regarding For-Profit Bail Bonds
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04.24.18
Hearing on Introductions 289, 723, 725, & 727 Regarding Sightseeing Buses
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04.23.18
Letter to FTC about September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Imposter Scam
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03.09.18
Hearing on Fiscal Year 2019 Preliminary Budget
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01.22.18
Letter to the New York State Department of Labor on Proposed Rule: Employee Scheduling (Call-In Pay) (I.D. No. LAB-47-17-00011-P)
Read letter

2017

12.27.17
Letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the Draft Menu Labeling Supplemental Guidance for Industry (Docket No. FDA-2011-F-0172)
Read letter

12.19.17
Hearing on Workplace Leave Policies: Opportunities and Challenges for Employers and Working Families
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11.16.17
Letter to the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) on Registration Requirements and Prohibited Practices for Credit Reporting Agencies, Proposed 23 NYCRR 201
Read letter

11.15.17
Tow Truck Industry Compliance Report Covering 10/1/2016 – 9/30/2017
Download report

11.15.17
Hearing on Oversight Enforcement of Local Law 17, and the Regulation of Pregnancy Services Centers
Read testimony

09.25.17
Letter to U.S. Department of Labor on Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees, RIN 1235-AA20
Read letter

09.15.17
NYC Policy Panel Testimony before the NYS Public Service Commission on Energy Service Companies
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09.08.17
Letter to Equifax on Data Breach
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05.24.17
Re: H.R. 10, The Financial CHOICE Act of 2017
Read letter

05.22.17
Hearing on Online Lending
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04.27.17
Hearing on Introductions 1131-A, 1471, 1532, 1544 and 1547 in Relation to Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Licensing and Enforcement and Other Tobacco Product Price Floors
Read testimony

04.26.17
Hearing on Introductions 1539-A & 1540 in Relation to Financing by Secondhand Automobile Dealers
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04.25.17
Public Hearing on the State of Workers' Rights in New York City
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Read transcript
Read press release

04.24.17
Hearing on Introductions 1499, 1501, 1507, 1508, 1515, 1516, 1521, and 1526, in Relation to Penalty Mitigation Programs
Read testimony

04.19.17
Hearing on Labor Movement in New York City after President Trump, Resolutions 5820 and 5862
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04.17.17
U.S. Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Duty Rule
Read comments

02.14.17
Hearing on Oversight of Regulation of the Towing Industry and Introduction 1173 in Relation to Increasing Maximum Towing Fees
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01.12.17
Introduction 1406, Regarding Nonbank ATMs
Read testimony

2016

11.17.16
Introduction 746-A, Regarding Immigration Assistance Service Providers
Read testimony

10.26.16
Introductions 72, 78, 432, 1061, 1299, and 1303 Regarding Vending
Read testimony

10.07.16
Proposed Rule on Payday, Vehicle, Title and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans
Read DCA's letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

09.26.16
Introductions 529-A, 713-A & 950 Regarding Sightseeing Buses
Read testimony

09.15.16
The City University of New York Murphy Institute 2016 State of the Unions Report
Read testimony

06.27.16
Introduction 59/2014 Relating to the Sale and Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Read testimony

06.16.16
Introductions 1085-A, 1086-A, and 1087-A Regarding Consumer Protection Outreach and Education for Women, Seniors, and Immigrants
Read testimony

05.04.16
Hearing on Introduction 467-A: In Relation to the Registration of Costumed Individuals Engaged in Solicitation
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04.12.16
RIN 1235--AA13, Proposed Department of Labor (Wage and Hour Division) Rules on Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors
Read letter

04.12.16
Hearing on Introduction 1149: In Relation to the Licensing of Ticket Sellers
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03.21.16
2016 Preliminary Budget Hearing
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View presentation

03.18.16
Forum on the Internal Revenue Service’s “Future State” Plan
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02.22.16
Hearing on Introduction 1006: In Relation to Repealing Licensure of Operators of Motion-Picture Projecting Machines
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01.14.16
Hearing on Introduction 803-A: Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products
Read testimony

2015

10.26.15
Hearing on Intro. 928: Regarding the Ban on Personal Care Products that Contain Microbeads
Read testimony

09.08.15
Hearing on Intro. 850: Regarding the Use of Air Conditioning Systems
Read testimony

06.18.15
Hearing on Intro. 697: The City Laundry Equity and Accountability Act
Read testimony

05.15.15
Unsafe Working Conditions for Nail Salon Workers
Read DCA's letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

05.12.15
Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetic Products
Read DCA's letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

04.29.15
Hearing on Introduction 682: Tenant Relocation Specialists and Agencies
Read testimony

04.22.15
Hearing on an Examination of Predatory Lending Practices in the Subprime Auto Loan Industry
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04.20.15
Intro. 743 (Establishing Office of Labor Standards) and Intro. 197 (Employer Cannot Retaliate Against Employee Who Discloses His/Her Wages)
Read testimony

04.14.15
Intro. 726 (Business Education Days) and Intro. 729 (Reporting Dismissed Violations)
Read testimony

04.13.15
A.2320, Act to Amend Law in Relation to the Labeling of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages with Warnings
Read testimony

03.06.15
Fiscal Year 2016 Preliminary Budget Hearing
Read testimony

02.24.15
Introduction 586 (Gas Station Road Signs)
Read testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs

02.09.15
Education and Outreach on Financial Literacy for Young Adults
Read testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs

2014

12.15.14
Investigation of Toxic Chemicals in Children's Products
Read press release "NYC DCA Commissioner Julie Menin Urges Federal Government to Investigate Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products," including DCA’s full petition and Senator Gillibrand’s letter to the CPSC

11.25.14
Alternatives to High-Cost Financial Products
Read testimony before the New York State Assembly's Standing Committee on Banks and the Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities

11.24.14
Toxic Chemicals in Toys
Read DCA's letter to the Toy Industry Association (TIA)

11.24.14
Payday Lending and Other Forms of High-cost Credit
Read DCA's letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

11.14.14
Data Breaches' Impact on Consumers and the Availability and Sufficiency of State Resources Available to Consumers
Read testimony before the New York State Assembly's Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

11.10.14
Limitations on Terms of Consumer Credit Extended to Service Members and Dependents
Read joint letter by DCA and Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs (MOVA) to the U.S. Department of Defense

10.29.14
Earned Sick Time Act (Paid Sick Leave Law): Implementation and Business Education
Read testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Small Business and Consumer Affairs

10.28.14
Used Car Sales in New York City: Ensuring Consumer Protections and Safety in the Sale of Used Vehicles Recalled by the Manufacturer
Read testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs

09.18.14
Price Displays at Gas Stations in New York City and on Introduction 287 (Gas Station Road Signs)
Read testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Consumer Affairs

08.15.14
Proposed New York State Rules on Debt Collection Practices
Read comments to the New York State Department of Financial Services