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The New York City Council has successfully overridden several vetoes by Mayor Eric Adams, marking a significant step in advancing worker protections and criminal justice reform. On Wednesday, the Council voted to enact laws that provide minimum pay and protections for grocery delivery workers and repeal excessive criminal penalties for street vendors.
The legislation includes Introduction 1133-A and Introduction 1135-A, which extend existing wage and workplace protections to grocery delivery workers. According to the New York City Council, these laws aim to ensure fair pay and safety standards for delivery workers, a sector that has rapidly expanded in recent years. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez criticized Mayor Adams' veto, stating, "For a mayor who claims to champion working-class New Yorkers, vetoing 1133 and 1135 is more than disappointing — it’s a betrayal."
In addition to worker protections, the Council also advanced the closure of Rikers Island, and established a permanent program to provide legal aid to domestic violence survivors in divorce proceedings. The Rikers Island legislation, based on recommendations from the Independent Rikers Commission, mandates clinical assessments for those in custody and requires a mayoral office dedicated to the jail's closure.