New York Note: POWER Act, AI Hearing, Council Legislation, Mayoral Appointment

October 12, 2026

Mayor and City Council Introduce POWER Act

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to introduce the People and Organizations Winning Economic Relief (POWER) Act (Int. 1105-2026), legislation that would establish a municipal private right of action allowing consumers, workers, tenants, small businesses, and certain nonprofit organizations to bring claims involving alleged unfair methods of competition and unfair, abusive, deceptive, or unlawful business practices. The legislation would significantly expand enforcement beyond existing state consumer protection laws and allow prevailing plaintiffs to recover damages, injunctive relief, statutory penalties, and attorneys’ fees. The bill was introduced in the New York City Council on October 8, 2026, by Council Member Harvey Epstein, Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, on the Mayor’s behalf. The POWER Act remains pending before the City Council and must advance through the legislative process before becoming law.

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NYC Council Hearing on Artificial Intelligence Risks and Regulation

On October 5th, the City Council convened a Committee of the Whole oversight hearing on artificial intelligence, bringing together executives from OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Anthropic, former AI researchers and whistleblowers, administration officials, and outside experts to discuss AI safety, transparency, workforce impacts, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory oversight. Members also examined a package of proposed legislation addressing AI safety standards, independent model validation, whistleblower protections, disclosure requirements, private rights of action, and emergency response planning, while administration officials outlined the City’s efforts to implement new AI oversight laws through the Office of Algorithmic Accountability and other agencies.

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the New York City Council passed several measures, including legislation to support small businesses impacted by City construction projects, study barriers to participation in early elementary gifted and talented programs, and create a centralized database for towed vehicles. The Council also adopted resolutions declaring October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month and designating Little Yemen as a cultural district. All passed and introduced legislation is available here.

Mamdani Appoints Christopher Watler Chair of Board of Correction

Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Christopher Watler, executive vice president of the Center for Employment Opportunities, as chair of the Board of Correction, the independent body responsible for overseeing the City’s jail system. Watler has led reentry and diversion initiatives at the Center for Employment Opportunities and previously spent more than two decades at the Center for Justice Innovation, where he helped develop reentry, diversion, and housing court programs. He will succeed interim chair Felipe Franco, who will remain a member of the board, as the administration continues efforts to improve jail conditions and advance the closure of Rikers Island.

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