New York Note: Q-Team Expansion, New WCB Leadership, NYC ICE Ruling, Rivera Leaving NYCC, Council Legislation

NYPD Expands Quality of Life “Q-Teams” to Queens

Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the expansion of the NYPD’s Quality of Life Division “Q-Teams” across all of Queens. The initiative aims to address everyday issues that affect New Yorkers’ sense of safety and wellbeing, including abandoned vehicles, illegal e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, encampments, and noise complaints. Since April, six pilot commands have been launched, reducing non-emergency response times by an average of 47 minutes citywide, while towing 701 vehicles and seizing 318 illegal bikes and scooters. Building on the success of the pilot programs, the NYPD has expanded Q-Teams to Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and now Queens, with Staten Island slated for August 18.

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Governor Hochul Appoints New Leadership at Workers’ Compensation Board

Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Freida D. Foster as Chair of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), succeeding Clarissa M. Rodriguez, who stepped down as Chair in July but will remain on the Board. Foster, a Board member since 2009 and Vice Chair since 2016, has played a key role in modernizing the agency, overseeing appeals, and implementing Paid Family Leave. In addition, Renee Delgado will now serve as Vice Chair of the WCB. Appointed to the Board in 2022, Delgado is an experienced labor attorney who previously worked at the New York State Public Employees Federation and held legal roles at the Department of Labor, SUNY, and as a district attorney. Both appointees pledged to advance the Board’s mission of protecting workers’ rights while ensuring fair treatment for employers.

Judge Orders ICE to Improve Conditions at Manhattan Facility

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order this week instructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve conditions at its detention facility in New York City. The facility at 26 Federal Plaza is meant to function as a short-term processing site for about 26 people, but detainees reported being held for days or weeks in overcrowded cells intended for daytime use, often sleeping on the floor near toilets. The lawsuit, brought by immigrant and civil rights groups, cited poor conditions including extreme temperatures, inadequate meals, the smell of sewage, and limited access to lawyers. Judge Lewis Kaplan said there was a “serious threat of continuing irreparable injury,” ordered ICE to provide detainees with hygiene products, sleeping mats, bottled water, medical access, and confidential attorney calls, and noted the plaintiffs “clearly have a high likelihood of success” based on the current record. A follow-up hearing is set for September 3, where a longer-term injunction could be considered.

NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera to Lead Affordable Housing Association

NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera announced she is resigning from the Council to become president and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH). Rivera has represented a Manhattan district covering the East Village since 2018, and her resignation comes just months before she was set to be term-limited out.

Since joining the Council, Rivera has become a notable figure in city politics, including an unsuccessful bid for speaker in 2021 and a congressional run in 2022, where she finished fourth in the Democratic primary. Rivera will succeed Jolie Milstein, who is retiring after more than a decade leading NYSAFAH. Her departure means her Council seat will likely remain vacant until January, when Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, who won the June primary for District 2, is expected to take office.

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated Meeting, where they passed and introduced legislation. Among the measures introduced was Int. 1364 (Restler), which requires the director of management and budget to issue monthly public reports on all federal funding received and used by the City, its agencies, and nonprofit partners. The Council also introduced Int. 1368 (Salamanca), creating new paid bereavement leave for employees who lose a family member to a firearm-related death, ensuring the time is separate from existing sick and safe leave. In addition, Int. 1369 (Schulman) was introduced, granting employees up to five hours of annual paid leave for preventive medical screenings such as check-ups and routine care. Together, these bills reflect the Council’s focus on transparency, worker protections, and access to preventive health care. You can find all of the bills that were passed and introduced here.

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