Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection meeting
February 23, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held an oversight hearing on enforcement of the city's Consumer Protection Law, and heard Int 0177-2026, which would establish a student loan financial counseling program, and Int 0410-2026, which would require certain retail stores to accept flexible benefit cards.
What was discussed
- Chair Epstein and Council Member Riley open the hearing Chairperson Harvey Epstein opened the virtual Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection oversight hearing on enforcement of the Consumer Protection Law, plus his Intro. 177 (student-loan counseling) and Intro. 410. Council Member Kevin Riley described his Intro. 410, the 'Flex Benefits for All'
- DCWP on Consumer Protection Law enforcement and the two bills Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) testified that the agency has 'turbocharged' enforcement—filing major lawsuits over junk fees and stolen wages, returning over $5 million to delivery workers, and cracking down on hotel junk fees and gym cancellation traps. He said DCWP supports Intro. 177's
- How does DCWP intake and prioritize the roughly 27,000 complaints it receives each year? Asked by Chairperson Epstein, Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) said the agency received about 27,000 complaints in both 2024 and 2025 through 311, its website, and Council offices—accepted anonymously and in a dozen-plus languages regardless of immigration status. General Counsel Michael Tiger
- How is enforcement distributed, and how are mom-and-pop businesses protected from unfair penalties? Asked by Council Member Chris Banks, Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) said DCWP issued about 17,000 summonses in 2025 and referred roughly 3,000 complaints to inspection (yielding about 1,200 summonses). Levine and Deputy Commissioner Carlos Ortiz (DCWP) described the education-focused VIP
- Is DCWP tackling unposted prices, senior scams, and burdensome small-business fines? Council Member Gale Brewer pressed on several fronts. Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) said failure to post prices is the number-two grocery violation and is pursued proactively (1,700+ grocery inspections since November), acknowledged more must be done to publicize paid sick leave, and said
- What will DCWP do about rideshare surge pricing and surveillance pricing? Asked by Council Member Chi Ossé about rideshare price discrepancies, Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) said personalized, ever-changing 'black box' pricing is spreading beyond rideshare to grocery and other sectors, and identified two distinct practices—dynamic pricing and 'surveillance pricing'
- How will DCWP reach vulnerable communities, and how much restitution has it secured? Chairperson Epstein asked about language access and outcomes. Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) said research shows non-English speakers, lower-income people, and people of color file fewer complaints, so DCWP aims for two community events a day citywide. Deputy Commissioner Carlos Ortiz (DCWP) said
- How would Intro. 177 and Intro. 410 work in practice? Commissioner Samuel Levine (DCWP) told Chairperson Epstein that Intro. 177 would help coordinate and 'turbocharge' the agency's existing student-loan counseling for the 1-1.4 million New Yorkers carrying student debt. On Intro. 410, he said DCWP has received no formal complaints but agrees flex
- Legal-services advocates urge a privately enforceable UDAP law and back Intro. 177 Carolyn Coffey (Mobilization for Justice) called for a strong, privately enforceable city ban on unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices (UDAP), saying New York's catch-all law ranks behind 42 states. Winston Berkman-Breen (Protect Borrowers) said federal retreat by the FTC and CFPB leaves New
- Why is a private right of action needed alongside DCWP enforcement? Asked by Chairperson Epstein why a private right of action matters now, Carolyn Coffey (Mobilization for Justice) said regulators have limited resources and individuals must be empowered to bring or threaten cases. Winston Berkman-Breen (Protect Borrowers) added that New Yorkers' rights shouldn't
- Business groups on enforcement fairness and Intro. 410's costs Jessica Walker (Manhattan Chamber of Commerce) said 62% of resolved DCWP charges end in default judgments and urged text/email hearing notices, permanent right-to-cure provisions, and either funding or a small-business exemption for Intro. 410, noting flex-card hardware and fees can run
- Consumer advocates urge modernizing New York City's consumer law Christine Hines (National Association of Consumer Advocates) said the state's updated law still lacks a private right of action and urged the city to add one. Chuck Bell (Consumer Reports) said New York City's law, largely unchanged since 1980, lags every neighboring state and urged stronger
- Legal practitioners on housing, lending, and the private-right-of-action gap Joseph Rebella (Legal Aid Society) said the CPL only reaches deceptive conduct, missing unfair practices like unauthorized mortgage convenience fees that exploit homeowners' lack of choice. Benjamin Wolf, a consumer-fraud attorney, said New York's weak laws force him to turn away clients he could
- Testimony on Intro. 410 implementation and delivery-worker concerns Andrew Winakor (ProHealth Connect) said his platform offers a virtually cost-free way for independent retailers to accept OTC and grocery benefits, countering cost concerns raised about Intro. 410 and calling it a rare chance to level the playing field with big-box chains. Christopher Leon Johnson
Agenda
3 items
- T2026-0996 Oversight - Enforcement of the Consumer Protection Law. Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0177-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a student loan financial counseling program Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0410-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring certain retail stores to accept flexible benefit cards Hearing Held by Committee