New York, NY – On August 20, 2026, Mayor Mandani held a press conference at New York City Hall to discuss plans his administration is taking to combat wage theft and fraud in the Big Apple.
At this press conference I attended along with our LaborPress news team, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine announced a new partnership to combat wage theft, tenant harassment and fraud. Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), DCWP and the Manhattan D.A.’s Office will coordinate more closely on investigations and enforcement, including by sharing information, data and investigative strategies. The goal is to work more efficiently in cracking down on unlawful practices and holding accountable those who harm workers in New York.
“If someone steals your wages, harasses you out of your home or scams you because of your immigration status, that’s a crime, and we’re going after it like one. DCWP and the Manhattan D.A.’s Office are now sharing files, sharing leads, and moving together,” saidMayor Mamdani. “New Yorkers who do the right thing and go to work every day deserve a city that has their back.”
“One of my top priorities as District Attorney is taking on bad actors that target vulnerable Manhattanites through wage theft, scams, tenant harassment, and more. By partnering with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, we will be better equipped to ensure accountability through efficient, effective criminal and civil proceedings.” said District Attorney Bragg.
“This partnership allows New York City to work smarter and better to deliver economic justice faster,” said Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “By sharing data, strategy, and a three-pronged focus on some of New York’s most vulnerable communities, DCWP and the D.A.’s office are well-positioned to achieve swift accountability and real economic relief.”
Under the MOU, the Manhattan D.A.’s Office and DCWP will share information, including confidential material, to further investigations and cases, consistent with applicable law. DCWP has long referred matters to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for criminal review. This partnership strengthens that referral process and adds information-sharing that will allow both agencies to act more efficiently to protect New Yorkers. The offices will also host boroughwide outreach events with local labor, consumer protection and immigration organizations to raise awareness of New Yorkers’ consumer and worker rights.
New Yorkers who believe their worker or consumer rights have been violated should file a complaint immediately at nyc.gov/dcwp.
