Amazon warns city-wide delivery rule could add $664 to NYC household bills
Amazon says a council proposal that forces delivery firms to employ workers directly would raise annual costs for New York City households by $664.
Councilmember Tiffany Cabán’s Intro 0518, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, seeks to prohibit large shippers like Amazon from using subcontractors for final-mile deliveries, requiring direct employment of delivery staff. Amazon contends the legislation would force its facilities farther from customers, inflating per-route expenses and raising each New York City household’s delivery bill by $664 annually, according to a study commissioned by the Five Borough Jobs Campaign and performed by AKRF.
The company warns that more than 40 delivery partners and over 5,000 workers could be jeopardized, and that service speed may fall by up to 21 percent. Small-business groups such as the New York Delivers Coalition argue the rule threatens independent operators that employ local workers. Amazon says it remains committed to New York City and is evaluating options, including moving operations to New Jersey, Long Island or Westchester. Neither the council, Councilmember Cabán nor the mayor’s office have responded to requests for comment.
Why it matters
The dispute could reshape how millions of New Yorkers receive online orders and affect thousands of local delivery jobs.
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