Last week (June 28 – July 4)
Shut down: Mayor Mamdani permanently closed a Rikers jail facility — The North Infirmary Command, plus large portions of two other detention centers, have been removed from Department of Correction control – the first closures of their kind in five years. The Renewable Rikers Act (2021) requires regular review of the island for closures – an obligation former mayor Adams ignored for his entire term.
Safety stats: NYC records fewest-ever shootings and murders for the first half-year — NYPD data for the first six months of 2026 showed murders down 24.7%, burglaries 15.8%, robberies 12%, and shootings down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. Mamdani credited the city’s “whole-of-government” approach, and the NYPD “for all they have done to make our city so safe.”
Passed: New York City’s $125.8B annual budget — Mayor Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin agreed on a balanced $125.8 billion budget ($1.1B larger than the mayor’s May proposal) and the Council approved it. Notable investments: $137M in new funding for immigrant legal services, $125M for a new rental assistance program, $54M to expand the Fair Fares program, and $53M for NYC Kids Rise – giving every public and charter school kindergartener a $1,000 college savings account.
And other news — Mamdani delivered a Fourth of July address marking America’s 250th, speaking from City Hall alongside newly naturalized citizens. • The pied-à-terre surcharge officially took effect, increasing tax on high-value homes that are not the owner’s “primary residence.” • The city expanded outreach to protect New Yorkers from losing healthcare after federal disinvestment.
Get involved
Tell the city how to fix itself. Mayor Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) is taking public input before deciding what goes on the November ballot. If you have ideas for making city government work better, join one of the remaining hearings: Wednesday, July 8, 5 p.m. in Manhattan, or Monday, July 13, 5 p.m. in Queens.
Independent reads
The administration is investing in gender-affirming care for trans youth. As larger hospital systems retreat under federal pressure, Erin Reed considers what this announcement delivers — and what it doesn’t:
On June 25, tenants won the first two-year rent freeze in New York City history. For The Indypendent, this is the view from inside the room — the organizers who packed hearings for months, celebrating as the Rent Guidelines Board delivered it:
Mamdani Bulletin tracks what the administration delivers — and what it doesn't. Subscribe for a free weekly digest of the administration’s actions or join @MamdaniBulletin on Instagram.