Business Coalition Launches Multi-Million Dollar Campaign Against Last-Mile Delivery Bill

A significant pushback is forming against a proposed New York City Council bill that would impose new licensing requirements on last-mile delivery facilities. Intro. 518, sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, would mandate that operators of certain warehouse and storage sites obtain a license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Opponents of the measure, including major logistics firms like Amazon and FedEx, have mobilized a substantial financial effort to block the legislation. Recent campaign finance disclosures indicate that approximately $5.5 million has been raised to support the opposition, which includes the Five Borough Jobs Campaign and the New York Delivers Coalition. This coalition, representing a mix of delivery service partners, workers, and small business owners, has reportedly sent 3,700 letters to Council members expressing their concerns.

Critics of the bill argue that the regulatory framework could have unintended negative consequences for the city's economy. A spokesperson for the New York Delivers campaign suggested that the legislation puts 10,000 jobs at risk, asserting that the impact would be felt most acutely by local small business owners and the delivery workers themselves, rather than just large corporations.

Bashar Yazgi, owner of Logistics Xpress, emphasized the potential disruption to the existing delivery network, which he described as a vital connection for city communities. Yazgi argued that the proposed changes could undermine the economic stability of small business owners who have built their operations within the city’s current logistics framework.

Proponents of the bill have framed the licensing requirement as a necessary step for oversight of the rapidly expanding network of neighborhood-based distribution centers. However, the opposition maintains that the current proposal fails to account for the reliance of many New Yorkers on the efficient delivery of essential goods.

As of late July 2026, the legislation remains a point of contention within the Council. Council Member Cabán has not yet provided a formal response to the concerns raised by the coalition. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between city efforts to regulate the logistics industry and the business interests that maintain the city's supply chain.