Amazon's chief lobbyist, Jessica Schumer, who is the daughter of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), is opposing the Delivery Protection Act recently endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This bill aims to establish safety, training, and labor standards for delivery drivers in New York City. It would require all delivery facilities and service providers to be licensed by the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and would prevent companies from subcontracting deliveries to third parties.
If passed, the legislation would require Amazon to directly employ delivery workers in New York City, which would hold the company accountable for various labor standards and safety violations. The bill has garnered support from 35 out of 51 city council members. However, Amazon has been actively lobbying against the bill, arguing that it would negatively impact small businesses that operate as delivery service providers (DSPs) and suggesting that it may relocate its warehouses out of New York City if the bill is enacted.
Jessica Schumer has been leading Amazon's lobbying efforts against the bill, which has reportedly seen increased spending from the company compared to previous lobbying efforts. Critics of Amazon's DSP model argue that it deprives workers of benefits and contributes to unsafe working conditions. The bill's supporters claim that the DSP model has led to increased traffic injuries in New York City. Amazon has also brought in DSP workers to testify against the bill, providing them with incentives to attend hearings.