Amazon Spends $5 Million to Block New York City Bill on Direct Employment

Amazon has made its largest-ever New York state lobbying spend to fight a bill requiring it to directly employ delivery drivers, pouring $5 million into a front group.

The Delivery Protection Act, sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Caban (D-Queens), would license last-mile delivery facilities and force operators like Amazon to directly hire workers rather than route them through third-party contractors.

A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed the bill, stating that corporations like Amazon 'build billion-dollar business models by insulating themselves from accountability'.

The front group, New York Delivers, was funded 97% by Amazon and advertised its opposition to the bill through ads.