A delivery worker in the snow in New York City on Sunday.Milo Hess/ZUMA

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Friday that his administration has secured a more than $5 million settlement with three delivery app companies. The money, which includes both backpay and civil penalties, will go to nearly 50,000 delivery workers who Uber Eats, Fantuan, and HungryPanda underpaid in 2023 and 2024. 

As part of the new deal, Mamdani said that Uber has also agreed to reinstate up to 10,000 workers who were wrongfully deactivated. 

Mamdani made the announcement at a Long Island City food hall flanked by delivery workers. I spoke to the mayor briefly before the event and asked how he sees the settlement as supporting his affordability agenda.

“We have to lower costs to make this a more affordable city,” Mamdani said. “We also have to ensure that New Yorkers are earning what they’re owed. And the law, for far too long, especially when it comes to delivery workers, has been considered to be a suggestion as opposed to a requirement.”

During the interview, I also asked Mamdani about what he believes the city can do to........

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