Mamdani Answers: Free Tax Prep Launch, Sanctuary Cities & Mental Health Response
Mayor Mamdani opens the Free Tax Prep Season (0:15) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Gouverneur.
He starts by addressing the city’s response to a 12-day cold snap (0:24), detailing efforts by outreach teams to bring vulnerable and homeless New Yorkers into shelters (0:35-0:45).
He also praises DSNY workers for clearing over 52,000 crosswalks, 11,000 fire hydrants, and 17,000 bus stops (1:15-1:21), melting 150 million pounds of snow, and laying 200 million pounds of salt (1:26-1:32).
The core of the event focuses on the NYC Free Tax Prep program (3:30), designed to alleviate the “nagging dread” many New Yorkers feel about tax season (2:49). The program aims to help working people file taxes for free, retain their full earnings, and avoid predatory fees (3:37-3:45).
- Eligibility and Impact: Nearly half of all New Yorkers are eligible (3:47), specifically families earning up to $97,000 or individuals up to $68,000 in 2025 (3:51). Last year, the program saved New Yorkers $38.2 million across 110,000 returns, an average of $346 per return (4:00-4:06). This money helps households afford groceries, pay bills, and make rent (4:13-4:18).
- Accessibility: There are over 140 locations (4:21) across the city offering year-round tax assistance, including at NYC Health + Hospitals sites (4:26). This integration acknowledges that financial counseling positively impacts overall health outcomes (4:31-4:39). New Yorkers can find more information and sign up at nyc.gov/taxprep (4:41-4:45). The program also offers specialized tax prep for self-employed individuals and small businesses, including gig workers and freelancers (12:08-12:26).
The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) (5:19) is launching an aggressive citywide enforcement program (6:02) to crack down on exorbitant charges and deceptive practices by paid tax preparers (5:52). This initiative builds on previous efforts to protect working families from junk fees and subscription traps (5:25-5:43). The DCWP will inspect in-person tax preparation locations and issue warnings to stop unfair fees and sketchy loans (6:04-6:14). Commissioner Sam Lavine highlights that the typical New Yorker pays about $377 in fees to file taxes (8:03), a “shadow tax hike” that the free program aims to eliminate (8:29-8:31). He emphasizes that while the DCWP will ensure those who pay to file are not ripped off, using free services is the best way to avoid being exploited (11:51-12:00).
Dr. Nicola Davis, Chief Population Health Officer, reinforces the connection between financial health and overall well-being, noting that financial stress can lead to anxiety, sleepless nights, and increased risk of heart disease (13:59-14:11). She explains that by offering free tax prep services at health system sites, they are treating financial insecurity as a public health priority (15:00-15:07). The program has expanded from a single site in 2018 to 15 locations across the health system (15:12-15:26). In 2025, Health and Hospitals and MetroPlus Health tax prep sites served nearly 3,500 New Yorkers, securing millions in refunds (16:32-16:44).
Jessica Pra, a tax preparer with four years of experience, shares how clients are often surprised that the service is free and expresses pride in making a difference in the community (17:58-18:34). Council member Harvey Epstein echoes the sentiment of financial stress among New Yorkers (18:59) and praises the city’s leadership in expanding this program to help low-income individuals access earned income tax credits and avoid hidden fees (19:13-19:59).
During the Q&A, Mayor Mamdani addresses various topics:
- Program’s History: He acknowledges the program’s origins under the previous administration but emphasizes the current administration’s commitment to expanding its reach to the nearly half of New Yorkers eligible (21:04-22:15).
- Bank Accounts: He explains that the city also helps New Yorkers set up bank accounts (23:21) and offers options for receiving checks even with the phasing out of paper checks for refunds (23:29-23:44).
- Sanctuary City Policies: The Mayor firmly states that the city’s values and laws are “not bargaining chips” and that sanctuary policies keep New Yorkers safe, defending them as essential regardless of birthplace (24:07-24:50).
- Budget Gap: He reaffirms his support for former controller Brad Lander, stating that while the city’s fiscal challenges were publicly cited, the previous City Hall had not acknowledged them (25:07-25:42).
- Mental Health Response: Responding to questions about a recent police incident, the Mayor states that Chavez needs mental health treatment, not criminal prosecution, and that the situation highlights the urgent need for a Department of Community Safety (26:02-26:50). He confirms that bodycam footage of the incident will be released later today (27:00-27:12). He clarifies that while policy options like co-response models with behavioral health specialists and peer experts are being explored, NYPD will be on the scene in violent situations involving weapons (27:34-28:05). The Mayor stresses that the current response system is not setting the city up for success and deeply needs to be changed (29:32-29:40).
Mayor Mamdani answers questions during the Q&A session towards the end of the video, starting around 20:55.
He addresses questions on several topics, including:
- The origins and expansion of the Free Tax Prep program (21:04)
- Assistance for New Yorkers without bank accounts (23:11)
- The city’s stance on sanctuary city policies (23:50)
- The $12 billion budget gap (25:07)
- The police incident involving Chavez and the need for a Department of Community Safety (26:02)
Sources: NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune news
