New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fresh criticism after taking credit for a reported $104 million increase in delivery worker tips that critics say was made possible by legislation enacted before he took office and will likely only exacerbate cost of living issues in the city.

The criticism comes after Mamdani declared at a Wednesday press conference and in a social media post that: «We’ve put $104 million back in delivery workers’ pockets,» citing changes to Uber Eats’ and DoorDash’s apps that made tipping more prominent.

«This is only the beginning,» Mamdani wrote.

Those changes stem from a city law approved by the New York City Council before Mamdani became mayor. Former Mayor Eric Adams neither signed nor vetoed the measure, allowing it to become law after 30 days. The rules took effect in January under the Mamdani administration, which implemented and enforced the requirements.

MAMDANI’S ‘RATION SHOP’ GROCERY PLAN FACES BLISTERING ECONOMIC CRITIQUE AS OPPONENTS BLAST SOCIALIST POLICY

Before the law took effect, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found that Uber Eats and DoorDash had hidden tip buttons and set default tips below 10%, contributing to a 79% decline in tips for delivery workers. The law required the companies to make tipping more prominent, and city officials say the resulting changes have since generated an estimated $104 million in additional tips.

Mamdani’s office rejected the criticism that the mayor was taking credit for someone else’s work, arguing that while the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection pushed for the reforms before he took office, the rules were implemented under his administration beginning Jan. 26. 

«A law is only as good as its implementation,» a spokesperson for Mamdani told Fox News Digital. «We have been intentional about enforcing the laws on the books so that we are putting money back into the pockets of working New Yorkers,» the spokesperson added.

Conservatives and political commentators on social media quickly blasted Mamdani for the already high costs of goods and services in New York City and some accused the mayor of taking credit for legislation that was birthed before his term.

«This guy is a fantastic lying politician,» actor Michael Rapaport posted on X. «He had literally nothing to do with this. City Council passed the bill last August and 419 Eric Adams never signed it. 30 days the bill became law. It went into effect when Mamdani was in office. He just taking the credit. «

MAMDANI’S RENT FREEZE, TAX HIKES A ‘ONE-TWO WEALTH DESTRUCTION PUNCH,’ ECONOMISTS WARN

In this photo illustration, a person demonstrates making a delivery with DoorDash as a Dasher in April 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Emily Dulla/Getty Images for DoorDash)

«In other words you are trying to say that you forced Uber and Doordash to make it that New Yorkers pay more for their food deliveries by having the default tip amount be a lot higher,» conservative influencer account Leftism posted on X. «Socialism 101 — have others pay for things and make as if it’s your accomplishment.»

«Coming soon — $50 avocado toast,» Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine posted on X.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds up bananas as he speaks at a food distribution center on July 27, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

«So you increased prices for your citizens?» National Review contributor Pradheep Shanker posted on X. «Congrats.»

What really happened,» finance podcaster Joseph Carlson posted on X. «They forced delivery drivers to be paid minimum wage of $22/hr. This wage is paid by higher fees passed on to DoorDash or Uber customer. Since the customer was already paying these higher fees, these apps made tipping optional. Then New York required them to also be tipped on top of the higher fees.»

Carlson continued, «So now New York residency get to enjoy paying both a high base pay and a tip on top of it. The customer is double-paying for delivery. All of this cost is passed onto the New Yorker resident. They’re paying more than the market demands for a product and service because of market manipulation.»

Leandro Quiroz, un argentino de 34 años que vive en Florianópolis, Brasil, permanece internado en grave estado luego de haber sufrido un accidente con su moto el pasado 16 de julio. Está en coma y su familia lanzó una campaña solidaria para poder acompañarlo.

Clara, su hermana, contó en diálogo con TN que Leandro se había instalado en Brasil hace siete años por una cuestión económica. Allí trabajó en gastronomía y logró convertirse en chef. Sin embargo, tenía decidido volver a la Argentina porque extrañaba a su familia: en agosto planeaba regresar a Mar del Plata después de haber hablado con amigos y comenzar a organizar el viaje.

El accidente ocurrió durante la madrugada del 16 de julio, luego del partido entre Argentina e Inglaterra, cuando varios argentinos se habían reunido en Florianópolis para ver el encuentro.

Clara aseguró que Leandro no tenía previsto manejar esa noche y que incluso le había pedido a una chica con la que estaba saliendo que fuera a buscarlo. “Él le dijo a ella que lo pasara a buscar porque no iba a manejar”, sostuvo.

Según el relato de la familia, el joven estuvo en un bar junto a otros argentinos y se quedó allí hasta el final porque esperaba que pasaran a buscarlo. “Tengo un video de una hora antes del accidente donde está con otro grupo hablando lo más bien. Saluda, habla, estaba ahí con una gorra roja”, contó Clara.

De acuerdo con la reconstrucción que hicieron sus familiares, finalmente Leandro se subió a la moto y, a menos de 50 metros del lugar, ocurrió el impacto contra un paredón. La principal hipótesis que manejan es que otro vehículo lo chocó desde atrás y escapó, aunque esa versión todavía no fue confirmada por las autoridades.

“Fui de urgencia al lugar, pedí las cámaras, pero nadie nos quiere dar nada, nadie nos dice nada. De repente comenzaron a llegar datos de que le habían pegado a un argentino”, explicó.

Leé también: Se conoció la foto que envió uno de los tripulantes del helicóptero en San Juan antes del accidente

Clara también contó que la joven a la que Leandro había llamado para que fuera a buscarlo se fue de Florianópolis después del accidente. Según aseguró, esa mujer podría tener información sobre lo ocurrido, pero hasta el momento no se la brindó a la familia. “Ella sabe algo, pero no nos quiere decir qué”, afirmó.

La hermana además puso en duda la mecánica del accidente por los daños que sufrió el vehículo. “La moto está toda rota, completa, la parte de adelante y de atrás está destruida. Ni siquiera llamaron a la policía”, sostuvo.

“Mi hermano se sube y a menos de 50 metros fue el accidente contra un paredón. La mujer que lo encontró me dijo que tenía el casco puesto”, agregó.

El dramático parte médico que recibió la familia

Tras el accidente, Leandro fue trasladado a un hospital de Santa Catarina, donde permanece internado en estado crítico. Sufrió graves lesiones en la cabeza, además de fracturas y un neumotórax, pero el mayor compromiso está en el cerebro.

“Lo más comprometido es el cerebro. Tiene varias hemorragias en la cabeza, un neumotórax en el pulmón, edema cerebral por fractura de cráneo y dos fracturas cervicales atrás del cuello. Está muy grave”, explicó su hermana.

En las últimas horas, el cuadro empeoró. Según contó Clara, los médicos detectaron una dilatación de las pupilas que indicaría un aumento de la inflamación cerebral y le practicaron una traqueotomía. “Me dijo el médico que nos tenemos que preparar. Tengo esperanza de que va a despertar, pero soy realista”, agregó.

Leé también: El relato del primer testigo que llegó al lugar del accidente en San Juan: “El panorama era desolador”

Actualmente, la madre y otra hermana menor de Leandro están en Brasil acompañándolo. Clara explicó que debió regresar a la Argentina por un tratamiento médico y que ahora intenta reunir el dinero para volver a viajar.

“Estuve una semana en Brasil acompañando, apenas pasó esto llegué al otro día. Me ocupé de los médicos. Me volví porque estoy con un problema de salud y tenía que buscar mi medicación”, contó.

La familia inició una colecta solidaria para afrontar los gastos del viaje y poder acompañar al joven en este momento. Quienes quieran colaborar pueden hacerlo mediante una transferencia al alias clarimdq.93 (Banco Provincia, a nombre de Clara Bastida) o a través de Mercado Pago con el alias clarabastida.93.

President Donald Trump won the Lone Star state by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024, but a new Fox News Poll of Texas registered voters suggests this year’s Senate race is far less settled. Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has yet to fully unify the GOP, despite the president’s endorsement in the GOP primary against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.

In addition, more voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character to serve than worry Democratic challenger James Talarico is too extreme, and more Democrats than Republicans are extremely motivated to vote (by 7 points) and extremely interested in the midterms (by 6).

Those dynamics give Talarico a 3-point edge over Paxton (51% vs. 48%) in the Senate contest (within the survey’s margin of sampling error).

Talarico’s advantage in the horserace grows to 6 points among both extremely motivated and extremely interested voters (53% vs. 47% in each group).

Most independents (68%) and virtually all Democrats support Talarico (98%), while fewer Republicans are unified behind Paxton (89%).

In part, that’s because one quarter of non-MAGA Republicans back Talarico (24%).

Paxton is the choice among White evangelical Christians, White men without a college degree, rural voters, regular worship attenders, men, and voters ages 65+.

Some of Talarico’s best groups are Black voters, moderates, voters under age 30, Hispanic voters, women, and voters with a college degree.

FOX NEWS POLL: DEMOCRATIC ENTHUSIASM SHAPES NORTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE

«Although Paxton dominated Cornyn in the GOP primary, that bruising contest left scars,» says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson. «He has considerable work to do with non-MAGA Republicans and independents, and that undoubtedly requires aggressively tying Talarico to the Democratic Party’s far left.» 

By a 12-point margin, more voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character to serve as a senator than believe Talarico is too extreme (59% vs. 47%).

Twice as many Republicans are concerned about Paxton’s character as Democrats are that Talarico is too extreme (36% vs. 17%).

FOX NEWS POLL: COOL YOUR SERVERS! VOTERS REJECT DATA CENTERS

Still, about 8 in 10 Paxton and Talarico supporters say their backing is more about where the candidates stand on the issues than who they are as people. 

Trump received a 55% favorable vs. 44% unfavorable rating in the 2024 Texas Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey. Today, those numbers have flipped: 45% favorable vs. 54% unfavorable, for a -9 net negative rating.

Paxton garners a -6 net personal rating, 45% favorable vs. 51% unfavorable, while Talarico is in positive territory by 6 points, 49% vs. 43%.

Talarico is more popular than the Democratic Party while the GOP edges out Paxton. 

While both parties are viewed negatively, the GOP is underwater by only 2 points (48% favorable vs. 50% unfavorable), compared with the Democratic Party at -9 (45% vs. 54%).

Despite Texas being a border state, nearly 4 in 10 say inflation will be the most important issue to their Senate vote, while 2 in 10 say immigration, and 1 in 10 say healthcare, political divisions, and unemployment.

By more than a 2-to-1 margin, Texas voters say they are falling behind financially rather than getting ahead (35% vs. 16%). Half are holding steady.

In the governor’s race, incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is favored by 1-point over Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Part of Abbott’s edge comes from a touch more crossover support: 12% of Talarico supporters back Abbott, while 9% of Paxton supporters back Hinojosa.

Hinojosa has the advantage among extremely motivated (+6) and extremely interested voters (+5).

Abbott has a net positive personal rating by a single point (50% favorable vs. 49% unfavorable). Hinojosa is in positive territory by 11 points (45% vs. 34%), although nearly 1 in 5 are unable to rate her.

Texas last elected a Democratic governor in 1990 (Ann Richards), a Democratic Senator in 1988 (Lloyd Bentsen), and a Democratic presidential candidate in 1976 (Jimmy Carter).

A closer look at the Hispanic electorate

Hispanic voters say their Senate pick will be driven by inflation, as roughly 4 in 10 say it will be the most important issue to their vote and another 4 in 10 say they’re falling behind financially. This mostly matches views among all Texas voters.

And as is the case with voters overall, there is an enthusiasm gap, as more Hispanic Democrats than Hispanic Republicans are interested and motivated to vote in the midterms.

Overall, Hispanic voters prefer Talarico by 18 points (59% vs. 41%).

Some 9% of Hispanic GOP voters crossover to support Talarico while 5% of Hispanic Democrats favor Paxton.

In 2024, Trump topped former Vice President Kamala Harris among Hispanic voters in Texas by 1 point, according to the Texas FNVA survey (49% Harris vs. 50% Trump).

By 20 points, more Hispanic voters are concerned that Paxton lacks the character to serve as senator than feel Talarico is too extreme (61% concerned vs. 41%).

For the governor’s race, Hispanic voters back Hinojosa by 16 points in the new survey. By comparison, they preferred Beto O’Rourke over Abbott by 14 points in 2022.

More than half of Hispanic voters view Talarico (57% favorable), Hinojosa (53%), and the Democratic Party (53%) positively, while more than half have negative views of Paxton (56% unfavorable), Abbott (56%), Trump (61%), and the Republican Party (59%).

Conducted July 23-27, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,006 Texas registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (72) and cellphones (681) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (253). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. The survey includes an oversample of 296 Hispanic voters, bringing the sample size for that subgroup to 556 (±4). Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling errors, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.