Speaker Julie Menin is pushing a dangerous bill, Intro. 561-A, which attacks the only real protection we have against illegal idling by commercial trucks and buses. 

Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani managed to collect $9 million in unpaid idling tickets from Amazon. All of those tickets were issued based on civilian complaints, through a program that lets ordinary New Yorkers help stop commercial trucks and buses from illegally idling. This program that has been a game changer for our health, holding companies like Amazon, FedEx, and ConEd accountable for polluting our City.

But Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Jim Gennaro, along with the trucking and bus industries, now want to dismantle the Citizens Complaint Program that empowered New Yorkers to report these violations. They have set this bill for a hearing on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 12pm. 

Right now, 24 groups oppose Intro. 561-A because it:

•  Legalizes diesel engine idling: Makes a loophole for diesel trucks and buses to idle using an excuse called regeneration, which is extremely polluting, especially in urban areas. All diesel engines would effectively be exempt because no one–not even experts or hearing officers–can tell from the curb if a truck or bus is regenerating—->therefore, no fine!
• Threatens public health: Legalizing diesel idling makes our air even dirtier, when air pollution already kills 3,200 New Yorkers each year.
• Rewards polluting companies: Requires the City to toss all citizen complaints older than 60 days—that’s 170,000 complaints against Amazon, ConEd, and other polluting companies.
• Costs NYC millions: Tossing these complaints will cost the City an estimated 60–200 million in fines and penalties.
• Lets school buses idle for 30 minutes next to schools: That is up from just 1 minute under current law, which protects kids at school.
• Undermines community participation: Instead of making reporting more accessible, it weakens the Citizens Air Complaint program and its protections.

This is urgent. The health of New Yorkers, particularly in low-income and communities of color, should not be sacrificed for corporate interests. We need to stand together and tell Speaker Menin and the rest of the Council that we won’t accept this attack on our environment and public health. Mayor Mamdani needs to also speak out against this bill.

Please sign this petition to have Speaker Menin REJECT Intro. 561-A, and urge your individual city council member to vote 'NO' on Intro 561-A.  Take action now to keep our air clean, our environment safe, and hold these corporations accountable for their impact.