Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a new program on August 25, 2026, aimed at fast-tracking critical claims in housing court during a press conference at Manhattan Housing Court. The initiative, which has been in effect since July 16, prioritizes housing lawsuits involving building-wide conditions. Mamdani stated, "People living in the worst conditions regularly wait weeks, if not months, for a case to be heard, for a decision to come, for critical repairs to be completed, for their situation to improve. Today we take a critical step towards ending that." The program was established under an order by Hon. Shahabuddeen A. Ally, the administrative judge of New York City Civil Court.
Eligible cases for the fast-track program include those where tenants are suing to appoint a third-party manager for buildings with hazardous violations. Court clerks will ensure that eligible cases are assigned to a judge on the same day they are filed, with court appearances scheduled within five days. A City Hall spokesperson mentioned that the administration collaborated with the state Unified Court System to implement this program, which is currently in training for court staff.
City Housing Court Supervising Judge Jack Stoller defended the initiative, stating it balances the need for expedited resolution of urgent cases while maintaining due process for landlords. Critics, including Ann Korchak, president of the Small Property Owners of New York, labeled the program as another anti-landlord policy, arguing that it fails to consider the challenges faced by small building owners. New York Apartment Association CEO Kenny Burgos expressed concern that the criteria for fast-tracking cases could inadvertently affect more property owners than intended, particularly regarding elevator outages. Mamdani was joined at the announcement by tenant advocate Cea Weaver and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg.