Working for a Safe, Affordable City for All
NYC Common Sense is a nonprofit coalition fighting for safer streets, affordable housing, and real jobs — championing effectiveness and accountability over ideology and identity politics.
Common Sense
Is Uncommon
At City Hall
NYC Common Sense is a nonprofit grassroots coalition focused on making sure City government is delivering on behalf of ALL New Yorkers.
Everyone deserves safer streets, affordable housing, jobs, and the opportunity to thrive. That requires accountable leadership and transparency — making promises and keeping them.
We serve as an independent watchdog, using all tools at our disposal to hold city leaders accountable. Because common sense is all too uncommon at City Hall.
Our Issues
In The News
On behalf of New Yorkers who have the right to know that public funds are being used for public purposes rather than political promotion, NYC Common Sense respectfully urges the Department to open a formal investigation into whether the Office of the Mayor and other City agencies have misused taxpayer-funded staff time, contracts, access, or other public resources […]
NYC Common Sense released the following statement in response to the Mayor’s decision to not send a representative to the City Council hearing on the rollout of the pied-à-terre tax: “Thousands of permanent New York City residents who owe nothing under this surcharge have been left confused, exposed, and forced to spend their own time […]
NYC Common Sense released the following statement calling on the Mayor to release a comprehensive education plan: “While the Mayor plans to take a vacation weeks before the start of a new academic year, nearly a million children in the nation’s largest public school system are preparing to head back to classrooms without a real plan from City Hall. “The Mayor has had two warnings about the need […]
NYC Common Sense released the following statement in response to the Mayor’s cease-and-desist letters to companies like Amazon and Temu regarding illegal e-bikes, as well as his comments today in opposition to requiring e-bike riders to hold licenses: “Cracking down on illegal devices is a good start, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. The […]
NYC Common Sense released the following statement regarding the New York City Council’s proposed e-bike safety package: “NYC Common Sense thanks the City Council for prioritizing community safety and turning its attention to the e-bike safety crisis. However, without a comprehensive system of licensing and registration, as proposed under Priscilla’s Law, any effort to improve […]
NYC Common Sense released the following statement regarding City Hall’s 13-Minute Documentary, Union of Pinnacle Tenants: “New Yorkers elected a mayor, not a Hollywood producer. The administration should, of course, communicate with New Yorkers, and transparency and accessibility are essential. But when an undisclosed sum of public dollars is used to create a video narrated […]
Legal Action
NYC Common Sense uses every tool at our disposal — including litigation — to hold city government accountable. When leaders overstep their authority or ignore the law, we pursue legal remedies to protect New Yorkers' rights.
Watch Our Press Event / Read the Lawsuit On the steps of City Hall on June 25, 2026, attorney Jim Walden, chair of NYC Common Sense, an independent, nonpartisan government watchdog organization; joined advocates, vulnerable pedestrians and e-bike victims in announcing a legal challenge against Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City of New York over the mayor’s March 2026 […]
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Common Sense
Be the change City Hall needs.
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