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Q&A

Epstein on Instacart grocery delivery compliance for July

New York City Council · May 29, 2026 · starts 3:42:10 · 1 min 25 sec

Epstein asks about Instacart's temporary exemption ending in July 2026. Wagoner confirms they're already monitoring Instacart's wage payments and will require full on-call time payment, with no full exemption granted.

Harvey D. Epstein

Can you just update us?

Harvey D. Epstein

You know, I mean, obviously I'm pushing to give you more money, so here you go.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Harvey D. Epstein

But I would just be concerned that we get past the budget and then we see in the summer or in the fall that you've hired up and there still is a backlog.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Harvey D. Epstein

You know, in January there's a backlog because you've hired up and you've trained people.

Sam Levine

But again, this is going to be...

Harvey D. Epstein

So I'm just concerned.

Sam Levine

We're going to be continuously evaluating this.

Harvey D. Epstein

Can we get ongoing updates about where staffing is, making sure that if there is that six-month backlog or it's been reduced to three months or...

Sam Levine

If delivery protection passes, as I hope it does, we're going to have additional needs for lines.

Sam Levine

We're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

We may need additional OTPS for outreach there.

Sam Levine

Certainly, certainly.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

And the goal, again, is to see that backlog fall.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

And again, it's a little bit like going uphill because the complaints are rising.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we need to hire faster than the complaints are rising and deal with the backlog.

Sam Levine

But again, this is going to be continuously evaluating this.

Sam Levine

And with respect to certain laws, like deactivation, as you mentioned, there's going to be a look-back period.

Sam Levine

If delivery protection passes, as I hope it does, we're going to have additional needs for lines.

Sam Levine

So the thousands of workers who were deactivated over the last six years, six years are going to be able to have those six or five, seven, seven years are going to be able to have those deactivations revisited.

Sam Levine

We're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

We're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So.

Sam Levine

We made the best projection we could based on the numbers we see now, and that's going to change.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

But again, this is going to be continuously evaluating this.

Sam Levine

If delivery protection passes, as I hope it does, we're going to have additional needs for lines.

Sam Levine

To some degree in a couple months, and we're happy to keep you updated on that.

Sam Levine

We're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Harvey D. Epstein

I'd appreciate that.

Carlos Ortiz

Yes, Chair.

Carlos Ortiz

Just to echo the Commissioner, we're happy to provide you updates there.

Sam Levine

We're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Carlos Ortiz

And then also, we have other periods in the budgetary cycle, like the November plan, where we can always come back and discuss more with OMB our new needs.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.

Harvey D. Epstein

Thank you.

Sam Levine

So we're going to be monitoring the student loan marketplace.