What the driver likely did not see was the city investigator watching nearby, gathering evidence for a crackdown on what officials allege are illegal tows and predatory fees.
That investigation is a signature initiative of Sam Levine, the new commissioner of the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Levine, who once led the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection under President Joe Biden, is now testing a central premise of Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s affordability agenda. He aims to prove that the aggressive enforcement strategies of a federal agency can be effectively transplanted to the municipal level.
Since taking the role, Levine has targeted a range of local issues. His agency has pursued tow truck companies accused of illicit operations, acted against tax preparers marketing deceptive "free" services, and audited businesses for compliance with labor laws. These actions mirror the work he directed in Washington, where his bureau secured the FTC’s largest-ever children’s privacy settlement and won judgments exceeding $500 million against unfair junk fees.
Levine developed a reputation at the FTC for reviving long-dormant legal powers and pursuing violations previous administrations overlooked. His tenure saw the agency’s first ban on a company’s use of facial recognition technology and new rules to combat deceptive subscription practices. "When I arrived at the FTC in 2016, it wasn't taking on the biggest challenge people were facing," Levine said in an interview. "We changed that."
A Local Laboratory for National Ideas
The New York position lacks the national reach and budget of his former federal role. Instead, it serves as a high-profile laboratory. Levine’s mission is to demonstrate that cities, not just states or federal agencies, can be formidable enforcers of consumer and worker rights. The political stakes extend beyond city limits, as the response from both corporations and the public could influence how Democrats nationwide campaign on cost-of-living issues.
Levine’s shift to city government coincides with the dismantling of the Biden administration’s consumer protection framework by President Donald Trump. This political dynamic places added significance on local and state efforts to fill the perceived enforcement gap. New York’s experiment under Levine is being closely watched by advocates and officials who believe federal retreat necessitates more muscular action at other levels of government.
The ultimate measure of success will be tangible results for New Yorkers and the durability of the initiatives. If Levine’s targeted enforcement proves effective at curbing predatory practices and saving residents money, it could provide a blueprint for other major cities. The effort represents a pragmatic attempt to safeguard consumer protections in an era of shifting federal priorities.
