Mamdani offers New Yorkers a break on unpaid city fines under new 90-day amnesty program

New Yorkers with unpaid city fines for everything from dirty sidewalks to building code violations will have three months to settle eligible debts at a discount under a new program launched Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The initiative, dubbed "Debt Demolisher," begins Oct. 13 and gives eligible homeowners, small businesses and other New Yorkers a chance to have accumulated interest waived and, in some cases, additional penalties wiped away. City officials say the program, which runs through Jan. 10, 2027, could bring in an additional $25 million in revenue beyond what the city would ordinarily collect from outstanding fines. For some businesses, the savings could be substantial. A city official pointed to one example of a Bronx florist that has accumulated more than five city violations over the past several years and now owes roughly $5,500. If the business corrects its outstanding violations and participates in the program, it could settle that debt for less than $1,500 — savi