A top-ranking City Hall official defended Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a City Council bill on Wednesday that would have increased the hourly pay rate for grocery delivery workers in NYC — saying that the legislation would have led to higher costs for New Yorkers.

Passed by the NYC Council last month, Intro 1135 would have mandated a $21.44 hourly wage for third-party delivery workers, such as those who work for Instacart and similar apps.

First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who spoke with amNewYork Thursday about the veto, said Adams did not sign off on the bill because it could increase prices.

"It's undeniable there will be an increased cost on grocery delivery services resulting from increased labor costs for delivery workers," he told amNewYork.

A spokesperson for Instacart, one of a han

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