in 2010, merritt joined the office of new york city public advocate bill de blasio and in 2012 was named one of city and state's "new york city rising stars: 40 under 40" for his work there as senior advisor. at the public advocate's office, merritt helped developed new york city's worst landlord watchlist, a first-of-its-kind tool to allow tenants to look up a current or potential landlord to see code violations in that landlord’s buildings. the tool was expanded through a partnership with craigslist in 2011 and replicated by the city of vancouver in 2012. merritt also led the public advocate's open government and technology initiatives and national coalitions on issues of corporate political spending and gun divestment.