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New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Cuomo bashes ‘rich person' Mamdani for hogging $2,300 from homeless New Yorkers
Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is a 'rich person' hogging affordable housing from homeless New Yorkers — and it's 'time to move out,' ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote in a scathing social media post. Cuomo unleashed his tirade on X Friday alongside a video of the left nominee and frontrunner for City Hall openly admitting he pays $2,300 for a one-bedroom apartment in the high-demand neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. 'Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment,' Cuomo wrote in the viral tweet that has racked up more than 31,000 views. Zohran Mamdani pays $2,300 per month for his Astoria apartment. Brigitte Stelzer 'You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You've had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda,' he continued, pointing to the politician's $142,000 base salary and the additional income his illustrator wife, Rama Duwaji, brings home. The couple married earlier this year at the City Clerk's office before jetting off for a small, but lavish Dubai engagement and wedding celebration. They capped off their nuptials with a blockbuster, three-day affair at his family's ritzy, secluded Ugandan compound, complete with masked security guards and a cellphone jamming system –– which Cuomo was quick to point out. 'No matter which way you cut it: Zohran Mamdani is a rich person. You are actually very rich. Mamdani makes a $140,000 salary as an Assemblymember. Brigitte Stelzer 'Yet you and your wife pay $2,300 a month, as you have bragged, for a nice apartment in Astoria. That should be housing for someone who needs it. We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis. Millions of low income New Yorkers need this apartment and an apartment like it. Yet your apartment remains rented to rich people who don't need it,' Cuomo said. 'Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.' Mamdani had previously claimed he had plans to move out of his cheap digs. He told the New York Editorial Board in February he found the listing on StreetEasy back when he was making $47,000 per year as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor. He claimed that at the time, he had no idea it was a rent-stabilized unit. The average price of rent for a one-bedroom in the trendy Queens nabe is closer to $3,000, according to Apartment Advisor — meaning Mamdani saves an average of $8,400 per year more than his constituents. 'In that time since, I've become an assemblymember and I'm now able to pay for that apartment and able to also move out of that apartment and I plan on doing so. I don't plan on living in that apartment for perpetuity,' he said. Representatives for Mamdani did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 'The truth hurts and the truth is Mamdani is gaming a system meant to help those with way less privilege,' Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi told The Post. 'I understand his diehard supporters don't know how to deal with his mask slipping,' he added, referencing backlash from Mamdani backers, 'but the comments I see are full of New Yorkers who are appalled by his hypocrisy.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
As Manhattan BP Mark Levine rails against speeding, his drivers put pedal to metal
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine's city-issued car has racked up dozens of violations — including a handful that might run afoul of a measure he's pushing for in Albany to deter speeding. In a one year period from 2023 to 2024, the beep's car racked up six speeding in school zone violations, per data from How's My Driving — a stat that means his vehicle could be required to have intelligent speed assistance technology installed under a bill he's advocated for that would crack down on 'super speeders.' 'Reckless drivers are killing New Yorkers,' Levine wrote on social media in April. '… This legislation would mandate speed limiter technology for the most dangerous drivers on our streets. Albany must act now!' A spokesperson for Levine blamed the beep's drivers, saying that the speeding violations were done on their commutes, when Levine wasn't in the car. A side-by-side comparison revealed many of the after-hours violations occurred, for example in Brooklyn at times when where Levine is marked down as being in Manhattan or at the office. After the Daily News asked about the violations, a spokesperson said that 'disciplinary actions' were taken with the relevant staffers. 'The Borough President is committed to traffic safety, which is why he supports laws like the Stop Super Speeder bill and efforts to crack down on ghost plates, and advocated for the passage of Sammy's Law, among other priorities,' a spokesperson for Levine said. 'In fact, he has already requested a speed limiter for the MBPO vehicle, so that staff cannot continue this pattern of behavior.' The law to crack down on drivers with the most violations would require a speed-limiting device to be installed in the cars of motorists with six or more camera-issued speeding tickets in 12 months. The beep's city-issued car has racked up a total of 28 violations since he started in the post in 2022, including 10 for speeding in school zones. Manhattan accounted for just 16 of those total violations, with Brooklyn seeing 10 violations and Queens and the Bronx recording one each. In an interview with the New York Editorial Board last week, Levine, said he prefers to take the subway and said he has 'rarely left the island for the most part' during his tenure. 'It's more fun and usually faster,' he said of the subway. 'But there's times where there's just no way to make the schedule work and in those cases it's helpful to have that option.' Levine is running for City Comptroller against current Councilmember Justin Brannan. Sitting Comptroller Brad Lander is running for mayor. The 'Super Speeder' bill advanced in a state Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
