Latest news with #Zohran'sLaw
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani blasts Cuomo plan to block privileged from rent-stabilized pad, but gives no sign he's ready to give up his own
Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani on Monday blasted the 'petty vindictiveness' of rival Andrew Cuomo's proposed 'Zohran's Law' that would target privileged New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized homes — but gave no sign he'll move out. Mamdani, 33, who lives in a $2,300-a-month rent-stabilized Astoria apartment while pulling $142,000 a year as state assemblyman, condemned Cuomo's proposal as dangerously detail-free. 'What do we know about this policy proposal beyond the fact that it seeks to evict me from my apartment?' the Queens lawmaker said. 'Like so much of Andrew Cuomo's politics, it is characterized by a petty vindictiveness… How many New Yorkers would have their lives upended by a former governor who is responding to the fact that he was handily beaten by a tenant of a rent-stabilized apartment?' Cuomo, the former governor, saw his dreams of a convincing political comeback dashed in the Democratic mayoral contest when the socialist Mamdani utterly trounced him, securing more primary votes than any Big Apple Dem in three decades. 3 Zohran Mamdani blasted mayoral election rival Andrew Cuomo's rent-stabilization proposal as the height of 'petty vindictiveness.' Matthew McDermott 3 Mamdani, who makes $142,000-a-year as a state lawmaker, pays $2,500 a month for his Astoria apartment — and Cuomo wants him to move out. Brigitte Stelzer The defeat didn't stop Cuomo from launching an independent mayoral run, with an emphasis on aggressively attacking Mamdani and making cringe-inducing posts on social media. The ex-gov concocted 'Zohran's Law' as Mamdani — the son of well-known filmmaker and a professor — faced criticism for not giving up his rent-stabilized apartment in what critics said was a hypocritical stance that clashed with his pro-affordable housing campaign message. 'We're not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires,' Cuomo said Sunday. '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,' he twisted the knife in a viral tweet. 'I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it.' 3 Cuomo has been trying to hit Mamdani on social media. Matthew McDermott Rent-stabilized homes account for 1 million units — or half of all apartments — in New York City. Rent control, which Cuomo inaccurately said applies to Mamdani's apartment, is for tenants who've lived continuously in their homes since 1971. Cuomo's actual proposal wouldn't evict high-income New Yorkers from rent-stabilized apartments but would only apply once a rent-stabilized apartment becomes vacant. The incoming renter's income would be capped so that the annual rent makes up at least 30% of that income, meaning a $2,500-a-year apartment can only have tenants who make less than $100,000. Mamdani's spokeswoman Dora Pekac blasted Cuomo's supposed hypocrisy. 'Andrew Cuomo—the disgraced former governor who casually handed a billion-dollar tax break to Elon Musk—wants working New Yorkers to prove how much they are struggling before he approves their lease,' she said. 'While Cuomo cares only for the well-being of his Republican donors, Zohran believes city government's job is to guarantee a life of dignity, not determine who is worth one.' Mamdani repeated his skepticism over such 'means testing' as an approach, noting the MTA's 'Fair Fares' program only serves about 40% of eligible low-income New Yorkers. He said a free bus pilot program that he championed didn't make more millionaires and billionaires ride the bus, but rather helped increase ridership by New Yorkers who already qualified for Fair Fares. Beyond that, Mamdani argued that Cuomo's decisions as governor — particularly slashing $65 million in rental assistance programs — helped lead to a surge in Big Apple homelessness. 'What Andrew Cuomo is proposing, be it the rent control he cited, the rent stabilization he intends to speak about, is in many ways reflective of the fact that I live rent-free in his head,' Mamdani said, giving no indication he planned to leave his home. 'He's not looking to reflect on the fact that he eliminated more affordable housing than he created. He's not looking to reckon with his cutting of a voucher program that was then followed by a significant increase in homelessness in New York City. He's not looking to reckon with any of that.' Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, used the spat to attack both of his challengers. 'Rent-stabilized, low-income apartments should be just for that low-income people,' the mayor said. 'I keep telling people how we have to fix Cuomo's mess. He created this in 2019 when he took away the standards of who could stay in these apartments. This is one of his problems. He's complaining about who is in these apartments being high-income earners, but he created this.' Additional reporting by Carl Campanile and Craig McCarthy
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani's $2,300 rent scandal exposes who this ‘socialist' is really looking after first —himself
Who are government-mandated rent-stabilized apartments for? Apparently well-compensated bureaucrats. Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is only paying $2,300 for his stabilized place in Astoria, despite making $142,000 a year as an assemblyman, plus stipends, in addition to however much his artist wife is also raking in. It's part of a long-term pattern of Mamdani scheming programs meant for less-fortunate people for his own benefit. First he's claiming to be an African American to get into college, now he's grifting on rent-stabilization that lower income people should be benefiting from. Advertisement Mamdani's rent had been pointed out for around a week before Andrew Cuomo caught on and challenged him in a Friday tweet about the matter, which attracted a staggering 33 million views on X. 5 Zohran Mamdani is under fire for only paying $2,300 a month for his rent-stabilized apartment. Getty Images 'You are actually very rich, [yet] you and your wife pay $2,300 a month, as you have bragged, for a nice apartment in Astoria,' the former governor wrote. 'I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who needs it.' Advertisement Cuomo inaccurately first claimed that Mamdani's home is rent-controlled (a statement he's since corrected). The one-bedroom apartment is actually rent-stabilized, as are almost half of rentals in New York City. But Cuomo is not wrong to question why Mamdani — who claims to be a champion of the lesser-fortunate — has never sought to correct why someone like him can benefit from a system that should be for low-income, housing-insecure New Yorkers first. Rent-stabilized apartments are subject to only modest annual increases in rent, as determined by the Rent Guidelines Board, and virtually guaranteed rights to lease renewal. And there are generally no income restrictions for moving into one — it's mostly a matter of luck. 5 Andrew Cuomo called for Zohran Mamdani to move out of his rent-stabilized home. @andrewcuomo/X Advertisement But shouldn't a socialist assemblyman be concerned with making sure low-income New Yorkers who need those protections most are prioritized in getting them? Apparently not so much. Mamdani has bragged about only paying $2,300 a month for rent in debates and interviews alike. He has made housing the primary pillar of his campaign, calling on New York City to freeze the rent for apartments under the provision of the government and to build 200,000 affordable housing units in the next 10 years. The question is: Who gets to benefit from these policies? Will well-off New Yorkers like Mamdani, who are unfairly occupying rent-stabilized homes, benefit from indefinite freezes? Advertisement 5 Cuomo is proposing legislation called Zohran's Law which would block wealthy tenants from accessing affordable housing. SARAH YENESEL/EPA/Shutterstock Former governor Cuomo told The Post Sunday that he's proposing new legislation, calling it Zohran's Law, which would block wealthy New Yorkers like Mamdani from accessing rent-stabilized housing. 'We're not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires,' he said. Mamdani's father is a major Columbia professor, his mother an internationally renowned movie director. Cuomo is right, but he shouldn't stop there. Mamdani — who has previously called for the 'abolition of private property' — should be made to explain exactly who will benefit from his expanded affordable housing scheme. He did, after all, tell the New York Editorial Board that he's 'deeply skeptical of means testing' when asked by an interviewer whether we should 'have any way of ensuring that people who are better off who live in rent-stabilized housing don't get those benefits.' Seems like Mamdani has a very personal interest in batting down proposals for means testing. 5 Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, leaving their apartment in Astoria recently. Brigitte Stelzer Advertisement 5 Mamdani was featured on The Post's cover calling on him to give up his rent-stabilized place. This scandal fits into a larger pattern in the candidate's past. It's not unlike when Mamdani, who grew up in Uganda but is of Indian descent, decided to check the 'African American' box on his application to Columbia University. Mamdani had no problem potentially benefiting from racial affirmative action — a system set up to uplift the descendants of American slaves — in the admissions process, despite quite evidently not being Black or African American. Advertisement Similarly, he seems to have no issue getting all the perks of rent-stabilization — a system set up to receive cash-strapped New Yorkers — despite being the well-compensated son of successful parents. Mamdani has a long history of identifying special-interest programs meant for others worse off than him, and then scheming them for his own benefit. Is this really the sort of leader that New Yorkers trust to roll out and dole out vast new entitlement programs?
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Abuse of system': Cuomo proposes 'Zohran's Law' to bar affluent New Yorkers from rent-stabilised apartments; suggests 'means test' in bill
Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, left, and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (Image credits: AP) Former New York governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo on Monday proposed a bill dubbed 'Zohran's Law,' aimed at preventing affluent New Yorkers from occupying rent-stabilised apartments amid what he calls a 'historic affordability crisis' in the state. The proposal follows Cuomo's sharp criticism of his political rival, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani , for living in a rent-stabilized apartment despite his substantial income and privileged background. Mamdani, 33, earns $142,000 a year as a state assemblyman and comes from a wealthy family, including a filmmaker mother and a professor father. He currently resides in a one-bedroom apartment in Astoria renting for $2,300 per month. On social media platform X, Cuomo tagged Mamdani, announcing, 'Today, I am proud to propose 'Zohran's Law,' a law that will keep the rich out of New York's affordable housing.' He added, 'Let's build affordable housing that helps the people who need it. Under Zohran's Law, landlords can no longer rent vacant rent-controlled units to the wealthy.' 'You are a rich person stealing affordable housing from the poor. And you're not the only one. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Non-Invasive Skin Care: Procedures You Can Do Without Surgery or Downtime AskLayers Learn More Undo It's past time we address this injustice. Let's build a new NYC that works for the people who need it,' Cuomo wrote. Speaking to the New York Post, Cuomo said, 'I'm calling the legislation 'Zohran's Law.' We're not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires.' He noted the bill would include a 'means test' based on monthly rent and other criteria but did not provide further specifics. The legislation would require approval from the Democratic-controlled state legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul. This latest move follows Cuomo's earlier attack on Mamdani for occupying a rent-stabilised apartment in an expensive neighborhood. Cuomo said, '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.' He continued, '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.' In response, Mamdani's campaign dismissed Cuomo's accusations as desperate mudslinging. Campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec said, 'On the day of the National Dominican Day Parade, as Andrew Cuomo's desperate, nonsensical attacks continue, Zohran is busy deepening his support from New Yorkers ready for a city they can afford.' She added, 'If Mr Cuomo really cared for working people in New York City, he'd commit today to reimburse the taxpayers the $60 million we are spending on his personal legal defense — which could pay for thousands of affordable housing units instead of probing the gynecological records of women he harassed.' Mamdani's campaign also pointed out that he qualified for the rent-regulated apartment through StreetEasy when his income was $47,000. Cuomo lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June but is now running as an independent under the 'Fight and Deliver' ballot line. Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is also running as an independent after withdrawing from the primary amid federal corruption charges, which have since been dropped.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Andrew Cuomo proposes ‘Zohran's Law' after privileged Mamdani clings to rent-stabilized apartment
Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo proposed 'Zohran's law' that would block privileged New Yorkers like his socialist rival Zohran Mamdani from living in rent-stabilized apartments. Mamdani, 33, who rakes in $142,000 a year as a state assemblyman and whose wealthy family includes his filmmaker mom and professor dad, has been living in a $2,300-a-month, one-bedroom pad in Astoria. 'I'm calling the legislation 'Zohran's Law.' This is obviously an abuse of the system,' Cuomo told The Post Sunday. 4 Andrew Cuomo is pushing for legislation blocking privileged New Yorkers from scooping up rent-stabilized pads. Matthew McDermott 'We're not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires.' The qualifications would include a 'means test' based on the monthly rent and other factors, Cuomo said though he did not share specifics. The legislation would require approval from the Democratic-run state legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul. 4 Cuomo's proposal is named after socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani. LP Media Cuomo has been on the attack against Mamdani since last Friday over the cushy apartment in high cost Astoria. '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 a viral tweet that racked up more than 28 million views. '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,' Cuomo added. 4 Mamdani makes $142,000 a year as a state assemblyman and his wealthy family includes his filmmaker mom and professor dad. Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee, has proposed to freeze the rent of government-regulated apartments if he wins the general election in November. Former Gov. Cuomo lost to Mamdani in a June Democratic primary but is running in November on the 'Fight and Deliver' independent ballot line. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams also is running as an independent after dropping out of the primary as he faced federal corruption charges, which have since been dropped. 4 Mamdani has been living in a $2,300-a-month, one-bedroom apartment in Astoria. Brigitte Stelzer Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, is the Republican nominee and lawyer Jim Walden will also appear on ballots as an independent.
