Andrew Cuomo tears into Zohran Mamdani for living in rent-controlled apartment despite significant wealth

Is it fair for a high-earning politician to snag a rent-stabilized apartment while struggling New Yorkers scramble for affordable housing?

That’s the question Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent for New York City mayor, is raising with his sharp new proposal aimed directly at fellow candidate Zohran Mamdani. It’s a policy punch that’s got the city buzzing.

The Hill reported that Cuomo, after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, unveiled a legislative idea dubbed “Zohran’s Law” on Tuesday, targeting the use of rent-stabilized units by wealthy tenants like Mamdani, who earns over $140,000 annually yet pays just $2,300 a month for such an apartment, while Cuomo himself shells out significantly more for his own place.

Last Friday, Cuomo took to X, calling on Mamdani, a state Assembly member, to vacate his rent-stabilized digs, arguing it’s a spot that should go to someone in greater need.

It’s a classic conservative concern—shouldn’t limited resources be reserved for the truly struggling, not the well-off playing the system? This isn’t personal; it’s about principle.

Cuomo’s “Zohran’s Law” Sparks Housing Debate

On Tuesday, Cuomo rolled out the specifics of “Zohran’s Law,” mandating that when a rent-stabilized apartment becomes vacant, the rent for the next tenant must be at least 30% of their income. The goal? Keep these units for lower-income New Yorkers, not folks with fat paychecks.

“We must build more housing quickly, but we also need to ensure that our rent-stabilized apartments are going to the New Yorkers who need them the most,” Cuomo declared.

Fine words, but let’s be real—enforcing this could be a bureaucratic nightmare, as housing experts pointed out to The Associated Press, warning that it demands a hefty chunk of income from tenants.

Mamdani didn’t stay quiet, reposting a Gothamist story on Tuesday that echoed expert concerns about the logistical mess this plan could create for an already overworked state housing agency. It’s a fair critique—government inefficiency is a real problem. But isn’t it also convenient to dodge the core issue of fairness in housing access?

Cuomo’s campaign isn’t just about this one jab; it also touts a broader vision to build and preserve over 500,000 affordable housing units, with two-thirds earmarked for low- and moderate-income residents.

That’s a bold promise, rooted in reforms he pushed as governor in 2019 to protect rent control status for units regardless of tenant income or rent levels. It’s a nod to practicality, even if his latest idea raises eyebrows.

Statistics from Cuomo’s campaign highlight the housing crunch—about 46% of rent-stabilized tenants and 40% of market-rate renters pay at least 30% of their income on rent. That’s a heavy burden for many, which makes Cuomo’s point sting: why should someone like Mamdani, with a cushy salary, take a spot meant for the less fortunate?

“We must stop the Zohran Mamdanis of the world from gaming the system and boxing out lower income New Yorkers who are barely scraping by,” Cuomo insisted.

Strong rhetoric, but note the fine print—“Zohran’s Law” wouldn’t even apply to Mamdani unless he vacates his current place. So, is this policy more about optics than impact?

Mamdani Fires Back at Cuomo’s Criticism

Mamdani’s camp hit back hard, with spokesperson Dora Pekec saying, “Andrew Cuomo is clearly having a difficult time mentally and emotionally reconciling with the fact that Zohran and his popular affordability agenda annihilated him by 13 points in the primary.”

Ouch—that’s a low blow, sidestepping the housing issue for a personal dig. If Mamdani’s agenda is so popular, why not address the ethics of his own living arrangement?

On Tuesday, Mamdani released a video slamming Cuomo for running a consulting business without disclosing clients, including a crypto exchange firm tied to a federal probe, demanding a full client list.

The video racked up 168,000 likes and 23,000 reposts on X, far outpacing Cuomo’s Sunday post floating the “Zohran’s Law” idea. It’s a savvy distraction, but does it answer the housing fairness question?

Cuomo, meanwhile, faced heat over a reported phone call with President Trump about the mayoral race, which he denied, claiming he couldn’t recall their last chat and insisting they never discussed the contest. Mamdani’s criticism here feels like a stretch—shouldn’t the focus stay on policy over unproven gossip?

The mayoral race itself is a crowded field, with five candidates vying for the spot: Mamdani as the Democratic nominee, Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams as independents, Curtis Sliwa as the Republican, and Jim Walden also running independently.

Polls show Mamdani leading by double digits, with opposition fragmented among the others. That split could be Cuomo’s biggest hurdle, even with a headline-grabbing proposal.