Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking aim at Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of abusing the city’s rent-stabilization system by living in a $2,300-a-month Astoria apartment while earning $147,000 annually as a state lawmaker. Cuomo, now running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in June’s Democratic primary, says the apartment should go to a low-income family instead.
“We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis,” Cuomo said Sunday. “Millions of low-income New Yorkers need this apartment… Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.” He has proposed “Zohran’s Law,” which would bar affluent New Yorkers from living in rent-stabilized units.
Cuomo told The New York Post the arrangement is “obviously an abuse of the system,” adding, “We’re not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires.” Mamdani, who grew up in an affluent family, has campaigned on freezing rents for government-regulated apartments if elected mayor — a policy that has sparked opposition from commercial real estate and business groups.
Mamdani’s campaign fired back through spokeswoman Dora Pekec, who called Cuomo’s remarks “desperate” and accused him of deflecting from his own controversies. She referenced Cuomo’s 2021 resignation over sexual harassment allegations, which he denies, and ongoing legal battles funded by taxpayers. “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,” Pekec said.
The rent-stabilization debate adds another sharp edge to an already heated mayoral race, with housing affordability a top concern for voters and political rivals seizing on personal living arrangements as a campaign weapon.
