Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, described by Andrew Cuomo as a “rich man,” advocates for affordable housing in New York City. Cuomo made this remark in a thoughtful social media post, reflecting on his own experience of paying $2,300 for a one-bedroom apartment in a sought-after area of Queens. He shared this on Friday along with videos highlighting Mamdani’s position in the race.
In his post, Cuomo discussed the stark reality of a single mother and her children spending the night in a homeless shelter somewhere in the city. This particular tweet, which he called a “virus tweet,” has attracted over 31,000 views.
Cuomo pointed out that despite Mamdani’s advocacy, he enjoys a privileged lifestyle. He noted, “You’ve become rich and married an even richer woman. Your weddings were held on three continents, and you own property in Uganda, a country with notable issues.” Mamdani, who is himself a politician earning a basic salary of $142,000, has additional income from his wife, Rama Duwaji, who is an illustrator.
The couple organized a lavish engagement and wedding celebration in Dubai, following a more low-key ceremony at the city clerk’s office earlier this year. This grand event was heavily secured, featuring masked guards and even a mobile phone jamming system, highlighting the couple’s intent to maintain privacy.
Cuomo stated, “No matter how you look at it, Zohran Mamdani is rich. Like, really rich.”
He criticized Mamdani’s situation, saying, “Even though you pay $2,300 a month for a lovely apartment, it should ideally provide shelter for those who truly need it. We are facing a significant affordability crisis in housing.” Cuomo has called for action, urging leaders to demonstrate moral clarity in addressing the needs of struggling families.
Mamdani had previously expressed intentions to move from his current affordable unit, which he discovered was rent-stabilized while earning $47,000 annually as a housing counselor. He mentioned being unaware of its status at the time he rented it.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the trendy Queens neighborhood is nearly $3,000. According to sources, Mamdani benefits from savings of about $8,400 a year when compared to others in the area.
Since becoming a council member, Mamdani has indicated he can afford to move out, stating, “I’m not planning to stay in that apartment permanently.”
His representatives have yet to respond to inquiries for comment.
Cuomo’s spokesman expressed that “the truth can be hard to swallow,” suggesting that Mamdani’s privileged background makes it difficult for him to genuinely represent those less fortunate. He acknowledged the backlash from Mamdani’s supporters and remarked on their difficulty in grappling with the contradictions presented.
