Cuomo Proposes “Zoran’s Law” Amid Mayoral Campaign

As he maps out his campaign for mayor of New York City, former governor Andrew Cuomo has introduced a proposal dubbed “Zoran’s law.” This initiative aims to stop high-income individuals from occupying rent-stabilized apartments. The timing isn’t lost on many, as it directly targets his opponent, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who currently resides in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens.

Speaking to reporters, Cuomo stated, “Rent-stabilized apartments, when they become vacant, should be offered only to those in need of affordable housing—not to people like Zohran Mamdani.” The message was shared widely on social media.

Cuomo, who stepped down as governor in 2021 amidst several controversies, emphasized to Mamdani over the weekend that it was “time to move in.” His video posts have also circulated footage showing Mamdani paying around “$2,300 for a one-bedroom in Astoria.”

“There’s no justification for renting stabilizing units to affluent individuals,” Cuomo remarked. “Otherwise, you’re risking abuse of the system. My recommendation is to reserve these apartments by law for those who truly need affordable housing. That’s why I’m calling it ‘Zohran’s law’—it’s a misuse of resources.

Cuomo’s Challenge to Mamdani

Mamdani, known for his progressive policies, including a rent freeze, called out Cuomo during a campaign event by questioning the rationale behind this new law. “What’s the real objective here? Is it just to oust me from my apartment?” he pondered. He mentioned that Cuomo’s proposals often lead to more questions than answers, like how many New Yorkers might be displaced as a result.

Meanwhile, Mamdani’s platform promises to freeze rents for stable tenants and to utilize available resources to tackle housing needs. He believes that renting out units to wealthy individuals is a direct contradiction to promoting affordable housing.

Cuomo’s recent criticism also included a jab at Mamdani’s personal situation, highlighting that at “$2,300 a month,” he was actually paying a considerable sum for his apartment. “It’s time these places are filled by those who need them rather than those who can afford them,” Cuomo suggested.

The discourse is heating up, with Mamdani pointing out that Cuomo’s political history includes many such conflicts. He accused Cuomo of focusing more on political maneuvering than on meaningful policy. Mamdani questioned how the implementation of Cuomo’s proposal would affect actual New Yorkers.

In response to this debate, the Cuomo campaign elaborated that “Zohran’s law” applies only to vacant rent-stabilized apartments, aiming to ensure that income restrictions on potential tenants would allow for a fairer rental process. The incoming tenant’s income would, for instance, not be able to exceed $100,000 if they were considering a $2,500 monthly apartment.