Cuomo Slams Mamdani’s Apartment, and NYC’s Housing Debate Explodes
NEW YORK – August 13, 2025:Get this:Andrew Cuomo, now running for mayor, is going after his rival, Zohran Mamdani, for living in a rent-stabilized apartment while making a good chunk of money. Cuomo’s move—a social media blitz and a proposed law he’s calling Zohran’s Law—has turned a local squabble into a city-wide fight about affordable housing, income inequality, and who deserves a break on rent. This all comes as polls show Mamdani way ahead of Cuomo.
The Dirt and How It Spread
Cuomo’s attack, which started over the weekend, claims that Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who makes $143,000 a year, is hogging a rent-stabilized apartment that should go to a family in need. In a tweet that’s been shared like crazy, Cuomo said, “Last night, somewhere in NYC, a single mom and her kids slept in a shelter because Zohran Mamdani is living in her rent-controlled apartment.” He’s also bashed Mamdani for his rich background and owning property overseas.
Mamdani is fighting back, saying he qualified for the apartment when he was earning much less—like $47,000. His team is calling Cuomo’s attacks desperate and ridiculous and pointing out Cuomo’s own history of legal problems. A Mamdani spokesperson said Cuomo is just trying to distract from his focus on housing solutions.
Zohran’s Law: What’s That About?
Cuomo isn’t stopping there. He’s pushing a new law called Zohran’s Law that would make sure new tenants in rent-stabilized apartments really need the help, basically saying the rent has to be at least 30% of their income. He says this is to stop rich people from grabbing apartments meant for people with modest incomes.
So, if an apartment costs $2,500 a month, a new tenant couldn’t make more than $100,000 a year. This is a direct shot at Mamdani, who wants to freeze rent on all stabilized apartments.
People are split on this idea. Some housing people agree that rent control isn’t always going to the right people, but others, like Ellen Davidson from The Legal Aid Society, think it would be a nightmare that could screw people over by pushing them into apartments they can’t afford.
Politics and the Election
Cuomo’s attack is a risky move since he’s way behind in the polls. A recent poll shows Mamdani leading by 19 points, with 44% of voters supporting him compared to Cuomo’s 25%. The poll also shows people don’t really like Cuomo right now.
Cuomo’s team is trying to paint Mamdani as a fake, saying his housing situation makes his policies look bad. Cuomo hopes this will get New Yorkers on his side—people who are fed up with the housing mess and think politicians are out of touch.
Cuomo is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary. This is messing up the Democratic vote, making the race tougher. This attack shows he will do anything to the election about Mamdani, not himself.
Rent Stabilization in NYC: The Basics
NYC’s rent stabilization program covers about a million apartments—around 40% of all rentals. It’s meant to keep rent increases in check and keep neighborhoods stable.
Before, apartments could lose rent stabilization if the rent got too high and the tenant made over $200,000. But that changed in 2019, so now rent stabilization stays with the apartment no matter how much the tenant makes. This is important because it means Mamdani’s current income doesn’t matter.
This whole debate shows the big question about housing: Should rent stabilization be for everyone, or just for those who need it most? Cuomo’s attack puts this right in the middle of the mayoral race.
What’s Next?
The outcome of this fight will have a big impact on NYC’s housing policy and the election. If Cuomo gains ground, people might start talking more about targeting rent stabilization to those who really need it.
But if Mamdani can make Cuomo look like a desperate has-been, he could win over even more young, progressive, and working-class voters. The race is now not just about solutions but about who gets people’s problems.
All this focus on one apartment shows how important housing is in NYC. It shows how personal and political the issue of affordability has become for New Yorkers.
