Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will leave his Queens apartment for the official mayoral residence, citing security and focus on his affordability agenda
NEW YORK: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced he will leave his rent-controlled Queens apartment for the official mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion.
The Democratic socialist confirmed the move to the Upper East Side mansion, which takes effect after his January 1 inauguration.
The 1799-built Gracie Mansion has been the mayor’s official residence since 1942, though living there is not mandatory.
This had sparked speculation on whether Mamdani, who campaigned on housing affordability, would depart his modest two-bedroom home.
Most mayors have resided there, with former mayor Michael Bloomberg being a notable exception.
In a statement, Mamdani said the decision with his wife, illustrator Rama Duwaji, was primarily for security reasons.
They expressed reluctance to leave their diverse Astoria, Queens neighborhood.
“We have called this neighborhood home as our city weathered a devastating pandemic, cruel attacks on immigrants, and years of an affordability crisis,” the statement said.
It added the choice centred on family safety and focusing fully on enacting the “affordability agenda New Yorkers voted for.”
Mamdani, set to be the youngest New York mayor in over a century, has faced criticism for living in subsidised housing.
Opponents argued his state assembly salary and his wife’s income meant they did not need the rent subsidy, which provided a modest $2,300 monthly rent by city standards. – AFP
