Newly elected mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani seems to be getting a running start in his campaign promises. Reportedly, Mamdani says the city will be holding “Rental Ripoff” hearings with tenants across the five boroughs and taking action against “unconscionable” business practices in the coming months.
“Too many New Yorkers have been forced to pay more for less — living in unsafe, unconscionable, and unaffordable housing. Under my administration, that ends. Today’s executive order is the first step towards giving New Yorkers a voice in addressing the housing crisis that is pricing them out of our city,” Mamdani said during a news conference at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx.
Reportedly, Mamdani signed an executive order Sunday directing his new Office of Mass Engagement and other city agencies to hold the hearings within his first 100 days in office.
Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign has made housing affordability and tenant protections a central focus. One of his key promises is to freeze rent increases on New York City’s rent-stabilized apartments, protecting roughly two million tenants. This policy aims to provide immediate relief to working-class and middle-income families struggling with the city’s high rent levels.
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Beyond rent stabilization, Mamdani has proposed building 200,000 new union-built, rent-stabilized homes over the next decade as part of a broader effort to expand affordable housing.
Reportedly, the mayor’s office said New Yorkers will be able to testify about their biggest challenges as renters, from shoddy building conditions to hidden fees, during hearings in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
He also promised to strengthen tenant protections, including increased oversight of landlords, stronger enforcement against violations, and the creation of new city offices to hold negligent property owners accountable. To fund these initiatives, Mamdani has proposed raising corporate taxes and increasing taxes on high earners.
Mamdani’s housing plan is integrated with broader measures to reduce the cost of living, including proposals for free public transit and city-owned grocery stores.
Reportedly, Mamdani also appointed Dina Levy as his commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on Sunday as he announced the “Rental Ripoff” hearings.
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“Levy is an experienced and fearless housing leader, and I know that she will fight to protect tenants and tackle our housing crisis head-on,” Mamdani said.
“It is my honor to join forces with tenants, homeowners, and dedicated public servants at HPD as we work to usher in a new era of quality and affordability for all,” Levy said.
Zohran Mamdani’s early actions as mayor signal a clear focus on tackling housing affordability and tenant rights, demonstrating a willingness to use both executive authority and community engagement to address systemic issues. By prioritizing hearings and creating avenues for residents to share their experiences, his administration is emphasizing participatory governance and accountability in policy-making.
The broader agenda reflects an effort to link housing with overall cost-of-living concerns, indicating a holistic approach to urban challenges. Mamdani’s approach also highlights how municipal leadership can combine legislative proposals, administrative actions, and civic involvement to address pressing social issues. If executed effectively, these initiatives could have a lasting impact, but their scale and long-term success are still uncertain.