Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has criticized mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for allegedly living in a rent-stabilized apartment while earning a more than six-figure income. In a public post, Cuomo slammed the Big Apple mayoral opponent for occupying a subsidized apartment despite his apparent affluence, calling on him to vacate the property to make way for those in need. The issue has sparked a political debate over housing equity and the ethics of using subsidized housing when financial resources are abundant.
Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani but is contesting him again as an independent in the general election, cited Mamdani’s affluent upbringing, more than six-figure income, and international property ownership among other factors. The former governor also pointed to Mamdani’s wife’s employment as contributing to the household’s financial stability. “No matter which way you cut it: Zohran Mamdani is a rich person,” Cuomo said. “You are actually very rich. Yet you and your wife pay $2,300 a month for a nice apartment in Astoria. That should be housing for someone who needs it.”
The former governor also highlighted the severity of New York City’s affordability crisis, noting that millions of low-income residents are struggling to find reasonably-priced apartments. The median rent in the city has reached $3,397, a nearly $200 increase since 2024, according to Realtor.com. “Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it,” Cuomo said. “Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.”
In addition to the housing issue, earlier this week Cuomo criticized Mamdani for owning property in Uganda despite the country’s anti-LGBT policies. “Up until now, Zohran Mamdani and his campaign have successfully evaded any scrutiny: He talks like Bernie but lives like Bezos,” a Cuomo spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “It turns out handing the keys of New York City to a no-show, do-nothing assemblyman hypocrite is a bad idea. Andrew Cuomo is running to protect our streets, for REAL affordability, and to build a new New York City by giving opportunity to those who actually need it.”