New Ethics Complaint Raises Questions on Mamdani’s Rent-Stabilized Apartment
The state’s ethics oversight agency is now reviewing a complaint that calls for an investigation into how Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani secured his rent-stabilized apartment, as well as his adherence to gift regulations for public officials.
Jason Soren, an economist affiliated with the American Institute for Economic Research, expressed concerns about the timeline of Mamdani’s tenancy in a letter dated August 12 to the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. He noted, "Public discourse has questioned the applicability of New York State ethics rules concerning his rental situation."
According to Mamdani, he has rented his one-bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens, for $2,300 monthly since before his election to the state Assembly in 2020. He has also stated that he was unaware of the unit’s rent-stabilized status at that time.
Soren, however, expressed skepticism regarding Mamdani’s unfamiliarity with state rent-regulation laws, given his past role as a foreclosure prevention specialist, where he aided tenants in avoiding eviction. "Mr. Mamdani claims he moved into the apartment prior to his public office election and was oblivious to its rent-stabilized classification," Soren remarked.
The economist stressed that if Mamdani was subject to ethics regulations at the start of his tenancy, it would be pivotal to investigate whether any assistance he received in obtaining the apartment could be classified as a gift under applicable laws. In New York, public officials are generally barred from receiving or soliciting gifts exceeding "nominal value" from entities doing business with the state, while the average rent for a similar market-rate apartment is about $3,000.
Soren pointed out that a thorough examination of the allegations related to gift regulations could "illuminate the situation and address the raised concerns." He emphasized the necessity for transparency to maintain public trust and reinforce confidence among constituents in Assembly District 36.
The scrutiny surrounding Mamdani’s rent-regulated apartment increased after former Governor Andrew Cuomo highlighted the issue during his campaign for mayor. Cuomo accused Mamdani of misusing the rent-regulated system, implying that, due to his affluent background, he should not occupy an apartment designated for those in greater financial need. The ex-governor, now campaigning as an independent, has even suggested the creation of “Zohran’s Law,” which would introduce income criteria for renting a rent-stabilized unit.
Mamdani’s campaign swiftly rebutted these allegations as unfounded, stating that he began his residency in the apartment while earning $47,000 per year.
A spokesperson for Mamdani, Dora Pekec, asserted, "Attempts by right-wing organizations and wealthy individuals to distract from Zohran Mamdani’s goals for affordable living in New York City will be futile, just as they were in the primary, where New Yorkers rejected Andrew Cuomo decisively."
The ethics commission acknowledged receipt of Soren’s complaint but noted that regulations prevent it from commenting on ongoing investigations.
Mamdani, who is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and a professor at Columbia University, has committed to advocating for the city’s rent guidelines board to freeze rents for nearly 1 million government-regulated apartments should he win the mayoral election.
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