Mayor Zohran Mamdani is officially turning down a pay raise that was recently approved by City Council members, Bloomberg reported. This move comes as the city moves forward with a legislative package that boosts salaries for a wide range of elected officials by 18 percent. While the goal of the legislation is to help these officials keep pace with the rising costs of inflation, it is certainly catching plenty of attention given the current economic climate in New York.
Mamdani addressed the situation at a news conference on Thursday. He made his stance very clear while repeating a pledge he had previously made to the public. “I will not accept a pay raise,” the mayor said at a news conference Thursday, repeating an earlier pledge. “I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door in New York City and they’ve said their concern is that the mayor makes too little.”
It is worth noting that this is the first time in a decade that City Council members have received a salary increase. Under the new rules, their pay will climb from $148,500 to $175,500 per year. The scope of these raises is quite broad, affecting several key roles. District attorneys will see their pay go from $212,800 to $251,500. The comptroller position is set to move from $209,050 to $247,100, while the public advocate will shift from $184,800 to $218,400. Even borough presidents are included in the change, with their salaries rising from $179,200 to $211,800.
The legislation was approved by a vote of 42-6
Even though he is declining the hike personally, Mamdani is still expected to sign the measure into law. The driving force behind the decision is a quadrennial commission that found price levels have climbed 31 percent over the last decade. City Council Speaker Julie Menin has also decided to forgo the salary increase for her current term, and she abstained from the vote entirely.
The financial impact of these changes is significant. The city expects the raises to cost $2.6 million this year and $17 million next year. This is happening at a time when the city is looking at multibillion-dollar deficits over the next four years. It is also a tricky moment because Mamdani is preparing to negotiate labor contracts for about 300,000 city employees…