Zohran Mamdani is wasting no time. In his first week as New York City mayor, he’s already signed executive orders to launch two new task forces, one to unlock city-owned land for housing and the other to remove red tape that slows down production. He’s also announced public “rental ripoff” hearings to spotlight unfair or illegal landlord practices.
His message is clear: The city’s housing affordability crisis demands urgent action, especially for the renters most at risk of being priced out. It’s the message that helped catapult the 34-year-old into office, and it’s now shaping every move he makes.
But Mamdani is now facing the most stubborn challenge in politics and housing: time. No matter how bold the plan, it can take years for renters to feel relief, and even longer for a citywide shift in affordability to take hold…