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New York Metropolis socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was pressed Tuesday on his pledge to be President Trump’s “worst nightmare” alongside together with his plan to freeze lease, which has been criticized by many landlords within the metropolis.
“What I’ve mentioned again and again is I can’t take a reflexive method in refusing to talk to anyone particular person, relying on their politics,” Mamdani advised Fox Information Nationwide Correspondent Brian Llenas at a Tuesday press convention when requested about his earlier declare that his administration can be Trump’s “worst nightmare” and if that risk rings hole given the quantity of federal energy and funding the president yields.
“I’m trying to work with anybody as long as it is to the advantage of New Yorkers,” Mamdani continued. “That is the excellence between myself and Andrew Cuomo. One in every of many is that he referred to as Donald Trump not on the query of how can we serve New York Metropolis, not on the query of how can we defend this metropolis from these cuts, however quite, how may we work collectively to subvert the desire of Democratic main voters?”
Llenas adopted up by asking how voters might be assured Mamdani will not be reflexive and may work with the White Home, given he’s presently on a press tour throughout the town’s 5 boroughs particularly attacking Trump.
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New York Metropolis mayoral candidate and democratic State Consultant Zohran Mamdani campaigns in New York Metropolis on April 16, 2025. Voters will head to the polls on June 24, 2025, to vote within the Democratic main within the New York Metropolis mayoral election. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP through Getty Photographs)
“What this tour is reflective of is the truth that Donald Trump is attacking this metropolis,” Mamdani answered. “It is attacking its individuals. It is attacking the very material of what we name dwelling. And we have spoken about it in a fiscal sense, when it comes to what it should imply to steal meals from the hungry, what it should imply to throw sick individuals off of their insurance coverage, what it should imply to make it much more tough to afford the town. And so, sure, it is a tour towards the Trump administration’s assault on New York Metropolis voters.”
Mamdani added that if Trump “desires to choose up the telephone” to work on points like low cost groceries that he’s “prepared to work with him on that” nevertheless it can’t be a “partnership on the expense of the individuals within the metropolis.”
Mamdani has confronted sturdy criticism, together with from New York House Affiliation CEO Kenny Burgos in a current interview with Fox Information Digital, about his plan to “freeze” lease within the metropolis for some New Yorkers.
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Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who received the Democratic main for mayor of New York Metropolis, speaks at an endorsement occasion from the union DC 37 on July 15, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
Mamdani was requested what he would say to those that argue lease freezes hold housing provide decrease whereas denying landlords and builders the mandatory funds to construct extra housing or preserve their properties, a priority echoed by Burgos in his feedback to Fox Information Digital.
“The lease freezes that we’re talking about, these are lease freezes which have already taken place in New York Metropolis,” Mamdani answered. “They occurred thrice underneath the earlier administration. The problems that we’re having of housing provide, these are long-term points in New York Metropolis, a few of which need to do with politics and coverage. A few of which additionally need to do with course of.”
“And these are critically essential for us to confront because the leaders of this metropolis, as a result of what we’re seeing is a emptiness charge that’s so low that it’s suffocating the town’s capability to proceed to develop and be certain that we will welcome extra individuals right here.”
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Candidate for New York Metropolis mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks throughout a press convention whereas campaigning outdoors a Subway station in New York Metropolis, U.S., April 1, 2025. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)
Mamdani continued by saying what he has “heard from landlords” is main issues about insurance coverage.
“The truth that insurance coverage has doubled lately and I see an instance in a lot of these landlords coming collectively to create their very own insurance coverage entity,” Mamdani mentioned. “I’ll butcher the identify, however Milford Avenue Captive, which has managed to scale back insurance coverage prices, that is one thing that the town can construct upon with extra vital funding.”
“I’ve additionally heard from these similar landlords that a problem they’ve is just not {that a} tenant can’t afford the three or 4 or 5% enhance that the Hire Tips Board is passing, as per the directive from Eric Adams. It is that there are some tenants who cannot afford their lease in any respect,” Mamdani mentioned.
Mamdani went on to name for extra lease vouchers, saying that there are “so many” New Yorkers dwelling in rent-stabilized housing that may profit from CityFHEPS.
“That would truly enhance the amount of cash that these landlords take dwelling in lease, however the metropolis hasn’t paid sufficient,” Mamdani mentioned.
“These earlier lease freezes had been momentary, had been they not?,” Mamdani was pressed by Llenas.
“I’ve spoken a few four-year lease freeze,” Mamdani responded earlier than transferring on to the following query.
