Mamdani Critiques Cuomo in Housing Debate During Anti-Trump Tour
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, addressed a crowd at the Flatbush Gardens Community Center in Brooklyn on July 15, 2025, as part of his “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour. His remarks focused on housing issues amid escalating criticisms from former Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding Mamdani’s rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria. Mamdani emphasized the need to shift the conversation from personal attacks to the housing crisis affecting many New Yorkers.
Mamdani stated, “We must remember that Andrew Cuomo has spent more time talking about my apartment than asking why so many New Yorkers are being forced out of theirs.” His comments reflect a growing frustration with Cuomo’s focus on personal matters rather than the broader legislative issues impacting the city. This event marked Mamdani’s second anti-Trump gathering of the week, following his tour kickoff in Manhattan with Representative Jerry Nadler.
As part of his campaign, Mamdani is actively opposing President Donald Trump’s policies, which he describes as “authoritarian” and harmful to working-class individuals. He accused Cuomo of failing to address critical issues in housing while attacking Mamdani’s living situation. “While housing experts are ringing the alarm, Andrew Cuomo is ringing Donald Trump,” Mamdani remarked during his speech.
Cuomo has taken to social media to criticize Mamdani’s housing situation, releasing a video in which he highlights Mamdani’s admission of paying “$2,300 for my one bedroom in Astoria.” Cuomo’s latest proposal, dubbed “Zohran’s Law,” aims to restrict high-income individuals from occupying rent-stabilized apartments, a move that Mamdani has sharply criticized. Mamdani questioned the motivations behind Cuomo’s proposal, asking, “What do we know about this policy beyond the fact that it seeks to evict me from my apartment?”
Mamdani’s tour continues throughout the week, with stops scheduled in Staten Island, the Bronx, and Queens. His policies include an ambitious plan to freeze rents for all stabilized tenants, which he argues is necessary to combat the housing crisis in the city. According to his campaign website, “As Mayor, Zohran will immediately freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants and use every available resource to build the housing New Yorkers need and bring down the rent.”
Cuomo has previously dismissed Mamdani’s plans as “politically convenient,” claiming that a rent freeze would harm landlords and impair their ability to maintain properties. The former governor’s criticism has not dampened Mamdani’s resolve, who argues that the current administration’s policies are detrimental to New York’s working-class residents.
In response to Mamdani’s proposals, former Mayor Bill de Blasio came to his defense, stating, “I did a rent freeze and almost 2 million hard-working New Yorkers benefited.” De Blasio pointed out that while Mamdani advocates for a rent freeze, Cuomo opposes such measures.
As Mamdani’s anti-Trump tour unfolds, he remains focused on addressing the pressing issues of housing and affordability in New York City. His campaign aims to resonate with voters who are increasingly concerned about the affordability crisis in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
In a statement regarding Mamdani’s tour, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson characterized his policies as radical, suggesting they would harm the economy and public safety. Jackson asserted, “Comrade Mamdani is the American people’s worst nightmare. His communist policies will crater our economy.”
As the mayoral race heats up, the exchange of barbs between Mamdani and Cuomo illustrates the intense political landscape in New York City, where housing remains a critical issue for many residents. With the election on the horizon, Mamdani’s stance on rent control and housing affordability will likely play a pivotal role in shaping voter sentiment.
