Zohran's proposed legislation, Cuomo's politically-charged housing plan, is not applicable to Zohran himself
New York's Proposed "Zohran's Law" Sparks Debate Over Affordable Housing
A new political housing proposal, dubbed "Zohran's Law," has been introduced by Andrew Cuomo, a candidate for NYC Mayor in 2025. This proposal aims to impose income limits on new tenants leasing vacant rent-stabilized apartments to ensure these units go to lower- and moderate-income New Yorkers rather than wealthier tenants.
Under Cuomo's proposal, the incoming individual income would be capped so that the annual rent makes up at least 30% of that income. For instance, for an apartment with $2,500 monthly rent ($30,000 annually), the incoming tenant’s income could not exceed $100,000 annually.
While the proposal has received mixed reactions, it has been framed as a response to wealthy individuals "gaming the system" by occupying affordable units. The law is named after Cuomo’s political opponent Zohran Mamdani, who currently or recently held a rent-stabilized apartment but plans to move on.
However, the proposal faces skepticism from landlords and tenant advocates. Some landlords consider it a low priority, while tenant advocates warn it would add bureaucracy and complicate housing access for people already struggling.
Critics argue that the law could reduce market flexibility and might not effectively address affordability, as it does not prevent wealthier tenants inside rent-stabilized units from staying but only prevents them from occupying units upon vacancy.
Mamdani’s campaign spokesperson called the proposal desperate and out-of-touch, emphasizing dignity and critiquing Cuomo's approach as catering to Republican donors.
The Small Property Owners of New York has advocated for means testing in Albany, but key legislators like Assembly Housing Committee Chair Linda Rosenthal have indicated little support for the proposal. The more pressing issue, according to the New York Apartment Association, is the 200,000 apartments that are at risk of bankruptcy due to rent freezes.
It remains to be seen whether "Zohran's Law" will gain legislative backing. The proposal requires approval from state lawmakers, and the Cuomo campaign has yet to elaborate on how or whether the threshold for eligibility would differ for multi-income households.
- The debate over affordable housing in New York City has extended to policy-and-legislation, with Andrew Cuomo's "Zohran's Law" proposal discussing income limits on new tenants leasing vacant rent-stabilized apartments as a means to ensure these units are allocated to lower- and moderate-income residents.
- The politics of housing affordability in NYC are complex, with Cuomo's "Zohran's Law" facing skepticism from both landlords and tenant advocates, who argue that it could potentially reduce market flexibility and add bureaucracy, making housing access more difficult for those already struggling.
