Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is a “rich person” hogging affordable housing from homeless New Yorkers — and it’s “time to move out,” ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote in a scathing social media post.
Cuomo unleashed his tirade on X Friday alongside a video of the left nominee and frontrunner for City Hall openly admitting he pays $2,300 for a one-bedroom apartment in the high-demand neighborhood of Astoria, Queens.
“Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment,” Cuomo wrote in the viral tweet that has racked up more than 19 million views.
“You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You’ve had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda,” he continued, pointing to the politician’s $142,000 base salary and the additional income his illustrator wife, Rama Duwaji, brings home.
The couple married earlier this year at the City Clerk’s office before jetting off for a small, but lavish Dubai engagement and wedding celebration.
They capped off their nuptials with a blockbuster, three-day affair at his family’s ritzy, secluded Ugandan compound, complete with masked security guards and a cellphone jamming system –– which Cuomo was quick to point out.
“No matter which way you cut it: Zohran Mamdani is a rich person. You are actually very rich.
“Yet you and your wife pay $2,300 a month, as you have bragged, for a nice apartment in Astoria. That should be housing for someone who needs it. We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis. Millions of low income New Yorkers need this apartment and an apartment like it. Yet your apartment remains rented to rich people who don’t need it,” Cuomo said.
“Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out.”
Mamdani had previously claimed he had plans to move out of his cheap digs. He told the New York Editorial Board in February he found the listing on StreetEasy back when he was making $47,000 per year as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor.
He claimed that at the time, he had no idea it was a rent-stabilized unit.
The average price of rent for a one-bedroom in the trendy Queens nabe is closer to $3,000, according to Apartment Advisor — meaning Mamdani saves an average of $8,400 per year more than his constituents.
“In that time since, I’ve become an assemblymember and I’m now able to pay for that apartment and able to also move out of that apartment and I plan on doing so. I don’t plan on living in that apartment for perpetuity,” he said.
Representatives for Mamdani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“The truth hurts and the truth is Mamdani is gaming a system meant to help those with way less privilege,” Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi told The Post.
“I understand his diehard supporters don’t know how to deal with his mask slipping,” he added, referencing backlash from Mamdani backers, “but the comments I see are full of New Yorkers who are appalled by his hypocrisy.”
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