Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani said Tuesday he was voting for four housing ballot measures that would streamline development approvals and shift power away from the New York City Council, revealing his stance as he headed to his poll site.
Mamdani had not previously disclosed how he would vote on the questions, which are aimed at addressing the city's housing shortage. If passed, they would significantly reshape how major real estate projects are advanced citywide.
“I think we need to urgently build more housing … across the five boroughs,” Mamdani said on Election Day. “And we also need to ensure that that housing is high quality, creating high-quality union jobs.”
The measures, which were developed by a commission appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, would fast-track the approval of affordable housing, simplify the review for smaller housing and infrastructure projects and create an appeals board that could overturn City Council land-use decisions. The fourth and less controversial measure would create a unified digital map of the city, which would help developers and planners propose development changes.
But if approved, the measures would dramatically alter the balance of power in city government. Land-use and zoning decisions are one of the Council’s biggest powers and the proposals will take a lot of that authority away and give it to the mayor’s office. The appeals board, for instance, would comprise three members: the Council speaker, the local borough president and the mayor.
The Council has lobbied heavily against the questions, arguing they could potentially undermine community input in negotiations with developers. Some labor unions have also expressed concerns along similar lines. Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul and city Comptroller Brad Lander, two Mamdani allies, have expressed strong support for the changes.
Mamdani said if elected he would work with the Council to make sure neighborhoods across the city receive infrastructure investments alongside more housing.
“I also understand that there are councilmembers in opposition to these measures and their opposition is driven by a commitment to their communities and a deep concern about investment in those communities,” he said. “I share the commitment to that investment.”
Responding to Mamdani’s announcement, City Council spokesperson Benjamin Fang-Estrada reiterated councilmembers’ opposition to the measures.
“These misleading ballot proposals permanently change the city’s constitution to weaken democracy, lasting beyond the next mayor when we inevitably have a mayor who is bad on housing, equity and justice for communities,” he said in a statement.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, has said he supports the measures, but last Friday noted he would seek to protect “the character of low-density neighborhoods.” Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has said he opposes the proposals, criticizing them as detrimental to community input.
Mamdani also said Tuesday he would vote against a ballot measure that would move local elections to even years to coincide with presidential elections, but did not immediately explain his reasoning. The initiative seeks to boost turnout in city elections, though opponents worry it could take attention away from local issues and down-ballot races.
The Democratic nominee added that he would vote for a ballot measure that would retroactively authorize the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County and make clear it complies with New York’s constitution. The measure would add at least 2,500 acres of forest in another part of the Adirondacks in a land-swap deal.
This story has been updated with additional information.
