Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, has emerged as a controversial figure in the New York City mayoral race, drawing criticism from left-wing candidates and tenant advocates who label him as ‘landlords’ favorite candidate.’
On Friday, a coalition of Democratic primary candidates endorsed by the Working Families Party gathered outside City Hall to highlight what they describe as Cuomo’s problematic housing record during his time in office.
Joanne Grell, co-chair of the Freeze the Rent campaign, stated, ‘We’re here today because your landlord’s favorite mayoral candidate is once again trying to position himself as a leader of our city.’
Cuomo’s critics pointed to alarming statistics regarding housing during his tenure, highlighting that rents had increased by 33% across the state while homelessness saw a 50% uptick in the city, as reported by census data from 2021.
The NYS Tenant Bloc also accused Cuomo of exploiting loopholes in rent laws in 2011 and 2015, ultimately leading to thousands of apartments losing their rent control status.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, also a mayoral hopeful, did not hold back in his condemnation of Cuomo, calling him a ‘corrupt ego maniac’ and emphasizing that he prioritizes his own interests over housing justice for New Yorkers.
Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who currently ranks second in the polls behind Cuomo, focused attention on the over $2.3 million in donations that Cuomo has accepted from real estate interests through his super PAC.
Mamdani critiqued Cuomo’s campaign for reportedly using ChatGPT to craft a housing plan, remarking on the incongruity of Cuomo relying on technology for a platform addressing housing concerns, given the widespread apprehension among New Yorkers regarding affordability and housing access.
Both Lander and Mamdani have vowed not to accept donations from corporate PACs or lobbyists, emphasizing their commitment to representing the interests of everyday New Yorkers.
In 2019, Cuomo enacted the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), which aimed to enhance tenant rights and expand rent control regulations.
Despite this, New York witnessed a loss of 66,000 rent-stabilized apartments, an 8% decrease, in 2021, the same year Cuomo indicated regret over signing the tenant-friendly bill.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, responded to the criticisms, citing the former governor’s long-standing commitment to fighting for tenant rights.
Azzopardi noted that Cuomo created a tenant protection unit to combat landlord exploitation and worked on initiatives that financed the construction of 100,000 affordable housing units along with 6,000 supportive housing units across the state.
He also highlighted Cuomo’s experience as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton, asserting that ‘New Yorkers know he’s the candidate with the experience and the record to help fix what’s broken in this city.’
In response to the rally, Azzopardi dismissed the criticisms as ‘gaslighting from far-left political operatives’ and suggested that the array of candidates challenging Cuomo lacks a coherent vision or substantial accomplishments of their own.
As the race continues, the diverging perspectives on housing policies demonstrate the stark contrasts between Cuomo and his left-wing opponents, reinforcing the debate on how best to address New York City’s housing crisis.
image source from：https://nypost.com/2025/04/18/us-news/cuomo-is-landlords-favorite-candidate-lefty-nyc-mayoral-hopefuls-and-tenants-say-slamming-ex-govs-housing-record/
