The six-story apartment building in a gentrifying section of Astoria, Queens would be unremarkable were it not for its famous tenant: Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n
But now the residence is at the center of a debate over whether Mamdani, who earns $142,000 a year as an assemblymember, should be able to live in a rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment costing $2,300 a month.<\/p>\n
His rival Andrew Cuomo says no. The former governor argued that Mamdani was \u201cstealing affordable housing from the poor<\/a>.\u201d He pitched \u201cZohran\u2019s Law,\u201d<\/a> which would mandate that newly vacant rent-regulated units be rented only to New Yorkers who pay at least 30% of their income in rent. The proposal has sparked an ongoing conversation among many New Yorkers about the cost of living, and whether Mamdani\u2019s focus on affordability rings hollow.<\/p>\n But most people who live in or near Mamdani\u2019s building said Friday that they didn\u2019t think the assemblymember\u2019s income should disqualify him from renting his apartment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just something they\u2019re trying to use against him,\u201d said Barbara Souza, 47, who lives in the building and has spotted Mamdani leaving in the mornings. \u201cIt\u2019s not indecent or immoral.\u201d<\/p>\n Mamdani has said he moved into the building when he was making $47,000 a year as a foreclosure counselor. He said he was unaware that the apartment, which he found on StreetEasy, was rent stabilized. The building has an elevator and laundry room.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s comfortable, but it\u2019s nothing special,\u201d Souza said.<\/p>\n Cuomo lives in an $8,000-a-month luxury apartment in Midtown.<\/a><\/p>\n Cuomo lives in the Oriana building, which features a pet spa, library, roof deck and other luxury amenities.<\/p>\n Brigid Bergin<\/p>\n Some New Yorkers, including housing experts, pointed out that Cuomo\u2019s proposal for means testing would require tenants to meet the definition of rent-burdened. Landlords are often wary of renting to tenants who spend 30% or more of their income on rent.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Andrew Cuomo being a hack,\u201d said Cailyn Schiltz, a 25-year-old communications professional who lives in a market-rate building down the block.\u200a She said such a law \u201cwould effectively kick out the middle class.\u201d<\/p>\n