Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani voted Tuesday to approve three controversial housing development-related poll questions after refusing for weeks to take a place on the measures.
As he went in to solid his poll Tuesday morning at Frank Sinatra College of the Arts in Astoria, Mamdani mentioned he would vote sure on poll questions 2, 3 and 4 due to the “urgent” have to construct extra housing throughout the town.
A few of his key allies, together with Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander and Gov. Hochul, have been supportive of the measures, arguing they’d be important instruments for addressing the town’s housing disaster.
However different distinguished Mamdani supporters, together with many Democratic members of the Metropolis Council, have been vehemently against the questions, arguing they offer the mayor an excessive amount of energy.
That dynamic left Mamdani in a fraught place, and he declined for weeks to say how he’d vote on the questions. Outdoors his polling web site in Astoria, he mentioned he determined to in the end again them in hopes the reforms would assist him as mayor to deal with the dearth of inexpensive flats within the metropolis.
“And I also understand that there are City Council members in opposition to these measures, and their oppositions is driven by commitment to their communities and a deep concern about investment in those communities, and I share the commitment to that investment and I look forward to working with them on delivering that.”
Barry Williams/New York Each day Information
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and his spouse, Rama Duwaji, vote at Frank Sinatra College of the Arts Excessive College Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 in Queens, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
Mamdani’s high opponent within the mayoral race, unbiased candidate Andrew Cuomo, has beforehand mentioned he helps all of the housing-related questions. Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, who has persistently polled behind each Cuomo and Mamdani, opposed all of the questions.
Collectively, the housing proposals may considerably pare down the facility of Metropolis Council members, who at the moment train de facto veto energy over growth of their districts because of the Council’s longstanding follow of member deference. Critics argue that works as a deterrent to housing progress.
Poll proposals 2, 3 and 4 would create a “fast track” for inexpensive housing, shorten the approvals course of for some developments and set up an inexpensive housing appeals board that’d give the mayor a pathway to override Council denial of some developments citywide.
Proponents of the questions — which have been superior by outgoing Mayor Adams — argue the measures would enable badly-needed housing to be constructed extra rapidly within the metropolis because it struggles with a dire housing scarcity and skyrocketing rents. Opponents have been involved in regards to the plans being a mayoral energy seize, particularly No. 4, which might create the citywide appeals board system.
Requested in regards to the No. 4 query after voting, Mamdani promised to make use of that energy responsibly if elected.
“That is a power, like all mayoral power, that must be used to deliver for New Yorkers, and I am looking forward to working alongside the City Council in delivering the kind of investments that so often communities have been denied, and to finally ensure that we understand the strength of this city be measured by the neighborhoods furthest from City Hall, not by the ones just closest around you,” he mentioned.
Mamdani additionally mentioned he voted in opposition to poll query 6, which may shift native metropolis elections to even-numbered years.
“I found the arguments in opposition to number 6 to be quite compelling, especially those making the case for New Yorkers to have a distinct opportunity to weigh their future,” the candidate mentioned.
Mamdani mentioned he additionally voted sure on the primary poll prop, which is able to decide whether or not to permit an Olympic sports activities complicated on state forest protect land within the Adirondacks. He checked sure, too, on query 5, which might digitize the town’s maps.
Requested how he voted within the mayoral race, Mamdani laughed and replied he marked his poll for the “best candidate in the race.”
Polls are open till 9 p.m. Tuesday.
