New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Monday that he will be moving out of his rent-controlled Queens apartment and will reside at the official mayoral residence in Manhattan once he assumes office on January 1. After weeks of speculation about whether he would stay in his modest home to make a political statement about affordability, Mamdani said he will instead relocate to Gracie Mansion.
Gracie Mansion, located on the Upper East Side and overlooking the East River, spans more than 10,000 square feet. Built in 1799, it has been the traditional home of New York City mayors since 1942. Although it is not mandatory for a mayor to live there, the decision often carries symbolic weight. Most mayors have chosen to move in, though former mayor Michael Bloomberg was a notable exception.
Mamdani’s campaign was built around themes of affordability, housing reform and the struggle of working-class New Yorkers to remain in the city. For that reason, his decision about whether to stay in his Astoria apartment attracted unusual attention. Throughout the campaign he continued living in a rent-controlled two-bedroom unit, which critics argued he should have vacated given his income.
In his public statement, Mamdani said the choice to leave Queens was driven primarily by security needs rather than preference. He acknowledged that he and his wife, illustrator Rama Duwaji, did not want to leave their neighbourhood, but ultimately concluded that living at the mayor’s official residence would provide the safety necessary for their family and for those around them.
“We have called this neighborhood home as our city weathered a devastating pandemic, cruel attacks on immigrants, and years of an affordability crisis,” Mamdani said. “Time and again, this community has shown up for one another. We will miss it all.” The statement reflected a sense of reluctance as well as appreciation for the immigrant-rich community of Astoria where he built his political profile.
Mamdani, who is set to become the youngest New York City mayor in over a century, has also been criticised over his rent-controlled arrangement. He pays $2,300 a month for the apartment — affordable by New York standards — and detractors argued that given his salary as a state assembly member and his wife’s earnings, he should not have continued living in a unit intended for lower-income tenants.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani appears focused on beginning his term without further distractions. Advisors say he wants to shift attention toward his agenda on housing, transit and economic justice rather than his personal living arrangements. He will take up residence at Gracie Mansion immediately upon being sworn in and is expected to split time between the mansion and City Hall as he begins assembling his administration.
