As New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani gets ready to take over his official duties on January 1, 2026, the City Council has already proposed a welcome gift for him and his team.
In a new bill, the NYC City Council has proposed a 16% pay raise for Mamdani and other senior officials.
The bill, introduced by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, and co-sponsored by 32 Council members, including prominent Mamdani allies Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler and Chi A. Ossé, would raise members’ salaries from $148,500 to $172,500, the New York Post has reported.
If passed, the pay hike would also apply to the new mayor, public advocate, comptroller and borough presidents, in a pay raise for members which last took place in 2016.
What would be Mamdani’s new salary?
If the bill comes to fruition, Mamdani’s annual pay would be nearly at $300,000, up from the current projected salary of $258,000, the outlet also said.
What’s next for the bill?
The legislation will be introduced next week, according to Fox News and a hearing on the matter is expected by the end of the year, allowing the next City Council to vote in January for a swifter approval.
Will Mamdani approve the bill?
Notably, Mamdani’s poll agenda has been centred around the affordability crisis in New York City. He has vowed to make bus rides free, freeze the rent on rent-stabilised apartments, bring in universal childcare and city-run grocery stores.
He also campaigned on a gradual increase of the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030 and in 2022, Mamdani had also voted for a pay raise for state legislators, when he was a state assembly member.
His stance on the bill, therefore, remains to be seen. He could either veto the bill or approve a law “making New York more affordable for the political class,” Fox News reported, quoting a source as saying.
