NEW YORK – Today, the New York State Tenant Bloc released its first-ever endorsements for New York City Mayor: Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, telling voters to rank them #1 and #2 respectively. Leaders of the NYS Tenant Bloc voted to endorse Mamdani and Lander for their commitment to reducing housing costs and improving living conditions for tenants, who make up 70% of New York City. On May 15, NYS Tenant Bloc will host an endorsement rally with Mamdani and Lander.
Mamdani’s call for a four-year rent freeze from day one of his campaign and continued focus on the affordability crisis facing New Yorkers earned him the first spot on NYS Tenant Bloc ballots. Lander’s long-time advocacy for tenant protections and detailed plans to confront the homelessness crisis and build permanently affordable social housing earned him the second spot on ballots. Lander testified to the Rent Guidelines Board on April 24 that the data on landlord profits and tenant incomes supports the case for a rent freeze.
In addition to the endorsements, the Tenant Bloc is telling voters not to rank Andrew Cuomo on their ballots in the June 24 primary election. Cuomo is backed by millions of dollars of real estate cash and a committed opponent of the tenant movement. During his governorship, Cuomo repeatedly blocked tenant protections and cut homelessness programs while rewarding his real estate donors with massive tax breaks. If elected mayor, he is poised to once again put real estate interests above tenants.
“I am so proud to have the support of the NYS Tenant Bloc. Too many New Yorkers are being forced to choose between paying the rent and buying groceries or medication. Making our city more affordable starts with freezing the rent for 2.4 million rent stabilized tenants—and that’s exactly what I’ll do as Mayor. This is a campaign to lower the cost of living and ensure every New Yorker has a safe, affordable home. With the power of our city’s tenant majority, I believe we will win,” said Zohran Mamdani, Assembly Member and mayoral candidate.
“Housing affordability and the homelessness crisis are the top issues facing New Yorkers and must be treated like the emergency they are. On day one, I will declare a housing state of emergency and work closely with tenants and the NYS Tenant Bloc to curb skyrocketing rents and build housing that working families can afford. A better-run New York City is a more affordable New York City,” said Brad Lander, City Comptroller and mayoral candidate.
“Tenants need a champion in Gracie Mansion. Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander have proved they will fight for what’s best for tenants – the majority of New Yorkers – not real estate interests. We are excited to endorse them both and remind voters not to rank Andrew Cuomo, the architect of the housing crisis we are currently in. No candidate can win without the tenant vote; Mamdani and Lander have given tenants something tangible to vote for,” said Cea Weaver, director of the New York State Tenant Bloc.
The high cost of housing has been a top priority for voters with a recently released poll by Data for Progress finding that 54% of New Yorkers are considering leaving over housing costs, and 83% of likely Democratic voters in New York City support a rent freeze on rent stabilized apartments.
A recent analysis from the Community Service Society shows a rent freeze would save New Yorkers up to roughly $7 billion or an average of nearly $600 per month. Last month the Rent Guidelines Board found that landlord incomes have increased 12% – the biggest jump in 30 years. The Rent Guidelines Board appointed by Mayor Eric Adams voted last week to hike rents up to 7.75%.
The NYS Tenant Bloc has launched a campaign to organize 20,000 tenant voters to vote only for mayoral candidates who will freeze the rent. Since February, hundreds of tenants have canvassed across New York City, collecting thousands of petition signatures demanding that candidates commit to a rent freeze.
“Tenants will decide who becomes the next mayor. Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander understand the power of the tenant vote and are dedicated to lowering the cost of living in our city. We look forward to working with their campaigns to beat Andrew Cuomo and put tenants first,” said Joanne Grell, co-chair of the Freeze the Rent campaign for the New York State Tenant Bloc.
“Working New Yorkers deserve to thrive, but skyrocketing rents make that impossible. Tenants need a mayor who will go to bat for them from day one. We know Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander are committed to helping tenants, just like we know Andrew Cuomo is only interested in helping his real estate cronies,” said Andrea Shapiro of Met Council Action and co-chair of the Freeze the Rent Campaign.
“From Chinatown to Sunset Park and Jamaica to Astoria, thousands of working class tenants are uniting to freeze the rents for four years. As working class immigrants, CAAAV Voice members stay in the city because rent control makes it possible. New York City should be a place where the people who work the hardest to build this city can thrive. As leaders of the citywide rent freeze campaign, CAAAV Voice is excited to be part of the NYS Tenant Bloc endorsement of mayoral candidates that will be accountable to tenants and our demand of a citywide rent freeze,” said Alina Shen, Organizing Director at CAAAV Voice and co-chair of the Freeze the Rent Campaign.
