Mamdani’s Housing Agenda: Early Lessons From New York City

In this 90-minute Shelterforce webinar, we direct Shelterforce’s national housing and community economic development lens to the Big Apple. In November 2025, the nation’s largest city, home to over 8.5 million people, elected democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as its mayor, capturing the imagination of millions not just in New York City, but across the nation. Housing justice and affordability were central to Mamdani’s campaign. Freezing the rent on rent-stabilized apartments got the most public attention, but the effort to promote housing justice also involves tackling other challenges, including enforcing tenant protections, promoting alternative ownership models, and supporting greater housing production more broadly. Panelists: Margy Brown, executive director of the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board Deyanira Del Rio, executive director of the New Economy Project Cea Weaver, director of the New York City Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants Ben Wetzler, senior research manager of Open New York Barika Williams, executive director of the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development Moderated by Steve Dubb, Strategic Initiatives Editor, Shelterforce