Controversy Over Salary Increase for NYC Lawmakers

In December 2022, Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic candidate for mayor, voted alongside other legislators to significantly increase their salaries, raising the annual pay from $110,000 to $142,000. Critics argue this move contradicts his image as a champion of the working class and a political outsider.

The increase made New York State Assembly members among the highest-paid in the country, surpassing California’s salaries by $14,000. Mamdani, who resides in a rent-stabilized apartment, participated in a vote that boosted state legislative pay by nearly 80% over three years. This pay hike received broad approval in both legislative chambers, with an 85-52 vote in the Assembly.

Opposition members, including Republicans, condemned the timing and nature of the decision. State Senator Andrew Lanza suggested the raise would favor elites and diminish the diversity of real-world experience in government, criticizing Mamdani for supporting the bill despite publicly advocating for economic fairness.

Senator George Borello noted that the vote was ill-timed, occurring just before Christmas when public attention was low, and accused Mamdani of hypocrisy. “It’s hypocritical to speak about helping the poor while voting to increase your own salary,” Borello commented.

Former state Assemblyman Mike Lawler challenged Mamdani’s priorities, arguing that if he truly aimed to distribute wealth more evenly, he would support reducing legislative salaries to match the median full-time income in New York, which is approximately $69,000.

At the time, Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins acknowledged the unpopular nature of the raise but defended it as necessary for lawmakers to sustain their roles, saying, “We have to raise salaries eventually.” However, a legal challenge by Republicans has delayed the implementation of additional measures capping outside income at $35,000 until 2027.