Hochul pushes controversial NYC housing ballot measures despite Zohran Mamdani’s silence on the issue

Gov. Kathy Hochul came out to support controversial Election Day ballot measures that would boost the New York City mayor’s power over housing — but ducked questions on Zohran Mamdani’s glaring refusal to take a position on the issues.

Hochul refused to address the lefty Democratic nominee’s silence on ballot question Nos. 2, 3 and 4, which have roiled City Council members who fear losing control over zoning and approval processes for housing developments.

“I’m here to endorse these proposals because I’ve been working the last four years as governor to break down all the barriers to building affordable housing,” Hochul said, while handing out fliers about the proposals to voters on the Upper East Side.

“I’m all about taking down the barriers so we can start building so the young people you see here today have a chance of having an affordable future in New York City, starting with their rent,” she said — ducking the question about Mamdani cowering from taking a public stance.

The ballot measures were pushed by Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his re-election bid in September, potentially leaving his successor with newfound powers over housing projects.

Mamdani — the democratic socialist Queens assemblyman and favorite to win in Tuesday’s election — has very noticeably refused to take a stance on the ballot questions, despite making affordability and the housing crisis signature issues of his campaign.

Backing the measures would put him at odds with progressive allies in the City Council and some powerful unions like 32BJ SEIU, the massive labor group repping property service workers.

“I have not yet taken a position on those ballot amendment questions,” Mamdani said when pressed by his opponents, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, during the mayoral election debate two weeks ago.

His campaign didn’t return request for comment Monday.

Outgoing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, no relation to the mayor, is urging New Yorkers to vote no on the ballot measures.

“Our neighborhoods will get less truly affordable housing, less investment, and will be vulnerable to more unwelcome, unwanted gentrification,” she said last month.

Hochul also told New Yorkers to vote yes on ballot measure No. 6, which would give her and state lawmakers permission to reschedule mayoral elections so they coincide with presidential years.

“We have parts of our city where it is hard to elect Democrats, period,” Hochul told reporters.

“I want to increase the turnout, which happens in gubernatorial and presidential years, which are even years, so, as we’re doing across the state, giving Democrats a fighting chance to be representative, because we know how devastating it has been under Republican control,” she said.

Democrats passed and Hochul signed a measure in 2023 to move most local elections outside New York City to even-numbered years. The law is facing a last-ditch challenge by Republicans in federal court after New York’s highest court upheld it unanimously.