Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly endorsed controversial Election Day ballot measures that would increase the New York City mayor’s authority over housing, while notably avoiding questions about mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to take a position on these issues.
Hochul declined to comment on the left-leaning Democratic nominee’s silence regarding ballot questions Nos. 2, 3, and 4. These measures have sparked concern among 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 as she handed out flyers 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 added, sidestepping questions about Mamdani’s reluctance to take a public stance.
These ballot measures were championed by Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his re-election bid in September. If passed, the measures could grant his successor expanded powers over housing projects.
Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist Queens assemblyman and favorite to win Tuesday’s mayoral election, has conspicuously avoided taking a position on these ballot questions. This is notable given that housing affordability and the housing crisis are central themes of his campaign.
Backing the measures could put Mamdani at odds with progressive allies in the City Council, as well as influential unions like 32BJ SEIU, the large labor group representing property service workers. When pressed on the issue during a mayoral election debate two weeks ago by his opponents—former Governor Andrew Cuomo and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa—Mamdani stated, “I have not yet taken a position on those ballot amendment questions.” His campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Outgoing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (no relation to the mayor) has urged 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.
In addition, Hochul urged voters to support ballot measure No. 6, which would allow her and state lawmakers to reschedule mayoral elections to coincide with presidential election years.
“Parts of our city have a hard time electing Democrats, period,” Hochul told reporters. “I want to increase turnout, which happens in gubernatorial and presidential years, which are even years. As we’re doing across the state, this will give Democrats a fighting chance to be representative, because we know how devastating it has been under Republican control.”
In 2023, Democrats passed, and Hochul signed, a law moving most local elections outside New York City to even-numbered years. The law currently faces a last-ditch challenge by Republicans in federal court, following a unanimous upholding by New York’s highest court.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/03/us-news/hochul-pushes-controversial-nyc-housing-ballot-measures-despite-zohran-mamdanis-silence-on-the-issue/
