BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) — Newly-inaugurated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hit the ground running on Thursday afternoon, signing three executive orders designed to confront the city’s housing crisis.
One executive order will revive the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, which will serve as a central coordinating body to defend tenants’ rights, stand up to landlords, and ensure city agencies act swiftly on behalf of renters facing unsafe or illegal conditions.
Cea Weaver, who currently serves as executive director of Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Bloc, will lead the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants as executive director.
“Today, on the first day of this new administration, on the day where so many rent payments are due, we will not wait to deliver action. We will stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The other two executive orders establish task forces related to accelerating housing development.
The LIFT (Land Inventory Fast Track) task force will identify city-owned properties suitable for housing development.
The SPEED (Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development) task force will identify and remove bureaucratic and permitting barriers that drive up costs and slow the construction of housing.
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The task forces will be overseen by the deputy mayor for housing and planning.
The press conference was held at 85 Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn, a rent-stabilized building, where residents are threatening a rent strike.
The building, owned by Pinnacle Realty, is one of 90-plus buildings in bankruptcy proceedings set to be auctioned off to a different landlord who ranks No. 6 on the list of worst landlords in New York City, according to Mamdani.
He said the city will be taking action in the bankruptcy case, and will step in to represent the interests of the city and tenants.
“The city of New York has not lacked for tools or tactics. The city of New York has lacked for intent,” he said of the city’s legal action with landlord Pinnacle.
He has tasked Steve Banks, newly appointed as counsel corporation, to take action.
In addition to the housing-related executive orders, Mamdani also signed two others soon after taking office.
One order revoked all executive orders issued after Sept. 26, 2024, the day former New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted. Mamdani said “that was a date that marked a moment when many New Yorkers decided politics held nothing for them.”
A second order established that Mamdani will have five deputy mayors, less than during the Adams administration.
“Today marks the first step in building an administration that works for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “We’ve established the foundations of it, and now it’s time to deliver on our affordability agenda, tackle the challenges facing New Yorkers, and usher in a new era for New York City – one that proves that government can deliver for working people.”
When asked about the future of the Rent Guidelines Board, Mamdani said, “I continue to be confident that the Rent Guidelines Board will assess the landscape of tenants for rent-stabilized units across this city and find they’re in dire need of relief.”
Also, Mamdani said he will keep the recently-created Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.
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