New York mayor Mamdani unveils housing-focused agenda in first executive actions

New York City’s newly sworn-in mayor Zohran Mamdani announced three executive orders focused on boosting housing affordability and strengthening tenant protections. The measures target landlord accountability, faster housing development, and streamlined permitting to ease the city’s cost-of-living pressures.

Suheir Sheikh/Reuters

January 02, 2026

New York City’s new mayor Zohran Mamdani signs executive orders targeting housing affordability and stronger tenant protections on his first day in office.

Reuters

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, sworn in as New York City's mayor on Thursday (January 1), announced three executive orders aimed at improving housing affordability and tenant protections.

The measures include reviving the Mayor's Office to protect tenants, launching a land inventory task force to accelerate housing development, and creating a task force to streamline permitting processes.

The 34-year-old campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and was sharply critical of Republican President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has fallen over the past year amid economic concerns.

Mamdani emphasized his commitment to holding landlords accountable and addressing bureaucratic hurdles to ensure affordable housing for residents.

-Suheir Sheikh/Reuters

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, sworn in as New York City's mayor on Thursday (January 1), announced three executive orders aimed at improving housing affordability and tenant protections.

The 34-year-old campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and was sharply critical of Republican President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has fallen over the past year amid economic concerns.

Mamdani emphasized his commitment to holding landlords accountable and addressing bureaucratic hurdles to ensure affordable housing for residents.

-Suheir Sheikh/Reuters