New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was sworn in at midnight and again publicly several hours later, used his first full day in office on Thursday to issue new executive orders focused on landlords and housing development. Mamdani said the city would also pursue what he described as “precedent-setting action” to intervene in a private landlord bankruptcy case that he said involves 93 buildings across New York City.
“Today is the start of a new era for New York City,” Mamdani said. “It is inauguration day. It is also the day that the rent is due.”
Speaking at an apartment building in Brooklyn, Zohran Mamdani described the actions as an early test of whether city government will directly challenge landlords over housing conditions and intervene in legal proceedings that could affect whether tenants are able to remain in their homes.
Mamdani said residents who attended his inauguration were returning to apartments where, he argued, landlords fail to make necessary repairs, rents continue to rise, and tenants face ongoing problems such as infestations and inadequate heat. He said his administration “will not wait to deliver action” and “will stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city.”
Mamdani announced three housing-related executive orders during the news conference, beginning with the revival of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. He said the office will focus on addressing tenant complaints and enforcing accountability for landlords who fail to remedy hazardous living conditions, Fox News reported.
“We will make sure that 311 violations are resolved,” Mamdani said, adding that the administration will hold “slumlords” accountable for “hazardous and dangerous threats” to tenant well-being.
Mamdani said his second executive order establishes a “LIFT” task force, a land-inventory initiative intended to leverage city-owned property to speed housing development. He said the task force will review municipal holdings and identify parcels suitable for housing construction by July 1.
The third executive order creates a “SPEED” task force — short for “Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development.” Mamdani said the group will focus on eliminating permitting and regulatory hurdles that slow housing projects.
Both task forces will be overseen by Lila Joseph, the city’s deputy mayor for housing and planning, according to the mayor, Fox added.
“These are sweeping measures, but it is just the beginning of a comprehensive effort to champion the cause of tenants” over any concerns from landlords, Mamdani said.
Mamdani earlier Thursday signed Executive Order No. 1, which rescinds all mayoral executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams on or after Sept. 26, 2024, unless they are specifically reissued by Mamdani’s administration.
He also signed a second executive order establishing the structure of his administration, including the appointment of five deputy mayors and delineating their areas of responsibility.
The mayor announced the actions at 85 Clarkson Ave., a rent-stabilized apartment building he said is owned by Pinnacle Realty. He said tenants there have reported issues such as inadequate heat and pest infestations.
According to Mamdani, the building is one of 93 properties associated with the same landlord, and the portfolio is currently subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
Mamdani said the properties are slated to be auctioned to another landlord whom he said ranks sixth on New York City’s list of worst landlords.
He added that the buildings collectively account for more than 5,000 open hazardous violations and approximately 14,000 tenant complaints, according to city records cited by his administration, Fox added.
“This is an untenable situation,” Mamdani said. “So today we are announcing that we will be taking action in the bankruptcy case and stepping in to represent the interests of the city and the interests of the tenants.”
Mamdani stated that he instructed his nominee for corporation counsel, Steve Banks, to take what he described as “precedent-setting action” in the case.
“We are a creditor and interested party,” Mamdani said, noting further that the Big Apple is owed money and as such will fight for “safe and habitable homes” while working to “mitigate the significant risk of displacement” that some tenants face.