Zohran Mamdani built his campaign on affordability and working-class struggle — but now he’s poised to see his own salary get a hefty 16% boost, according to new reports.
A bill from Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-Queens) would raise New York City Council members’ pay from $148,500 to $172,500, the New York Post reported.
But that’s not all. If approved, the raise would apply to the incoming mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and borough presidents, pushing Mamdani’s salary to nearly $300,000, up from about $258,000 today.
That’s quite a jump for the 34-year-old Ugandan-born politician who ran on a promise to freeze rents, make buses free, launch city-run grocery stores, and raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030.
Mamdani insists his agenda would be funded by taxing wealthy New Yorkers and major corporations — but critics note this isn’t the first time he’s backed a pay bump. As a state assembly member in 2022, he also voted to raise legislative salaries.
The bill is expected to be introduced this week, with a hearing by year’s end — setting the next City Council up to approve it quickly in January. Lawmakers last received a salary boost in 2016.
The original plan reportedly aimed to send the pay hike to Mayor Eric Adams before he leaves office — but that schedule was paused.
Councilwoman Williams explained the new approach: “If we have a hearing on the bill this year, we don’t need a hearing on it next year. It’s pre-considered,” she told the Post.
More over at The New York Post:
Today's cover: One of socialist Zohran Mamdani’s first decisions as mayor could be whether to give himself and his City Council pals a big fat pay raise. https://t.co/ZS4mYtoP1T pic.twitter.com/kiyHwjRJdF
— New York Post (@nypost) November 26, 2025
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