Zohran Mamdani Rejects an 18% Salary Hike Hours After City Council Votes Itself a Pay Raise
Every dollar counts.
Zohran Mamdani just turned down an 18% salary bump hours after the New York City Council voted to raise their own salaries. According to PEOPLE, the 34-year-old mayor announced he won’t accept the raise that would’ve pushed his annual pay from $258,750 to $305,800, a move that comes as city lawmakers approved their first pay increase in nearly a decade.
The council’s vote on July 16, 2026, passed with overwhelming support, 42-6, though Council Speaker Julie Menin abstained. The legislation boosts councilmembers’ salaries from $164,500 to $175,500 while also increasing pay for borough presidents, district attorneys, and the comptroller. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, made it clear he doesn’t see the raise as a priority for New Yorkers struggling with rising costs.
“I will not accept a pay raise,” Mamdani said at a news conference, laughing as he added, “I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door in New York City, and they’ve said that their concern is that the mayor makes too little.” His decision stands in sharp contrast to the council’s move, which will cost the city $2.6 million this year and $17 million next year. The raises are retroactive to the start of the year and take effect in 45 days.
Mamdani’s rejection lines up with his other spending priorities
The move follows his broader push to redirect city funds toward programs like tenant protections and affordable housing. While his current salary already exceeds that of all 50 U.S. governors, he’s more focused on policies like strengthening tenant rights and cracking down on deceptive landlords. On the same day he announced his salary decision, he unveiled new proposals to expand affordable housing.
The timing of the vote is notable. New York City is staring down multibillion-dollar budget deficits over the next four years, and Mamdani is gearing up to negotiate labor contracts with roughly 300,000 city employees. The raises come as private-sector workers in the city have seen their real incomes shrink compared to inflation.
Between 2019 and 2024, inflation rose about 23%, while median household incomes dropped in Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Only Queens and Brooklyn saw modest gains.
The last time city officials got a pay raise was in 2016, and since then, costs have climbed more than 30%. A quadrennial commission empaneled by Mamdani earlier this year recommended the raises to keep up with inflation, and he’s expected to sign the legislation despite his personal refusal.
The $47,000 difference is largely symbolic
The $47,000 a year is a small fraction of the city’s budget, but it stands in contrast to the council’s own raises. That’s a tough sell when the council’s raise will cost millions, but Mamdani seems determined to draw a line between his administration’s priorities and the council’s decisions.
The city’s elected officials are getting a pay bump while many residents struggle with stagnant wages and rising rents. Mamdani’s refusal to take the raise won’t fix those problems, but it does highlight the disconnect between government salaries and the economic reality most people face. His focus remains on policies that could make a tangible difference, like affordable housing and tenant protections.
Council Speaker Julie Menin, who abstained from the vote, has also said she won’t accept her raise during her current term, per Business Standard.
(Featured image: InformedImages)
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