Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams took sharp aim at mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze, warning that the plan could ultimately make New York City less affordable for working-class residents.
Speaking in an interview that aired Sunday on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable,” Adams argued that governing requires balancing ideals with economic realities.
“There’s a real disconnect when idealism runs into realism,” Adams said. “When you’re responsible for running a city and taking care of working-class people, these issues become very real.”
Adams specifically criticized Mamdani’s push to freeze rents in rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments, saying the proposal ignores the rising costs faced by property owners.
“Who’s going to pay the increase in taxes? Who’s going to pay for higher repair costs? Who’s going to cover rising Con Ed gas bills?” Adams asked.
While Mamdani’s proposal would require approval from the city’s nine-member Rent Guidelines Board, the incoming mayor has expressed confidence he can secure support for the freeze. Adams, however, is reportedly preparing to replace six members of the board before leaving office — a move that could limit Mamdani’s ability to reshape it in favor of the policy.
Opponents of the rent freeze have also warned that it could backfire by driving up rents on market-rate apartments, as landlords try to offset losses from frozen regulated units.
“That’s why you need a full understanding of what it takes to run a city this complex,” Adams said.
The outgoing mayor didn’t stop there.
Adams also blasted Mamdani’s proposal to halt homeless encampment sweeps across the city, arguing that similar policies in other cities have led to worsening street conditions.
“You can look at other cities and see what happens — people living on the streets, drug use, severe mental health issues, and people relieving themselves in public,” Adams said. “That’s not what we want in our city.”
Adams defended the city’s encampment clearances, calling them a “humane” approach to getting vulnerable individuals off the streets and connected with services.
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