Zohran Mamdani, a politician known for championing affordability and the struggles of the working class, is on the brink of receiving a substantial 16% salary increase, as recent reports suggest.
This development comes as a bill proposed by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-Queens) seeks to elevate the salaries of New York City Council members from $148,500 to $172,500, as reported by the New York Post.
The proposed pay raise extends beyond council members, potentially impacting the incoming mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and borough presidents. Should this bill pass, Mamdani's salary could soar to nearly $300,000, a significant rise from his current earnings of approximately $258,000. This is a notable shift for the 34-year-old Ugandan-born leader, who campaigned on promises such as freezing rents, offering free bus services, establishing city-run grocery stores, and increasing the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030.
Mamdani argues that his ambitious agenda would be financed through increased taxes on affluent New Yorkers and large corporations. However, critics point out that this is not his first endorsement of a salary increase. In 2022, as a state assembly member, he supported a legislative pay raise.
The bill is anticipated to be introduced imminently, with a hearing slated before the year's end, paving the way for the next City Council to swiftly approve it in January. The last salary adjustment for lawmakers occurred in 2016. Initially, the plan aimed to implement the pay hike before Mayor Eric Adams's departure from office, but the timeline was subsequently delayed.
Councilwoman Williams clarified the revised strategy, stating, "If we have a hearing on the bill this year, we dont need a hearing on it next year. Its pre-considered," she told the Post.
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