New York City officials, including the incoming mayor, may soon see a substantial increase in their paychecks if a new bill introduced by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams is passed. The legislation proposes a 16% pay hike for City Council members, potentially raising their annual salaries from the current $148,500 to $172,500.
The bill also encompasses salary adjustments for other high-ranking city positions, including the mayor, public advocate, comptroller, and borough presidents, all set to receive comparable boosts. For Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the legislation means his salary could surge to nearly $300,000, a significant leap from the existing mayoral salary of $258,000.
This proposed increase comes eight years after the last pay raise for City Council members in 2016 and has sparked conversations across New York City. Williams plans to present the bill this week, with a hearing scheduled before the year's end. The timing is strategic, as it allows the next City Council to vote on the measure in January, potentially accelerating the approval process.
Mayor-elect Mamdani, known for his platform advocating affordability for working-class New Yorkers, now faces an uncomfortable decision. During his campaign, he emphasized economic relief for citizens, with promises such as free buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare. He also proposed city-run grocery stores and a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. Mamdani aimed to fund these initiatives by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Fox News reported that Mamdani, as a state assembly member in 2022, voted in favor of a pay raise for state legislators. This detail adds context to the current debate over the City Council's proposed pay increases.
The bill's original path would have sent it to Mayor Eric Adams' desk; however, a revised schedule has emerged. Addressing the bill's timing, Williams told the New York Post, "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 confirmed that passing the pay hike bill in January is the objective.
Critics, including Sam E. Antar, have taken to social media to voice their concerns, accusing the council of presenting the pay raise to Mamdani as if it were a "coronation bonus," and lambasting the move as a betrayal of grassroots values.
As the legislation proceeds, sources indicate that Mayor-elect Mamdani must navigate the optics of approving a pay raise that may seem to contradict his campaign's affordability message, particularly in light of his past support for similar legislative pay increases.
