Mayor Zohran Mamdani hit the three-week mark of his historic administration on Wednesday, persevering with to zero in on his affordability agenda with a ban on hidden “junk fees.” The mayor additionally condemned antisemitic graffiti present in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
Picture by Lloyd Mitchell
Wednesday, Jan. 21, marked the twenty first day of Zohran Mamdani’s time period as mayor. New York News is following Mamdani round his first 100 days in workplace as we intently observe his progress on fulfilling marketing campaign guarantees, appointing key leaders to authorities posts, and managing town’s funds. Right here’s a abstract of what the mayor did at the moment.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani hit the three-week mark of his historic administration on Wednesday, persevering with to zero in on his affordability agenda with a ban on hidden “junk fees.” The mayor additionally condemned antisemitic graffiti present in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
“This new rule will ensure that New Yorkers and visitors alike are not stuck paying hidden hotel fees, and will instead save millions of dollars each year,” Mamdani mentioned on the convention. “In just three weeks, our administration has made it clear that deceptive business practices do not have a home here, and that City Hall will always fight for New Yorkers to know exactly what they’re paying for.”
Affordability: Extra motion on ‘junk fees’
“Junk fees” check with when motels promote “a base room rate” and solely later reveal “additional mandatory charges that make it harder for consumers to understand the true overall cost.” In keeping with town, DCWP acquired over 300 shopper complaints “related to hidden hotel fees or unexpected holds” on bank cards.
Mamdani introduced the rule alongside Commissioner of the Division of Shopper and Employee Safety (DCWP) Sam Levine, former Manhattan Borough President and present Metropolis Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan), and enterprise, shopper, and labor leaders on the The Whitney Museum of American Artwork.
“DCWP will use its full enforcement authority to ensure hotels comply with the laws and rules of our city and we will be vigilant to ensure consumers have transparency in their transactions and that workers’ rights are respected,” Levine mentioned on the convention, particularly citing the anticipated uptick in journey to town for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in New Jersey.
By way of the lens: Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to give attention to junk charges early on in his administration.Picture by Lloyd Mitchell
The mayor issued two government orders on Jan. 5 in search of to crack down on “junk fees” and “subscription tricks and traps” that make “items and companies much less inexpensive for New Yorkers.
The chief orders and the Wednesday announcement stem from Mamdani’s formidable affordability agenda he specified by his marketing campaign — he promised to freeze the hire on rent-stabilized flats, remove fares on metropolis buses, and produce common childcare to New York Metropolis. He lately introduced, alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, a state-funded common childcare program for town’s two-year-olds.
Mamdani’s new rule “goes a step further” than Federal Commerce Fee guidelines, categorizing unclear pricing as a misleading commerce observe. He mentioned the administration is concentrated on making town “cheaper to visit” whereas nonetheless defending “the dignity of the workers that are keeping these hotels running.”
Condemning antisemitism
Mamdani additionally condemned an occasion of antisemitic vandalism in Borough Park, Brooklyn in a Wednesday afternoon publish to X, writing that antisemitism has “no place in our city.” The graffiti was found Wednesday morning amid considerations over a disproportionate price of antisemitic incidents in New York Metropolis.
“I am sickened by this antisemitic vandalism in Borough Park,” Mamdani mentioned. “I stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish New Yorkers who were targeted. My administration is working closely with the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force as well as our Parks Department, and those responsible will be investigated and held accountable.”
The graffiti included a number of painted swastikas and the phrases “Adolf Hitler.” Although 2025 noticed a 3% downturn in antisemitic incidents in comparison with 2024, Jewish New Yorkers are disproportionately topic to hate crimes, in line with New York Metropolis knowledge.
Mamdani on tax variations with Hochul
Taking questions from reporters on the press convention, Mamdani addressed town’s $2.2 billion price range shortfall for fiscal yr 2026 and a projected $10.4 billion hole the next yr, which Mamdani and Metropolis Comptroller Mark Levine have blamed on budgeting selections made below former Mayor Eric Adams.
Mamdani and Hochul disagree on mountaineering taxes for New York’s wealthiest — an answer that Mamdani believes is a key reply to price range shortfalls however that Hochul is firmly in opposition to. The state’s 2026 government price range, introduced by Hochul on Tuesday, doesn’t embrace earnings tax raises.
“I think the governor’s budget makes meaningful investments that move us closer to an affordable and a livable New York, and I think especially we’ve seen that in terms of early childhood education,” Mamdani mentioned.
He continued accountable the shortfall and price range constraints on Adams’ “gross fiscal mismanagement.”
Hizzoner mentioned he hopes to “change the relationship between our city and the state in terms of one that better reflects the city’s status as the economic engine of the state.”
Mamdani famous final week, following Hochul’s State of the State tackle, that town contributes 54.5% of the state’s tax revenues and receives solely 40.5% in return.
