Mayor Zohran Mamdani Takes First Steps on Housing in New York and Revokes Eric Adams’ Orders

Zohran Mamdani signed executive orders on his first day as mayor

Why it matters: aims to protect tenants and speed up housing construction

What’s next: review of public properties and reduced red tape

New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, began his administration by signing a series of executive orders focused on one of the city’s biggest challenges: access to affordable housing.

On his first day in office, he also revoked measures enacted by his predecessor, marking a clear shift in local housing policy, according to EFE.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and His New Housing Policy

Mamdani signed three key orders. The first seeks to revitalize the Mayor’s Office for Tenant Protection, with the goal of strengthening the defense of renters’ rights across the city.

Yesterday, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new mayor of New York.
He arrives with a very clearly defined agenda: lowering the cost of living and proving that government can function effectively again.
His priorities are clear: universal childcare, free public transportation, and… pic.twitter.com/vZXqm0SE5y

— Enrique de la Madrid (@edelamadrid) January 2, 2026

The other two orders establish task forces focused on identifying public properties suitable for housing construction and eliminating bureaucratic barriers that increase costs and delay development projects.

“On the day when so many rent payments are due, we will not wait to act,” Mamdani said when announcing the measures.

New Strategy to Address New York City’s Housing Crisis

Housing organizer and advocate Cea Weaver was appointed director of the Mayor’s Office for Tenant Protection. She explained that the priority will be to intervene quickly when landlords fail to comply with legal obligations.

“If your landlord is not managing your home responsibly, the city government will step in,” Mamdani said, according to NBC New York.

As a first concrete step, the mayor announced that the city will intervene in the bankruptcy proceedings of Pinnacle Realty, a company facing thousands of violations and complaints across 83 buildings, in order to protect tenants.

What Are the “LIFT and SPEED Teams” in New York?

As part of his new housing policy, Zohran Mamdani also appointed five deputy mayors, including Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg.

Under her supervision, two key teams will operate:

LIFT, which will review city-owned public properties to identify land suitable for housing construction before July 1.

SPEED, which will focus on eliminating permitting and regulatory processes that increase costs and slow down housing development.

Revocation of Eric Adams’ Orders

The first executive order signed by Mamdani revoked measures issued by former mayor Eric Adams beginning in September 2024.

According to an official statement, the decision is intended to provide a clean slate for the new administration, although some measures could be reinstated if they align with Mamdani’s policy agenda.

Impact on the Latino Community Living in New York

Latino communities—many of whom are renters—are directly affected by the housing crisis.

The measures Mamdani is implementing to curb abuses, protect tenant rights, and increase housing supply could ease economic pressure on these households.

What’s Next

Mamdani has pledged to make New York a more affordable city, including proposing a rent freeze for part of the housing stock.

The coming weeks will show how quickly these changes move forward and whether the new administration can deliver tangible results in addressing New York city’s housing crisis.