New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Rejects City Council Salary Increase

New York City Council approved an 18.2% pay raise for senior officials, which would have lifted Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s annual salary from about US$258,750 (approximately Rp 4.6‑4.9 billion) to US$305,800 (around Rp 5.4 billion). Mamdani publicly declined the increase, stating the extra funds should go to residents struggling with the city’s high cost of living. He said he had never heard New Yorkers claim the mayor’s pay was too low and emphasized the symbolic importance of his decision.

The move comes amid a cost‑of‑living crisis: a city‑issued report found that roughly 62% of New Yorkers—about 5 million people—lack sufficient resources to meet basic expenses. Council Speaker Julie Menin also refused the raise, underscoring the political pressure on city officials to prioritize public needs over personal compensation.