Economist blesses Zohran Mamdani’s unaffordable housing plan
Magazine writer finds economist to support Zohranomics, but misses key facts about NYC housing market.
Isabella M. Weber, an economist from Massachusetts, has given her approval to Zohran Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze policy in New York City. But her support comes with some glaring oversights that someone with more knowledge of the city would have caught.
In an article for The Real Deal, Weber argues that Mamdani’s plan to freeze rents is a viable solution to the city’s affordable housing crisis. However, she fails to mention the high costs associated with owning and operating rental properties in New York, which would likely lead to landlords passing on the financial burden to tenants in other ways.
Weber also overlooks the fact that many landlords in New York are small-time operators who rely on rental income to make a living. A rent freeze would severely impact their ability to maintain their properties and make necessary repairs.
While Weber may be an expert in economics, she clearly lacks the understanding of New York’s unique housing market. As an outsider, she should have known better than to support a policy that would only benefit a select few and potentially harm the majority of renters and small landlords in the city.
It’s easy for Weber to support Zohranomics from afar, but for those living and working in New York, the potential consequences of such a policy are all too real. Perhaps she should take a closer look at the facts before endorsing policies that could have disastrous effects on the city’s housing market.
https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2025/07/08/zohranomics-wins-elections-but-wont-make-housing-affordable/