Mamdani Seeks to Charm New York's Most Powerful Capitalists

[RandySF]

hortly after Zohran Mamdani captured the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, he did something unexpected, given his freeze-the-rent mantra and democratic socialist roots.

Mr. Mamdani cold-called one of the city’s most powerful power brokers and asked for a meeting. It was a bold move after the business community had spent more than $20 million trying to defeat him, funding the largest super PAC in New York City history.

It also seemed antithetical to his man-of-the-people ethos.

And yet, Mr. Mamdani picked up the phone, and that power broker, James Whelan, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York, which represents the city’s mightiest landlords, set up an intimate gathering.





https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/nyregion/mamdani-charm-business-leaders.html