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The city's Mayor-Elect, Zohran Mamdani, has confirmed to take up residence in the traditional Gracie Mansion, departing from his rent-controlled apartment that sparked debate in his campaign.

A Historic Residence

Constructed in 1799, Gracie Mansion has served as the primary dwelling for the majority of New York City mayors after the mid-20th century.

However, Mamdani, for whom rent control is a central issue, hesitated to declare he would live there immediately following his triumph in November.

"The choice was based on the security of my family and the need to dedicating my complete efforts on enacting the agenda for affordability New Yorkers supported," Mamdani said in a statement.

A Fond Farewell

Mamdani lived in Astoria, Queens, a community famous for its abundance of cultural enclaves and international dining.

"To my neighbors in Astoria: many thanks for exemplifying what is great about New York City," he noted.

"Even though I'm moving in the neighborhood, Astoria will forever remain within me and my work," he said.

A Contentious Issue

In his election campaign, Mamdani connected his core platform – a rent freeze – to his circumstances as a tenant.

But his critics, most notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, attacked Mamdani for occupying the rent-stabilized unit despite the fact that he is from a well-known family.

Previous Exceptions

Not all mayors have decided to stay at Gracie Mansion.

Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor, preferred to remain in his private home on Manhattan's Upper East Side during his three terms, which wrapped up in 2012.

Instead, Bloomberg felt it could serve as a venue for public city functions, and championed an extensive renovation of the older mansion.

A Vastly Different Setting

As he settles into Gracie Mansion near his first day on 1 January, he will experience surroundings very different than his previous Astoria apartment.

With its cream-colored walls, green shutters, and pristine railings, Gracie Mansion is an ornate structure with views of the East River.

Inside, the lower floor of the historically styled mansion is furnished consistent with the home's historical period.

The property, which is said to has five bedrooms, also includes increased security measures to secure the mayor and his family.

Supernatural Speculation

A number of people have claimed that Gracie Mansion also has spiritual residents.

Chirlane McCray, the spouse of previous mayor Bill De Blasio, told reporters that they experienced doors opening and closing inexplicably, and the floorboards creaked eerily.

Former Mayor Eric Adams was more certain. "It doesn't matter the skeptics say," he insisted in 2022. "The place is haunted in there, man."

A Critical Policy Issue

His former home is rent-stabilized, which means the city imposes caps on how much property owners can increase rent each year.

Tenants see such units as crucial resources as the price of rent outpaces what many can afford.

Data indicated Mamdani his rent was $2,300 each month for his apartment.

Based on data from the property website Zillow, the typical monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,500 a month.