State Senator Zellnor Myrie Enters NYC Mayoral Race with Plan to Build One Million Homes

Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie officially announced his candidacy for the 2025 New York City mayoral election on Tuesday, December 3rd, centering his campaign on a bold plan to address the city’s housing crisis. His initiative, “Rebuild NYC,” proposes creating and preserving one million housing units by 2036, surpassing the goals set by current Mayor Eric Adams. Myrie’s blueprint includes nine strategies aimed at building 700,000 new homes and rehabilitating 300,000 existing units.

Myrie said, “We want to build a political mandate for the city to build housing and preserve housing, and this is going to require us to marshal every resource at our disposal at City Hall, and that’s going to have to happen on day one, and that’s not what has happened under this administration.”

Myrie launched his exploratory committee for the mayoral race back in June 2024 and began raising campaign funds in the months leading up to his formal announcement on Tuesday. 

A key aspect of the plan involves transforming underutilized city land into new neighborhoods, which is estimated to generate 85,000 units over a decade. Additional measures include redirecting funds from shelter construction to create permanent housing for voucher holders and rezoning areas like Midtown Manhattan to allow for mixed-income, high-density residential developments. However, the proposal has been criticized for its lack of specific details, such as identifying the underutilized sites.

Myrie, who represents Brooklyn’s 20th Senate District, framed his housing agenda as a response to the struggles faced by ordinary New Yorkers. “Every day, I talk to people who feel they must win a housing lottery or rely on wealthy parents to afford an apartment larger than a shoebox,” he stated. He further highlighted his vision for a New York City where housing affordability is not a distant dream.

Critics, including tenant advocacy groups, have voiced concerns over aspects of the plan, warning it might weaken tenant protections and exacerbate rent hikes. Cea Weaver of Housing Justice for All called for stronger commitments to rent stabilization and freezing rents, urging Myrie to remain aligned with his previous pro-tenant advocacy. Despite the pushback, Myrie remains steadfast, emphasizing the urgency of tackling housing challenges.

Myrie’s entry adds to an increasingly competitive Democratic primary, where he will face incumbent Mayor Adams and other challengers, including Comptroller Brad Lander and former Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Myrie believes his ambitious housing vision sets him apart as a transformative candidate capable of solving the city’s enduring housing crisis.

With the Democratic primary set for June, New Yorkers are closely watching whether Myrie’s housing-focused campaign can gain traction amid competing visions for the city’s future. As rents remain high and vacancy rates historically low, housing will undoubtedly become a central talking point in the election.