Democratic City Councilwoman Gale Brewer sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday, saying he knows “nothing” about housing as lawmakers examined his nominees for the influential City Planning Commission.
“This is a fine mayor, but he doesn’t know anything about housing or development. He knows other things,” Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side, said during a Council hearing. Mamdani’s five nominees faced questions about whether they would challenge his affordable-housing agenda.
The Planning Commission will have the final say on affordable-housing rezonings in 12 neighborhoods with some of the city’s lowest levels of such housing. A ballot measure approved in November 2025 removed the City Council’s voting authority in the process, beginning Jan. 1.
The new laws will also reduce the city’s typical seven-month review period for affordable-housing rezonings in those 12 neighborhoods to 90 days.
Brewer, whose district is included among the targeted neighborhoods, has fiercely opposed both changes.
“I’ve done about over 200 [proposed-rezoning reviews], and I have to say that in my experience, the City Council’s role is incredibly important,” Brewer said Monday.
“I was able to get a whole park, a new school, and I could go on and on,” she added.
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Anthony Crowell, one of two commission members nominated for another term, said he would remain independent under Mamdani.
“I’ve always been given the space to do my independent analysis and to come down based on the totality of what I’ve seen. … And I will continue to do that,” said Crowell, who was first nominated during the administration of former Mayor Eric Adams.
Mamdani identified the Upper West Side as one of the 12 targeted neighborhoods in October as part of his broader plan to create 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade.
Brewer said she was “pissed” that her district was included and would “love to go to court about it,” renewing her earlier threats to sue over what she called “untenable requirements” imposed on the area.
The Council has until later this month to take action; otherwise, the nominees will be confirmed automatically.
City Hall did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.
