Mamdani pledged affordable New York housing in his campaign. How is that going?

Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, right, and Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, in February. Photograph: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The decision by New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to appeal a court order that the city must expand its housing voucher program, despite his campaign pledge to implement it, has angered advocates for the homeless population.

Mamdani, who must figure out how to close a $5.4bn budget deficit, explained his decision by citing the cost of the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program, which helps people staying in shelters or at risk of homelessness find permanent housing.