Trump, NYC’s Mamdani discussed city zoning laws during WH meeting, report says

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly discussed city zoning laws during their meeting last year.

Mamdani brought up the process for changing development rules – called the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) – at the November White House meeting, Politico reported, citing a source with direct knowledge of the talks. Trump became animated as Mamdani discussed how the laws burden housing construction, telling the recently elected official that he has wanted them rewritten.

“The president was like, ‘If you can get that done, that’d be amazing, I wanted this to happen for years,’” Politico’s source said.

ULURP involves a multi-stage review conducted by several city bodies that lasts at least six months. Requests to change the laws must be approved by the relevant community board and borough president, along with a zoning agency and the city council, before the mayor decides on it. If a veto is issued, council members can override it.

The New York City Charter Revision Commission, which considers legal reforms, said in a report last year that ULURP is “fundamentally sound.” The process is the most important for public review of zoning laws, although minor changes to it could be beneficial, the agency explained.

“The Commission has heard significant testimony suggesting tweaks and changes to ULURP,” the agency wrote.

“That the Commission has not heard significant testimony suggesting that ULURP be replaced wholesale is a testament to its enduring success over the last 50 years at incorporating meaningful public input from a variety of stakeholders, while clarifying and standardizing the application process and review timeline for those, both public and private, who seek land use changes.”

Trump, who hasn’t responded to The National News Desk (TNND)’s request for comment, reportedly told Mamdani during their meeting that updates to ULURP would make it “a lot easier to build at scale.” The mayor has expressed support for changing laws to build more affordable housing, although he hasn’t returned TNND’s email either.

Trump and Mamdani have texted about ULURP since their meeting, according to Politico, which cited two sources familiar with the exchanges.

The officials, who are political opposites, have maintained a generally friendly relationship since the sit-down. Trump said in a radio interview last month that he gets along very well with Mamdani.

“I’d love to see him be successful, because if he’s successful, that means that’s a good thing for New York. So I would love to see him be successful,” the president said.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.