Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly formed Office of Mass Engagement has spent $5,123,756 on salaries in its first month, a 175% jump from initial estimates, and has expanded its staff from 14 to 40.

175% Salary Surge Exposes Budget Overreach

According to the city’s 2027 budget, the Office of Mass Engagement earmarked $5,123,756 for salaries, a figure that eclipses the entire budgets of agencies such as the Board of Corrections and the Office for People with Disabilities. The Post reports that the office’s headcount ballooned 186% from 14 to 40, with an average salary of $125,000 for the additional 26 hires slated for next year.

Campaign‑Style Roles Raise Patronage Concerns

In March the agency began hiring for 14 “cushy” jobs totaling roughly $1.6 million, including a $150,000 campaign director whose job description mirrored that of a political campaign staffer. The Post notes that the deputy director of co‑governance also received a $150,000 salary, with a job posting that closely resembled language used by NYC DSA co‑chair Grace Mausser.

Canvassing Focused on Rent‑Freeze Hearings, Not Broad Outreach

The office has so far canvassed the Lower East Side and other boroughs to get people to attend rent‑freeze hearings in May and June . The Post reports that workers have been active in the Bronx, Queens, lower and upper Manhattan, and Brooklyn, but not on Staten Island, despite a spokesperson’s claim that a borough representative had been hired.

Who Really Benefits from the New Office?

Critics argue that the $5.2 million could be better spent on homeless shelters,mental health programs, or infrastructure repairs. The Post cites Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who said, “We have real deficits and this mayor is spending five million dollars to put 40 political operatives on the payroll.”

Open Questions About Accountability and Effectiveness

Key unanswered questions remain: Will the office’s outreach truly engage marginalized communities as Mamdani claims , or will it simply serve as a patronage machine? How will the city justify the 175% budget increase to taxpayers amid a broader budget deficit? And what metrics will determine whether the office delivers on its stated goals?