• NYC City Hall released its detailed plans for affordable housing.
• Mamdani is supporting new construction, apartment-friendly zoning, homebuyer assistance, and more.
• The mayor hopes the plan will help lower- and middle-income New Yorkers.

Zohran Mamdani has ambitious ideas for New York City housing.

The Mayor's Office dropped its detailed policy plan — called "Block by Block" — on May 26, outlining goals to build more apartment buildings, convert unused offices and hotels into living space, and help residents navigate one of America's most expensive housing markets. Housing access has been a cornerstone of Mamdani's affordability agenda, with buzzy promises to freeze the rent for a large swathe of NYC apartments and address "bad landlords."

"When New Yorkers can afford a home, they can afford to dream," Mamdani said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

From construction to creative living solutions, here are Business Insider's biggest takeaways from City Hall's plan.

Boosting building opportunities

New York needs to build, baby, build. Vacancy rates hovering at historic lows are one of the biggest factors pushing up rents in the city, and Mamdani's blueprint lays out a slew of measures that aim to both reduce the costs of building and get more stock online.

Part of the plan is to simply build more housing, with a goal of 200,000 more homes in the next ten years. That's underwritten by $2.5 billion allocated towards more building from the mayor's budget, with the homes built subject to regulations that bolster construction workers' pay and benefits.

City Hall also wants to build more on public sites like Sunnyside Yards, a rail hub in Queens that sits between several bustling neighborhoods. That proposal would connect the neighborhoods currently separated by rail tracks, and build a deck over the rail infrastructure that could house what the report calls "a new complete neighborhood." The report also notes that the city would need federal support to build that new neighborhood — part of Mamdani's pitch to Queens native Donald Trump in early 2026.

Some proposals hinge on existing (and future) buildings. One is a program that would lower insurance costs for affordable and rent-stabilized units, which have seen soaring premiums. The plan says it would infuse $100 million to help fund a newer, more affordable insurance program, with a goal of both keeping costs more stable for current housing and saving the city money on new builds, since it currently has to subsidize those higher insurance prices.

Other aspects of the plan include expanding access to a water affordability benefit for those in affordable housing, and expanding a program that helps rental buildings and income-restricted co-ops improve their energy efficiency. The plan also aims to improve elevator service in public housing, and address leaks and plumbing issues in those units.

Supporting creative housing solutions

Through partnerships with developers and revised zoning policies, the mayor plans to convert some existing commercial buildings into apartments. The city said the recent overturning of a decades-old state cap on new developments would allow more NYC buildings to be allocated toward housing.

Both the local and state governments are working to convert the historic, and currently vacant, Stewart Hotel in midtown Manhattan into permanent housing for 550 households. Roughly half the units will be dedicated to providing affordable options for formerly-homeless and low-income households, per the plan. Some of the buildings' square footage will also be dedicated to providing on-site social services for tenants.

A largely vacant commercial skyscraper on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue received zoning approval in March. The building, which is on city-owned land, will be converted into 1,200 apartments, 350 of which will be "deeply affordable." Former private office building 100 Gold Street — which currently houses various city agencies in lower Manhattan — will also be converted into 3,700 apartments, 900 of which will be permanently-affordable homes.

The city also said it is trying to make it easier for New Yorkers to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property. That includes a program to help residents navigate their hyper-local zoning laws for ADUs, especially in historic districts. The city plans to streamline permitting for manufactured ADUs, which are significantly cheaper than custom-built units, making them easier for property owners to install for use by renters, elderly family members, or guests.

Beyond building more housing, Mamdani plans to begin a pilot this year to legalize basement apartments in the city. This will make it easier for homeowners to ensure their basements are up to code and can be made into safe apartment units. Homeowners who participate in the pilot this year will receive some financial support from the city to install smoke alarms, test for contaminants, and more.

Helping New Yorkers navigate the housing market

NYC is notorious for its cutthroat housing market, and renters make up 70% of city residents.

The Mamdani administration said it is taking steps to curb "bad landlords" by strengthening code enforcement and taking action against property owners who harass or neglect their tenants. The city is already hosting "rental ripoff" hearings in all five boroughs so that New Yorkers can share their concerns directly with City Hall, and the mayor said he is strengthening legal avenues for tenants to expedite emergency repairs. Mamdani also said he supports the development of tenant unions, which help renters collectively protect their rights. This goes alongside plans to reduce evictions and speed up cases in housing court.

City Hall wants to make New York more affordable for buyers, too. Mamdani is set to expand an existing downpayment assistance program to serve up to 300 lower-income first-time homebuyers. A new mortgage assistance program will provide repayable, no-interest loans to help low-income homeowners resolve mortgage problems.

The mayor added that he is moving forward on plans to freeze the rent in NYC's rent-stabilized apartments alongside City Council, but the policy has not yet been implemented.

The success of a rent freeze — alongside many of the other programs in the city's housing plan — will hinge on legislative support and funding at the local, state, and, sometimes, federal levels. Still, the mayor is feeling confident.

"Combined, these efforts will lead to growth beyond anything New Yorkers have seen in generations," Mamdani said. "For some, the dream of home ownership will finally be within reach. Others will be able to sleep easily in homes they no longer fear losing."

• I've been searching for my first full-time role since I graduated last May to no luck.
• I've had to rely on my parents to stay in New York City, which has made me feel guilty.
• Despite the countless rejections, I'm not letting it stop me from enjoying life.

Last May, I graduated with my bachelor's degree from The New School, a relatively large private institution in New York City.

I knew competition postgrad would be competitive, but I did not anticipate a grim job market and AI takeovers.

As a Dean's List student with a 3.9 GPA and multiple extracurriculars under my belt, I figured I'd be a top candidate for my first entry-level job.

Boy, was I wrong.

Moving to New York City was my dream for as long as I can remember

I figured graduating would mean freedom from the confines of a classroom. But when I followed my dream to New York City, that freedom was paralyzing. I quickly learned that I still had a ways to go before I could start living my life.

I found myself stuck behind a counter working my part-time job as a barista and questioning everything from why I went to college to why I feel so passionate about staying in one of the most expensive places on earth. Additionally, I felt guilty for relying on my parents to pay my rent and help keep me here away from my home state of North Carolina.

I felt like an idiot for leaving my family, even though I always knew I was meant for more than what my hometown could offer, and yet the city remains financially challenging for someone like me with student loans and only a part-time job. Thankfully, I have a cushion should I need it, but I expected to be financially independent by now.

Navigating a competitive market

Since graduation, I have applied to roughly 200 positions, ranging from internships to entry-level to contract and temp roles. And while that number doesn't seem like much compared to the other grads who've sent out 500+ applications, I like to think I'm playing the market strategically by applying to roles where I'm a decent fit. I'm also attempting to set up informational interviews.

However, regardless of my strategy, I keep getting ghosted and rejected by automated no-reply emails months after applying.

When I discovered that I wasn't the only one struggling, it began to make sense. However, after dealing with COVID interruptions in high school, worker strikes in college, and mental health struggles surrounding personal issues, I was burned out.

As a result, I had forgotten why I went to school in the first place. As I began applying, I found myself flexible to take just about anything and started to lose myself in the process.

Seven months into underemployment, I got laid off from the café, but thankfully found another part-time job with a friend's help.

A month later, in January, I got my first interview for a job in my field. Followed up three weeks later, only to be told they were still in the first round and haven't heard back since.

A month after that, I hired a career coach to help me navigate the market. She rewrote my résumé, reviewed my LinkedIn profile and portfolio, provided industry insights, and redefined my career path.

I then got another interview, this time for an internship. I haven't heard back from that either.

What frustrates me the most is the silence. Anxiously waiting to know whether or not I got the job, or at least an interview, is soul-sucking. It makes me doubt myself and my skills. It makes me feel like a failure.

Learning to overcome what you can't control

New York is already an incredibly lonely place, and lately it's been a lot lonelier when I've been confined to a room applying to jobs away from home.

At only 23, I feel like I failed despite working my ass off in high school and in college, only to get "Unfortunately, we have decided not to proceed with your candidacy at this time, but we appreciate the time and effort you dedicated to the application process."

I have no idea what's next for me or when I'll get a full-time job, but one thing I've learned about being underemployed is you've got to make the most out of it because life is unpredictable, and you shouldn't let it slip away because things are uncertain or stagnant.

And if you need help from your parents, whether it's a roof over your head or an allowance, there's no shame in that. This is an extremely unprecedented and scary time for everyone. Even if you're not job hunting, we could all use a little support.

(Bloomberg) — Enquanto os investidores se concentraram no frágil cessar-fogo iraniano esta semana, uma busca desesperada por cargas tem ocorrido no mercado de petróleo, com negociantes e refinadores vasculhando o globo em busca de suprimentos disponíveis imediatamente.

No Mar do Norte, onde há o mercado físico de petróleo bruto mais importante do mundo, os negociantes enviaram 40 lances por cargas esta semana, dos quais apenas quatro foram atendidos por ofertas.

Cargas para entrega nas próximas semanas mudaram de mãos a preços sem precedentes, acima de US$ 140 por barril. Em outros lugares, os refinadores têm buscado suprimentos cada vez mais longe, levando a uma série de negociações incomuns e prêmios crescentes para qualquer petróleo que esteja pronto para ser enviado agora.

Operadores disseram que os movimentos de pânico nos principais mercados físicos de petróleo do mundo demonstraram a escala da escassez de bruto que deve ser sentida nas próximas semanas, à medida que a perda de suprimentos do Oriente Médio deixa uma lacuna crescente.

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Petróleo cai mais de 12% na semana após cessar-fogo entre EUA e Irã

Ambos os contratos perderam cerca de 12% esta semana depois que o Irã e os EUA concordaram na terça-feira com um cessar-fogo

Os preços astronômicos sinalizam que alguns refinadores europeus provavelmente precisarão seguir os da Ásia e reduzir a produção, disseram eles — uma medida que pode ajudar a equilibrar o mercado de petróleo bruto, mas que aprofundaria a escassez de produtos vitais como diesel e combustível de aviação.

“Simplesmente há falta de petróleo bruto”, disse Neil Crosby, chefe de pesquisa da Sparta Commodities. “O Brent físico está uma bagunça e agora subiu demais. Nesse ritmo, até os refinadores europeus terão que reduzir a utilização, talvez já no próximo mês.”

O frenesi no comércio físico de petróleo contrasta com o mercado de futuros, onde o petróleo para entrega em junho caiu 13% esta semana para fechar em cerca de US$ 95 o barril, em meio ao otimismo sobre o cessar-fogo.

Houve alguns sinais precoces de aumento de atividade no Estreito de Ormuz no fim de semana, com dois superpetroleiros chineses e um da Grécia atravessando a via navegável, mas o tráfego ainda permanece bem abaixo dos níveis pré-guerra. Mesmo que as conversas deste fim de semana levem à retomada dos fluxos normais pelo estreito, é improvável que o alívio venha rápido o suficiente para evitar um aperto. Leva semanas para que o bruto do Golfo chegue às refinarias na Ásia e na Europa.

“As últimas cargas que transitaram pelo Estreito de Ormuz antes do conflito estão agora chegando aos seus destinos. É aqui que os mercados negociados no papel encontram a realidade física, e a lacuna de 40 dias nos fluxos globais de energia está verdadeiramente exposta”, disse Sultan al Jaber, CEO da Abu Dhabi National Oil, em uma postagem no LinkedIn na quinta-feira.

Essa lacuna pode ser vista no prêmio que os refinadores estão dispostos a pagar para garantir cargas de petróleo que estejam disponíveis no curto prazo. Operadores de algumas refinarias asiáticas, falando sob condição de anonimato, disseram que não estão mais focados no preço, e estão simplesmente buscando garantir barris de petróleo onde quer que possam para garantir a segurança energética.

Precificação

O Dated Brent — o benchmark mais importante no mercado físico de petróleo, usado para precificar milhões de barris por dia — atingiu o recorde de US$ 144 o barril antes do cessar-fogo esta semana, superando suas máximas de 2008, mesmo com os futuros permanecendo muito abaixo de seus níveis recordes.

Na sexta-feira, ele havia caído para US$ 126 o barril, ainda mais de US$ 30 acima dos futuros de Brent para entrega em junho, enquanto negociantes, incluindo os grupos Trafigura e Gunvor, estavam oferecendo mais de US$ 22 o barril acima do Dated Brent por cargas de petróleo no Mar do Norte para entrega no final de abril e início de maio.

Suprimentos da Nigéria para carregamento no próximo mês foram oferecidos a até US$ 25 por barril acima do benchmark, em comparação com menos de US$ 3 antes do início da guerra com o Irã.

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“Não faz diferença”, diz Trump sobre resultado das negociações sobre a guerra

Negociações para um acordo de paz ocorrem no Pasquitão; presidente dos EUA afirma que resultado é irrelevante, já que o país alcançou seus objetivos

Os países asiáticos, os mais dependentes do Estreito de Ormuz para suprimentos de petróleo bruto, foram além de suas fontes tradicionais para vasculhar o globo em busca de barris.

Refinadores japoneses lideraram uma corrida para comprar petróleo dos EUA, que está exportando em níveis recordes. Uma onda de compras por refinadores chineses elevou os carregamentos de petróleo de Vancouver, no Canadá, a um nível recorde este mês. E refinadores indianos têm aumentado as compras de petróleo da Venezuela. Na primeira semana de abril, os navios carregaram quase 6 milhões de barris para o país do sul da Ásia, o dobro dos volumes vistos no mesmo período de março.

O foco está nos barris disponíveis o mais rápido possível — e os refinadores estão dispostos a pagar pela prontidão. Refinadores japoneses reservaram navios menores do que o normal para suas compras de petróleo dos EUA, para que possam atravessar o Canal do Panamá e chegar ao Japão mais rapidamente.

No sábado, o presidente Donald Trump postou nas redes sociais sobre o “número massivo” de navios-petroleiros indo para os EUA para carregar seu petróleo. O Midland WTI em Houston, conhecido como MEH, subiu para um prêmio de quase US$ 4 o barril em relação ao benchmark dos EUA, cerca de quatro vezes o seu nível antes da guerra. Operadores disseram que o prêmio refletia o valor temporal do trânsito de cerca de cinco dias para Houston.

A enorme diferença entre o petróleo físico e os futuros é, em parte, um reflexo da mesma dinâmica, com os barris comandando um prêmio enorme quanto mais cedo puderem ser entregues — uma condição de mercado conhecida como retroação (backwardation).

O nível extremo de prêmios para o petróleo de entrega imediata está colocando uma pressão enorme no mercado, disseram operadores e analistas. Refinarias menores estão lutando com necessidades de financiamento muito maiores devido aos preços elevados, bem como o desafio de hedge em um mercado onde o petróleo físico que compram é muito mais caro do que os derivativos mais líquidos vinculados a ele.

“É um enorme pesadelo de gestão de risco de preço — no papel as margens são fantásticas, mas os fluxos de caixa reais de comprar uma carga e decidir refiná-la podem ser bem diferentes”, disse Roberto Ulivieri, consultor na Midhurst Downstream.

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Por que o choque do petróleo causado pela guerra no Irã é pior do que você imagina

Conflito está impedindo que enormes volumes de petróleo saiam do Golfo Pérsico, mas os preços que a maior parte das pessoas acompanha não refletem totalmente a dimensão dessa interrupção

Como resultado, alguns refinadores estão começando a se afastar do mercado — e a consequência será uma redução em sua produção, apertando ainda mais os mercados de derivados de petróleo.

Os preços do combustível de aviação e do diesel já dispararam para níveis recordes ou quase recordes acima de US$ 200 o barril. No mercado de gasolina dos EUA, politicamente crucial, os estoques encolheram para o menor nível em quase 16 anos, de acordo com a Administração de Informação de Energia.

E conforme os compradores de petróleo descem sobre os EUA, analistas alertam que a escassez do mercado será sentida lá em seguida.

“Os mercados físicos não estão seguindo as redes sociais. Em vez disso, eles se fortaleceram implacavelmente conforme as interrupções se espalharam da Ásia para a bacia do Atlântico”, disse Amrita Sen, cofundadora da consultoria Energy Aspects. “Se os futuros não alcançarem as realidades físicas, as exportações dos EUA podem facilmente permanecer elevadas, se a disponibilidade de navios permitir, a ponto de não sobrar petróleo bruto suficiente para as refinarias dos EUA.”

© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

The post Escassez de petróleo cria uma corrida desesperada e prêmios recordes no mercado appeared first on InfoMoney.

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