NYC DSA members clash over paying co-chairs $95,000 salaries

During a gathering of the south Brooklyn branch of the NYC Democratic Socialists of America, roughly three dozen members debated a proposal to pay co-chairs Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser $95,000 each per year. Opponents argued the leaders are not truly working-class, citing Gordillo’s free residence in a $1.5 million Bed-Stuy row house and his disputed background as an electrician. Mausser, a senior policy manager at nonprofit B Lab, said the chapter’s responsibilities have expanded after its endorsement of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but acknowledged the salary would represent more than 20% of the organization’s $1 million annual budget.

The discussion raised questions about accountability, as Mausser admitted the co-chairs answer to no board or executive director. Some members expressed discomfort with the top-down feel of the proposal, while others noted the need for full-time leadership as the chapter’s profile grows.