The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is facing internal debate over a proposal to make leadership positions salaried, with a specific focus on co-chair Gustavo Gordillo. Some members are challenging whether Gordillo, who lives rent-free in a $1.5 million home and has been accused of misrepresenting his background, fits the organization's working-class ethos.
The controversy emerged when Gordillo and co-chair Grace Mausser proposed making their roles paid positions. They cited an increased workload due to the chapter tripling in size since 2024. The proposal suggests a $95,000 annual salary for each co-chair, a move that would represent more than 20% of the NYC DSA's estimated $1 million annual budget.
During a debate at a south Brooklyn branch meeting, several rank-and-file members expressed opposition. One 10-year member stated, "Gustavo is not working class. Grace is not working class. Most of our co-chairs and most people in the DSA have laptop jobs and are upper middle class." Gordillo, 38, has also faced scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a working electrician; reports indicate he was expelled from the electrician's union for failing to pay dues. He did not attend the meeting, with Mausser, 31, defending the proposal alone.
Mausser, who works as a senior policy manager at nonprofit B Lab, argued that the proposed salary was not excessive and that the co-chairs' responsibilities had grown significantly. "We're kind of the face of DSA in New York, which wasn't such a big deal in 2024 but now is a much bigger responsibility," she said. She also noted that the proposed salary felt like a "comfortable number" after discussion. Mausser acknowledged that the co-chairs would not have direct supervision, stating, "I've gotten a lot of questions about who is supervising the co-chairs. I mean, the answer is no one."
Some members voiced concerns about the process, with Alex Rivera of NYC DSA describing it as feeling "very top-down leadership instead of bottom-up." Another member expressed discomfort, stating, "It's not what I thought I was signing up for….and that bothers me a lot." The proposed salaries and benefits would amount to a combined $228,000 annually for the two co-chairs.
The NYC DSA's budget is funded through a combination of national dues, local dues, merchandise sales, and contributions from an "angel investor." The chapter receives approximately $27,614 monthly from national dues, $47,000 in local dues, $7,500 from merchandise, and about $4,166 from the outside investor, according to budget documents presented at the meeting. Gordillo was pictured at a rally advocating for wealth redistribution, with his own family's assets including a Brooklyn row house undergoing extensive renovations. 