New York City's mayor is set for an 18.2% pay raise, a move that plays badly for taxpayers and hands critics an easy target.

• A commission appointed by Mamdani recommended raising the mayor's salary by 18.2%.
• Because the mayor picked the commission, the raise looks like he set his own pay.
• Billionaire Bill Ackman publicly challenged Mamdani over the increase.

Outlook: Expect more political attacks on the optics of a self-appointed panel boosting the mayor's pay.