Mamdani laughs off criticism that his tax hike proposals will compel New Yorkers to flee
In a recent podcast appearance, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani made headlines with his unyielding stance on tax increases, which he argues are essential for funding public services. During his discussion on “Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant with Akaash Singh,” Mamdani proposed raising the corporate tax rate, imposing a flat 2% income tax on individuals earning over $1 million, and redistributing tax burdens to wealthier neighborhoods. He dismissed concerns about potential mass exoduses from the city due to these tax hikes, suggesting that critics were overreacting. “The same people who will say, ‘Oh, we can’t afford free buses,’” he remarked, asserting that New Yorkers would not flee the city over tax increases. His comments were met with laughter, particularly when he referenced conservative billionaire Bill Ackman, who has vocally opposed his campaign, implying that wealthy individuals will remain in the city despite higher taxes.
However, Mamdani’s proposals have drawn sharp criticism, particularly from his rival, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent. Cuomo characterized Mamdani’s democratic socialist policies as “dangerous,” warning that relentless tax increases could lead to a significant decline in the city’s population and economic vitality. He argued that continued taxation on businesses and affluent individuals would ultimately drive them away, leaving the city devoid of its economic drivers. This sentiment was echoed by other critics, including Boca Raton’s Republican mayor, Scott Singer, who highlighted the real threat posed by high tax rates in a world where remote work and corporate relocations are increasingly common. Singer noted that Mamdani’s proposed tax structure could incentivize residents and businesses to relocate to states with more favorable tax climates, potentially undermining New York’s economic stability.
As the mayoral race heats up, Mamdani’s bold tax proposals reflect a broader ideological divide regarding how best to fund public services and address inequalities in one of the nation’s most populous cities. While he maintains that his plans will not drive people away, the ongoing debate raises critical questions about the balance between taxation and economic sustainability in New York City. With significant figures like Cuomo and Singer voicing their concerns, the implications of Mamdani’s policies could have far-reaching effects on the city’s future, making this election pivotal for both its residents and its economy.
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New York City mayoral candidate
Zohran Mamadani
laughed off how his plan to increase taxes on New Yorkers might impact them, suggesting those complaining about his plans are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
During an appearance this week on “Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant with Akaash Singh” podcast, Mamdani defended his proposals to raise the corporate tax rate, shift more of the tax burden to “richer and whiter neighborhoods” and add a flat 2% income tax on earners making over $1 million — insisting his plan wouldn’t drive anyone out of the state. His critics, including Independent mayoral candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, disagree.
“The same people who will say, ‘Oh, we can’t afford free buses. We can’t afford $700 million a year in making the slowest buses in America fast and free –'” Mamdani began during a discussion about how to best use political capital to benefit New Yorkers, before he was interrupted by the host of the podcast, Andrew Schulz.
‘ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK’: RESEARCHER PREDICTS NYC BUSINESS EXODUS IF ZOHRAN MAMDANI WINS
“I don’t agree with that, I think you can. I also think this idea that New Yorkers are going to flee because of a 2% increase,” Schulz interjected. “It’s like, ‘I’ve been everywhere else. You’re not going anywhere.’ Bill Ackman’s not going nowhere, he’s going to be in the Hamptons all summer.”
“There’s only one place to write those tweets –
New York City,”
Mamdani shot back as the group laughed amongst each other, referring to conservative billionaire Bill Ackman’s active presence on X slamming his campaign and liberal New York policies.
“Your A/C goes out in July, in Miami, he’s sweating writing tweets? There’s no way,” Schulz continued, before Mamdani chimed in amid all the laughter: “He’s spending more money against me than I would even tax him. Every day, it’s like a million dollars, a million dollars … you’re going above-and-beyond.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment but did not immediately hear back.
CUOMO CALLS NYC MAYORAL RIVAL ‘DANGEROUS,’ WARNS SOCIALISM WOULD BE ‘DEATH KNELL’ FOR CITY
Cuomo, who is running as an Independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary, told Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom” this week that Mamdani’s democratic socialist policies would drive up taxes and
push people to flee the city.
“You keep taxing businesses and wealthy people in New York City, there will be nobody left,” Cuomo argued. “Well, Mamdani is a socialist Democrat, his answers are always the same — tax business, tax the rich, raise taxes, raise taxes, provide everything free. Free transportation, free food. Free, free, free,” Cuomo continued. “New Yorkers know there is no free.”
And Cuomo isn’t alone in this assessment.
“The threat of people leaving high tax, high crime jurisdictions like New York and other places is real,” Boca Raton, Florida’s Republican mayor, Scott Singer,
told Fox News Digital.
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“It’s hard to predict how bad the economic situation is going to be, but Mamdani doubled down at last week’s debate and said it’s about time we raised taxes, and he was grateful for it,” Singer added.
“When he’s proposing a 17% marginal tax rate for New York City residents between state and local taxes, that’s 17% that they can simply give up by moving here and with jobs more mobile because of technology and with companies finding great office space here, there’s less and less reason for people to stay there.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
