Hochul tries to distance herself from Mamdani’s bungled rollout of her pied-à-terre tax
Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to distance herself from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s bungled pied-à-terre rollout, but the new tax could cause her headaches for years, insiders said Tuesday.
A Staten Island judge’s decision Monday to pause the rollout highlighted tensions between Hochul’s camp and City Hall over the luxury second-home tax, which emerged during state budget talks this spring. A business source involved in negotiations said the issue is the last thing Hochul needs as she seeks re-election this fall against Republican Bruce Blakeman.
“She can’t be running on ‘tax and spend Kathy,’” the source said.
Mamdani’s calls to “tax the rich” pushed Hochul, whom he endorsed before she backed him, into what she called the role of “therapist-in-chief” for the city’s wealthy. In May, Hochul and state lawmakers approved the tax, fulfilling demands from Mamdani and Democratic Socialists of America members.
As problems mounted, Hochul said the state was not responsible for the rollout. Her spokeswoman, Jennifer Goodman, further distanced her Monday, saying the lawsuit over administration of the tax was for the city and courts, while Hochul still believes those who can afford multimillion-dollar second homes can pay their fair share.
Blakeman accused Hochul of blaming others and doing what Mamdani wants. He said the rollout was “horrible” and that New York should not have a pied-à-terre tax.
Mamdani’s lawyers appealed the pause Tuesday, arguing the city should continue implementing the tax while the lawsuit proceeds. Attorney Randy Mastro, representing homeowners, accused the city of ignoring the order, calling it “lawless.”
The rocky rollout could foreshadow bigger problems. The law also calls for overhauling New York City’s convoluted property tax system, a massive undertaking no mayor has seriously attempted.
Republican comptroller candidate Joseph Hernandez and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis also accused Hochul of caving to Mamdani and warned she would continue doing so if re-elected.
