Billionaire pushback as Mamdani touts NYC wealth tax plan

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to tax luxury second homes worth more than $5 million has sparked strong pushback from billionaires, including Ken Griffin and Steven Roth. Roth called Mamdani’s “tax the rich” slogan as hateful as racial slurs, while Griffin described the campaign video outside his penthouse as “creepy and weird.” Griffin’s remarks come as Citadel signals possible relocation of expansion plans to Miami. Proponents say the pied-à-terre tax could raise around $500 million annually from about 11,200 second homes to help reform a tax system the mayor deems unfair; opponents warn the wealthy may flee. The debate mirrors broader battles over wealth taxes in other states and cities.