Gov. Kathy Hochul was forced to swat down the suggestion that she’ll be pegged the “fall man” in Zohran Mamdani’s pressure campaign to tax the rich — insisting Thursday that she’s not “frustrated” by political posturing from the mayor and his socialist comrades.
The governor, flanked by Mamdani at an unrelated press conference, tried to downplay the massive fissure between her and the far-left mayor, who has claimed he’ll be “forced” to jack up city property taxes by nearly 10% if Hochul doesn’t greenlight his pitch to increase levies on millionaires.
“This is not a frustrated face. I am not frustrated,” Hochul claimed when a reporter asked her if it was fair that Mamdani would blame the potential property tax hike on her, and make her the “fall man,” if he doesn’t get his way.
“I know how to do this. The legislature, for example, has put in tax increases every year since I have been governor,” Hochul said, adding, “I know how to negotiate.”
“I know how to get to the results that I need that I think are the best for New Yorkers.”
The all-is-well message unfolded during a Harlem event highlighting moves toward universal childcare – a shared goal by the moderate Hochul and the progressive Mamdani.
But the governor’s performative peacekeeping belied a brewing battle over whether to affix a soak-the-rich tax increase for New York City in the upcoming state budget.
Hochul, who is up for re-election this year, has repeatedly said she would not sign off on Mamdani’s ask for a 2% income tax hike on New Yorkers making $1 million or more — even after he made the ultimatum threatening to hit property owners if the governor did not give in.
Mamdani has claimed the money is needed to close a purported $5.4 billion budget gap, arguing the rich – not working-class New Yorkers – should pony up a little bit more.
He’s pushed city lawmakers to direct their ire at Albany as he faces overwhelming blowback to his property tax increase proposal, which he’s described as an unwanted “last resort” if the hike on the rich doesn’t become reality.
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His allies in the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter have also publicly called out Hochul, ramping up the pressure.
The ultimatum – which even some of Mamdani’s allies said treated the middle class as a bargaining chip – left Hochul’s office fuming, especially after she had pledged to ship an extra $1.5 billion to the Big Apple to help with the budget, sources have said.
But publicly, the two have played nice.
“I’ll say this: There are ongoing conversations with the mayor’s team, his budget team, my budget team,” Hochul said Thursday. “I take nothing personal in this business.”
Mamdani has repeatedly praised the governor – who, beyond the budget-boosting billion, promised another $1 billion to deliver the young mayor an early win by setting up a free 2-K pilot program.
Asked if Mamdani also privately lobbies her during their joint public appearances, including on their universal childcare initiatives, Hochul said: “He knows where I stand. We talk about children.”
Despite clearly trying to pressure Hochul with the property tax ultimatum, Mamdani let her off the hook Thursday, saying he was encouraged by the discussions with her office during the budget process.
“I think what we see in the governor’s actions is not just a commitment to the financial well-being of our city, but also to advancing an affordability agenda – making it easier to call the city home,” he said.
“I’m thankful that, for the first time in a long time, it feels as if, between City Hall and Albany, there is a shared direction that we’re heading in.”
The mutual reassuring expressions echoed that of Mamdani’s First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan earlier in the day.
He told attendees at a New York City Law School breakfast that City Hall and Albany officials have had positive conversations to close the budget gap, expressing confidence that the money would come in some form.
“I speak to the governor every day,” he said.
– Additional reporting by Vaughn Golden
