He has Zo regrets!
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was remorseless Friday about dragging billionaire Ken Griffin in a viral video promoting a new, proposed pied-á-terre tax.
Hizzoner dodged when asked if he had any regrets about calling out Griffin specifically in the video last week filmed in front of the Citadel founder’s 24,000-square-foot property on Central Park South, which he purchased for $238 million in 2019.
“That home, when it was purchased, was the most expensive home in the United States of America, publicly reported, and it was described as such,” Mamdani said when pressed by reporters during an unrelated press conference in Brooklyn.
“And in a political environment where there is always an attempt to describe any increase in taxes as if it would be one that would apply to all, we wanted to make very clear that this applies to a very select group of properties,” he said.
It was the latest volley in a back-and-forth with Griffin launched by Mamdani’s eyebrow-raising April 15 video, in which he boasted that “today, we’re taxing the rich.”
He then spotlighted the Florida-based hedge fund titan’s Manhattan penthouse as one that would be hit by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed tax on multi-million dollar secondary homes in New York City.
But Griffin was not amused, with a top executive at his fund blasting the mayor’s comments in a searing, company-wide email Thursday — and signaling he might pull a $6 billion development project in Midtown.
“From his comments, it is apparent that the Mayor’s view is that these individuals do not contribute enough to the greater good,” Citadel COO Gerald Beeson wrote in the missive obtained by The Post.
“It is shameful that he used Ken’s name as the example of those who supposedly aren’t carrying their fair share of the burdens associated with New York City’s often costly and wasteful spending,” he wrote.
“In doing so, the Mayor has once again manifested the ignorance and disdain of the elite political class towards those who have been consistently committed to building one of the greatest cities in the world.”
Beeson went on to suggest that Citadel may potentially not move forward with its redevelopment project of 350 Park Avenue, which he said would bring 6,000 construction jobs and more than 15,000 permanent gigs in Midtown.
“The project – if we move forward – will entail more than $6 billion dollars of spending,” he wrote.
When asked Friday if he was concerned about the possibility of Citadel’s reversal on the project, Mamdani didn’t answer directly but said he wants all New Yokers — including Griffin — to suceed.
“I want New Yorkers to succeed. I want them to build businesses, to grow our economy and to create good paying jobs. And Ken Griffin has been a part of that. He’s an important employer and business leader in our city, and as I do with every New Yorker, I do want him to succeed, as mayor,” he said.
“I will continue to work with business leaders, including Mr. Griffin, as partners in building a city that continues to be the economic engine, not just of this state, but also of this country,” he continued — before pivoting to what he called the nation’s “fundamentally broken” tax system.
Asked if he had any regrets about his video name-dropping Griffin and whether he’d be willing to meet with the CEO, Mamdani only answered the latter, saying he’d gladly speak to him, “as I’d be happy to speak with many business leaders across the city.”
“We all want this city to succeed, and that is something that I’m committed to, no matter a question of unanimity on every single political issue,” he said.
He also didn’t answer when asked if he’d reached out to Griffin, instead telling reporters that New Yorkers were facing a “a generational fiscal crisis” greater than the 2008 recession.
Mamdani added that he was intent on balancing the city’s budget “in a manner that asks the wealthiest and most profitable corporations to pay that a little bit more so that everyone can afford to live in the city.”
“And that means Ken Griffin, and that means so many others across the city, and that also means those who would love to join us.”
Mamdani was asked again if he regretted the stunt — especially in light of the assassination of another executive, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown in 2024 — with the reporter noting that he had stopped mentioning Griffin by name since posting the video.
The mayor pivoted to explaining he wanted to highlight the “very select group of properties” that would be covered by the pied-à-terre tax.
“And the reason that I gave other examples of this is that this piece of legislation is not motivated by any one individual. Rather, it is one that applies broadly without exception,” he said. “And so the next day, I spoke about a Saudi prince who bought an apartment for $90 million a Russian auto dealer who bought an apartment for close to $30 million in cash.
“I say these things not because I do not want these individuals to be here in New York City or to purchase property in New York City,” he insisted, “but rather to outline that we are talking about a proposal that will have a very narrow impact, and one that is being driven by an intention to ensure that everyone can remain in the city, including those that are taxed.”
