Residents Slam NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for Proposed Property Tax Increase
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for an increase in taxes on corporations and the wealthy to address the city’s budget deficit. During a press conference on Tuesday, he warned that if the state does not cooperate, the city may have to resort to raising property taxes.
Some New York City residents are expressing concern that Mayor Mamdani is going back on his promises regarding affordable housing by suggesting a potential hike in property taxes to balance the budget.
In his preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget announcement, Mamdani emphasized that increasing property taxes would be a “last resort” if Albany does not agree to raise taxes on the wealthy.
Vivian Campbell, a homeowner in Cambria Heights, Queens, shared his frustration with WABC, stating, “I don’t plan to move. It’s my home. I’m not leaving.” Campbell, who purchased his two-story home in the 1990s, is on a fixed income and recently invested nearly $35,000 in renovations.
“He lied,” Campbell added, criticizing the mayor’s messaging on affordable housing during his campaign. “It’s obvious.”
REAL ESTATE EXPERTS BLAST MAMDANI’S MATH-DEFYING TAX PLAN, WARN OF HIGHER RENTS AND FLIGHT
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Bloomberg Television interview at City Hall in New York on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Another homeowner, James Johnson, expressed his outrage, stating, “Mayor Zohran Mamdani, you are out your god—- mind.” He criticized the mayor for presenting only two options: taxing the wealthy or increasing property taxes. “We are not a pawn in Southeast Queens. We are not part of your negotiation tactics,” he asserted.
Homeowner Pierry Benjamin also voiced his concerns, saying, “To the mayor, with the greatest respect, we listened to every campaign speech and debate. Now, accept the words echoing from us now: do your job as mayor and leave our taxes out.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s press office for comments regarding these concerns.
Mamdani, who identifies as a Democratic socialist, has advocated for the Empire State to increase taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and the most profitable corporations to tackle the city’s budget deficit.
HUNDREDS OF NYC ROLES REPORTEDLY INCLUDED IN AMAZON’S JOB REDUCTION PLAN
A helicopter flies past One World Trade Center behind the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets in New York City on Aug. 7, 2025, as seen from Jersey City, N.J. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
However, he cautioned that if the city does not find a way to balance its budget, it may have to increase property taxes and tap into its reserves, which he described as a “last resort.” Mamdani noted that this would effectively be a tax on working and middle-class New Yorkers, who have a median income of $122,000.
MAMDANI PROPOSES RAISING NYC PROPERTY TAXES IF STATE DOESN’T APPROVE TAX HIKE ON WEALTHY
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference at Deno’s Wonder Wheel on Coney Island in Brooklyn on Feb. 15, 2026. ( Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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The city council is responsible for approving city budgets, as reported by the New York Times.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for an increase in taxes on corporations and the wealthy to address the city’s budget deficit. During a press conference on Tuesday, he warned that if the state does not cooperate, the city may have to resort to raising property taxes.
Some New York City residents are expressing concern that Mayor Mamdani is going back on his promises regarding affordable housing by suggesting a potential hike in property taxes to balance the budget.
In his preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget announcement, Mamdani emphasized that increasing property taxes would be a “last resort” if Albany does not agree to raise taxes on the wealthy.
Vivian Campbell, a homeowner in Cambria Heights, Queens, shared his frustration with WABC, stating, “I don’t plan to move. It’s my home. I’m not leaving.” Campbell, who purchased his two-story home in the 1990s, is on a fixed income and recently invested nearly $35,000 in renovations.
“He lied,” Campbell added, criticizing the mayor’s messaging on affordable housing during his campaign. “It’s obvious.”
REAL ESTATE EXPERTS BLAST MAMDANI’S MATH-DEFYING TAX PLAN, WARN OF HIGHER RENTS AND FLIGHT
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Bloomberg Television interview at City Hall in New York on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Another homeowner, James Johnson, expressed his outrage, stating, “Mayor Zohran Mamdani, you are out your god—- mind.” He criticized the mayor for presenting only two options: taxing the wealthy or increasing property taxes. “We are not a pawn in Southeast Queens. We are not part of your negotiation tactics,” he asserted.
Homeowner Pierry Benjamin also voiced his concerns, saying, “To the mayor, with the greatest respect, we listened to every campaign speech and debate. Now, accept the words echoing from us now: do your job as mayor and leave our taxes out.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s press office for comments regarding these concerns.
Mamdani, who identifies as a Democratic socialist, has advocated for the Empire State to increase taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and the most profitable corporations to tackle the city’s budget deficit.
HUNDREDS OF NYC ROLES REPORTEDLY INCLUDED IN AMAZON’S JOB REDUCTION PLAN
A helicopter flies past One World Trade Center behind the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets in New York City on Aug. 7, 2025, as seen from Jersey City, N.J. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
However, he cautioned that if the city does not find a way to balance its budget, it may have to increase property taxes and tap into its reserves, which he described as a “last resort.” Mamdani noted that this would effectively be a tax on working and middle-class New Yorkers, who have a median income of $122,000.
MAMDANI PROPOSES RAISING NYC PROPERTY TAXES IF STATE DOESN’T APPROVE TAX HIKE ON WEALTHY
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference at Deno’s Wonder Wheel on Coney Island in Brooklyn on Feb. 15, 2026. ( Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The city council is responsible for approving city budgets, as reported by the New York Times.
