Hochul Endorsement Raises Concerns Over Tax-the-Rich Plan
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's surprise endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election has sent shockwaves through the progressive community, threatening to undermine his hard-won leverage on taxing the rich. By throwing his weight behind the centrist Democrat, Mamdani may be sacrificing one of his key policy demands: a significant increase in taxes on New York's wealthiest residents.
In an essay published recently, Mamdani acknowledged that he and Hochul disagree on taxation, with the governor having consistently opposed higher tax rates on high-income earners. Despite this, Mamdani claims to have found common ground in their shared commitment to expanding child care services, a proposal that has been championed by progressives as a crucial step towards addressing the city's affordability crisis.
Mamdani has long argued that taxing the rich is essential for funding the affordability agenda promised by New Yorkers. However, with Hochul on board, it appears that this plan may be put on hold. The governor's reluctance to commit to higher taxes has been a major obstacle in Mamdani's efforts to secure Albany's backing.
The move has left many in the progressive community feeling disheartened and frustrated. Our Time, a non-profit aligned with Mamdani's policies, is still pushing for volunteers to knock on doors and rally for taxing the rich, despite Hochul's endorsement. While India Walton, the running mate of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, has expressed support for Mamdani's leadership, some are now wondering if the mayor's decision was a strategic move rather than a genuine commitment to progressive causes.
With Tin Cup Day looming on February 11, when Mamdani is set to make his case for more funding in Albany, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to deliver on his promise of taxing the rich. For now, the endorsement has cast a shadow over the city's efforts to address its financial woes and ensure that New Yorkers get the affordable services they deserve.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's surprise endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election has sent shockwaves through the progressive community, threatening to undermine his hard-won leverage on taxing the rich. By throwing his weight behind the centrist Democrat, Mamdani may be sacrificing one of his key policy demands: a significant increase in taxes on New York's wealthiest residents.
In an essay published recently, Mamdani acknowledged that he and Hochul disagree on taxation, with the governor having consistently opposed higher tax rates on high-income earners. Despite this, Mamdani claims to have found common ground in their shared commitment to expanding child care services, a proposal that has been championed by progressives as a crucial step towards addressing the city's affordability crisis.
Mamdani has long argued that taxing the rich is essential for funding the affordability agenda promised by New Yorkers. However, with Hochul on board, it appears that this plan may be put on hold. The governor's reluctance to commit to higher taxes has been a major obstacle in Mamdani's efforts to secure Albany's backing.
The move has left many in the progressive community feeling disheartened and frustrated. Our Time, a non-profit aligned with Mamdani's policies, is still pushing for volunteers to knock on doors and rally for taxing the rich, despite Hochul's endorsement. While India Walton, the running mate of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, has expressed support for Mamdani's leadership, some are now wondering if the mayor's decision was a strategic move rather than a genuine commitment to progressive causes.
With Tin Cup Day looming on February 11, when Mamdani is set to make his case for more funding in Albany, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to deliver on his promise of taxing the rich. For now, the endorsement has cast a shadow over the city's efforts to address its financial woes and ensure that New Yorkers get the affordable services they deserve.
This is super weird for me... I thought Mamdani was all about fighting for the little guy, you know? Now it seems like he's gonna have to sacrifice that for a chance at getting some big bucks for child care? 
It's just not how I expected things to play out. And with Hochul on board too, it's hard to see how they're gonna make this work without hurting the people who need affordable services the most. 
I'm still rooting for Mamdani, but now I'm worried he's playing a tough game and might lose some of his momentum. 
i mean, if Hochul isnt gonna back him up on that then whats the point of having her endorsement 
maybe he shoulda stuck with what he believed in and not tried to compromise 
. I mean, have you ever seen anything like it? The way the cat's paws are moving on the keys is like it's conducting its own little orchestra 
. It's so funny and adorable at the same time. I could watch it all day. Does anyone know what kind of music software they used to create that video? 
. I mean, Mamdani knew Hochul was never going to go for taxing the rich, but he still had to throw his support behind her because it's politics, right? 
He must have thought that by backing her, he'd get some kind of leverage in Albany... yeah right 
like how does he do it? anyway i was thinking, have you guys tried those new spicy wings at that one food truck near my place? i mean, they're literally on fire 
but in a good way lol. and speaking of fire, did you know that there's this amazing app that lets you virtually try out restaurants before you even go in? it's like having your own personal chef 
. maybe we can use that to plan our next outing after Tin Cup Day?
Mamdani's got to do better than just find common ground on child care (which btw is super important, no debate there 
). It feels like he's sacrificing his core values for the sake of getting Hochul's endorsement. Can we please get some clarity from him ASAP? 
. He was one of the few people who actually cared about making NYC more affordable, and then he goes and endorses Hochul? It's like he gave up on his own cause 
. I get that he might have found some common ground with her on child care services, but that doesn't make up for throwing away their entire tax-the-rich plan 
. And now it just feels like more of the same - politicians promising to do one thing, then doing another when they actually have power 
, but so far, I'm not feeling it 
.
He just threw his support behind Hochul, who's basically the anti-Mamdani on taxation 
. Fingers crossed he can still deliver on that promise, though! 
The numbers are telling us, though: if Mamdani sticks with his plan, NYC can expect a 2% increase in taxes on high-income earners, which would bring in $1.4 billion in new revenue 
. Let's look at some stats: NYC spends around $400 million annually on child care programs, but only 25% of those funds come from state budget allocations 
. If Mamdani gets his way, that number could jump to 50% by 2030 
.
. But on the other hand, it means he's gotta compromise on his signature tax-the-rich plan 
Will Mamdani deliver? We'll just have to wait and see! 
And what about all those volunteers who signed up with Our Time, thinking they were part of something bigger than just knocking on doors? 
And what's going on with India Walton's stance? Is she riding Mamdani's coattails or actually holding him accountable? 
Either way, I hope they all stay true to their values... 
, time to see if he's all talk or walk 
. I hope he can still make some noise at Albany and deliver on his promise 
. The progressive community is feeling pretty let down right now 
, her vibe is so fresh. But seriously though, I feel bad for Zohran Mamdani, his endorsement of Hochul does seem like a major bummer for taxing the rich. It's like, he just wanted to bring about change and now it's all being put on hold 
. I'm still rooting for him tho, I think his commitment to affordable services is real 
. Tin Cup Day can't come soon enough, I wanna see what kind of progress he'll make in Albany 
On one hand Mamdani is trying to make a point and show that progressives can work together, on the other hand he's kinda throwing away his leverage by endorsing someone who's all about keeping things status quo. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and if they actually do get more funding for affordable services or just more empty promises