The former governor, George Pataki, warned that any tax increases Governor Kathy Hochul and her moderate Democratic allies might consider to appease newly elected New York City Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani and his more radical backers would spark a large‑scale exodus of New Yorkers, according to Pataki’s remarks.
“I’m worried that if [Hochul] goes forward and keeps raising taxes on New Yorkers, there will eventually be a tipping point that breaks the camel’s back,” the Republican told John Catsimatidis, an owner of the WABC‑AM news station, while appearing on the “Cats Roundtable” talk show that is set to air on Sunday. “New York simply can’t afford this,” he added, as reported by the New York Post.
Pataki pointed out that the state already faces steep taxes and over‑rigorous regulations, and that many residents are abandoning the city for places such as Florida and Texas. He noted Hochul, who once staunchly opposed higher corporate taxes, has started to entertain the idea of further hikes in order to shore up the state’s budget after Mamdani’s recent electoral win.
Public pressure is also mounting as liberals chant “tax the rich” in hopes of nudging the governor toward harsher fiscal measures that align with Mamdani’s demand for at least $9 billion in extra money to fund ambitious projects like free buses.
In response, Pataki cited the governor’s shift as a reaction to the possibility that a left‑wing takeover could threaten their jobs. He explained that critics may be thinking, “Mamdani just won, so I should consider a primary and raise taxes to keep the house,” and expressed concern that both the governor and the legislature might ultimately agree with Mamdani’s tax plans.
Kara Cumoletti, the governor’s spokesperson, stated that Governor Hochul remains clear that she wants to avoid new taxes. She also noted that Pataki should push Washington Republicans to stop pouring hard cuts at New York while encouraging a better budgeting strategy, citing the reality that programs such as Medicaid depend on federal funding and can’t be trimmed without local input.
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