Exclusive | Kathy Wylde back in middle of Wall Streets tense talks with NYCs left-leaning pols and its awkward: Nothing official

Kathy Wylde has once again landed in the space between Wall Street and New York’s left-leaning politicos – and it’s getting awkward.The recently retired head of the Partnership for New York City – the Big Apple’s biggest business advocacy group – has been quietly urging Mayor Mamdani to mend fences with city business leaders, On The Money has learned.The 79-year-old power broker’s major worry: The mayor’s continued friction with the business community.While Wylde has said “the city is strong and will continue to be a global commercial powerhouse regardless of who is mayor” her old organization is worried that the mayor’s socialist agenda will accelerate a stampede of big taxpayers – individuals and businesses alike – and destroy what’s left of the Big Apple economy. That’s after Mamdani last month aired his now-infamous video shot outside billionaire Ken Griffin’s penthouse, declaring “We’re taxing the rich” as he unveiled a tax on apartments owned by out-of-state residents.“I have been encouraging him and his team to meet with business leaders so that he can hear their concerns and understand how they can help him be successful,” Wylde told On The Money in an exclusive interview this week.

“The Griffin video obviously made that more urgent.”Wylde emphasizes that there’s “nothing official,” about her role in pushing for detente between the Marxist mayor and business leaders.She said she played no role in Mamdani’s recent meetings with the chiefs of Blackstone, UBS, JPMorgan, BofA and Goldman Sachs, which were an outgrowth of talks between the new partnership leadership and City Hall.Still, Wylde said she is still in contact with the mayor and his people even in retirement, and spoke with Mamdani about a month ago. “I’m not a lobbyist, just a human being,” she said.

“I feel a bit responsible for Mamdani, so of course I encouraged him to meet with people.” The responsibility part speaks to Wylde’...