New York City democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani repeatedly sidestepped questions Thursday about reported plans to launch a public pressure campaign this fall pushing tax hikes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations.Mamdani reportedly plans to build public support after Labor Day for similar proposals that Gov.Kathy Hochul previously rejected in early 2026.
The reported push is expected ahead of the New York Legislature's return to Albany in January 2027 and Hochul's re-election campaign this fall, according to The New York Post.During an interview with Fox 5 New York, Mamdani repeatedly declined to answer questions about the potential campaign before later saying such discussions would only come after the November election.Asked whether he had spoken with Hochul about the reported campaign, Mamdani did not answer directly, instead using the opportunity to tout the opening of 2,000 free child care seats for New Yorkers through their policy efforts.NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES 'IMAGINED'Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters about the city's finances during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, Feb.17, 2026.
(Seth Wenig/AP Photo)"The governor and I are in constant communication and, frankly, I appreciate her partnership because if it wasn't for the governor, then we wouldn't have been able to stand together to announce that we had more than 5,000 New Yorkers come forward to apply for these 2,000 free child care seats," he said."And I'm so excited about that, and the fact that we're going to expand to 12,000, and the work that's still to come."The reporter then pressed Mamdani on whether the Democratic Socialists of America would join the potential campaign this fall, but he again declined to answer directly, saying his focus remains on the present.BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONSKathy Hochul, governor of New York, left, and Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New Yor...